Xampla is working with DIC Group to introduce its PFAS and plastic-free Morro Coatings to Japan and Asian countries.

Morro Coatings are the first natural polymers made from plants to enter the Asian packaging market, reflecting DIC’s expertise and experience in tackling PFAS and plastic pollution through innovation.

The move will help Japanese packaging manufacturers replace plastic and PFAS coatings across foodservice packaging formats and attract both domestic and international customers looking for plastic-free coating options.

Based on 15+ years of research at the University of Cambridge, Morro materials are a world-first patented technology. They are made from plants, not chemically modified, and PFAS and plastic-free. They are also home compostable, biodegradable in all environments (including marine water) and are suitable for recycling, ensuring they can be disposed of responsibly.

Designed to replace the most polluting plastics that occur in foodservice and takeaway packaging, Morro Coatings have excellent grease and water barriers, are heat sealable for applications such as sachets, and exhibit high performance in the hot environments of commercial kitchens.

Morro Coating is designed as a drop-in solution to current supply chains, being compatible with existing coating methods and already proven on a range of different substrates for different packaging formats. This will help them develop plastic-free packaging for not only the domestic market but also the Asian and global markets, where legislation aimed at reducing single use plastics is coming into force.

“It’s a privilege to be working with DIC to tackle the problem of PFAS and single-use plastic pollution by introducing our PFAS and plastic-free Morro Coatings into Japan,” Alexandra French, CEO at Xampla, says. “As a global leader in the chemicals industry, their exceptional operational standards will help scale Morro production in Asia and support the foodservice sector to quickly adopt PFAS-free and plastic-free packaging.”

“Japan is becoming a leader in combating PFAS and plastic pollution and DIC is always looking to innovate new solutions to solve this problem,” adds Takeo Ikeda, manager of CVC group at DIC Corporation.

“Our ‘5R’ approach – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Redesign, Renew – is realizing a circular economy by incorporating environmentally friendly materials into our packaging solutions, with Xampla’s Morro Coatings a perfect fit for us,” Ikeda notes. “We hope that the material and its high performing properties can help our customers bring PFAS and plastic-free materials to the domestic and global foodservice markets, helping them to secure market share in a plastic-free future.”