Dutch biotech company Parx Materials has partnered with Norwegian-based hygiene specialist ZincIn to develop an antibacterial food tray made from recycled fishing industry waste. Through a combination of Parx’s Saniconcentrate antimicrobial additive and ZincIn’s self-cleaning technology, the tray is said to offer an over 99.9% reduction in bacteria when compared with a typical food tray, according to a report in Plastics in Packaging.
Norwegian Plastic Recycling (NORPEC) granulate, created from the plastics tanks and other waste discarded by the fishing industry, is used to manufacture the tray. Fishing is currently responsible for at least 10% of all marine litter – about 640,000 tonnes a year, according to Greenpeace Germany.
In partnering with Parx, ZincIn said it was able to develop its self-cleaning products on a mass scale – catering to the currently changing needs of the food and hospitality sectors. Both companies agreed that the partnership coincided with an increasing need for “robust hygiene protocols” in hospitality environments. They suggested that in the new post-Covid landscape, there will be higher demand for antibacterial materials and products in these settings.
Saniconcentrate has been specifically formulated to be suitable for food applications. Parx said that unlike traditional antibacterial additives, most of which use heavy metal ions to kill bacteria, the additive achieves its efficacy without biocides, leaching or any harmful side-effects. Its antibacterial efficacy is 99.9% and higher, they claim and has been measured according to ISO 22196 and JIS Z2801. According to Parx, new test results demonstrate that the additive also reduces Covid-19 on surfaces, by up to 99% in 24 hours.
“Working with Parx’s antimicrobial technology has sparked a whole new array of possibilities that can bring benefits and advantages to our lives,” said ZincIn founder Kjetil Christoffersen.“Combining it with the NOPREC seemed like a logical step.”
As a result of the collaboration, Parx Materials has joined Christoffersen as a shareholder in ZincIn, with board member representation – further strengthening the alliance between the companies.
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