Biodegradable thermoplastic resin for injection molding

About 

PepsiCo is a global food and beverage corporation dedicated to innovation, sustainability and enhancing consumer experiences, with an emphasis on creating advanced solutions that optimize operations, minimize environmental impact and enhance customer engagement.

The Challenge  

The challenge focuses on developing biodegradable, injection-moldable resins that can replace conventional polyolefins like polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) in food and beverage packaging applications. It aims to explore:

• Bio-based polyester variants such as PBS and PBAT with engineered density
• PHA composites and PLA-based blends suitable for injection molding
• Thermoplastic starch (TPS) formulations and low-density biodegradable polymers or composites
• Resins with physical or chemical foaming capability to reduce material density

The ultimate goal is to identify thermoplastic materials with a density below 1 g/cm³, compatible with fiber repulping and/or PET recycling systems, and suitable for direct food-contact applications using standard PE/PP injection molding processes.

Reward

Successful applicants may receive funding ranging from $25,000 to $100,000, depending on the proposal. Additional benefits may include access to PepsiCo’s tools and technologies for spray coating and barrier testing, as well as the opportunity to work directly with PepsiCo scientists and engineers experienced in material science, packaging, and large-scale commercialization.

Timeframe

• Deadline for Submitting Proposals: August 31

Who can apply  

• Applicants with TRL 2-9 solutions

How to apply 

Application through HALO Platform.

Find here all the details and the submission page

 The SPIN4EIC consortium is not responsible for the challenges launched by private or public buyers. Each participating entity is solely responsible for its own challenge, including the selection process, communication with applicants, and all information provided to participants.