New plastic-free coating made from natural polymers enables heat sealing while supporting recyclable, compostable and food-contact packaging applications.
ZeroCircle has introduced a new heat-sealable coating made from natural polymers, expanding its portfolio of plastic-free materials for paper-based packaging. The development is aimed at replacing conventional synthetic plastic coatings while maintaining the functional properties required for modern packaging applications.
The new coating is based on natural, bio-derived polymer materials, building on ZeroCircle’s broader work with seaweed-based biomaterials. The company is developing coatings designed to provide barrier and sealing functionality without relying on conventional petroleum-based plastics.
A key feature is heat sealability, which allows coated paper or paperboard structures to be converted into packaging formats using heat-sealing equipment. This can be important for applications such as pouches, sachets, wraps and other formats where reliable seals are required for product protection.
ZeroCircle’s material platform is also designed around plastic-free and compostable packaging concepts. The company’s existing natural-polymer technology has been developed to provide properties including water resistance, oxygen barrier performance and heat sealability, while remaining compatible with biological end-of-life pathways.
The development could be particularly relevant to the food-packaging sector, where manufacturers are seeking alternatives to plastic-coated paper products. Natural coatings can provide functional barriers while helping paper-based packaging retain its recyclability or compostability, depending on the final structure and applicable waste-management system.
ZeroCircle’s wider product portfolio includes grease-resistant coated paper and paperboard, food trays, clamshells and other seaweed-based packaging solutions, while heat-sealable coatings and grease-resistant heat-sealed pouches are currently listed as products under development.
The new coating therefore represents an important development in the move toward plastic-free packaging materials. By combining natural polymers with heat-sealing functionality, ZeroCircle is targeting one of the key performance requirements that has traditionally made plastic coatings difficult to replace in flexible and paper-based packaging.
For the polymer and packaging industries, the technology highlights the increasing use of bio-based materials to replace conventional synthetic polymers in specialised applications. It also demonstrates how natural polymer chemistry can be engineered for industrial packaging functions rather than used only as a basic biodegradable alternative.