Aquapak and Industrial Physics Collaborate to Advance Sustainable Packaging

        Aquapak Polymers, a polymer technology manufacturer headquartered in Birmingham, UK, has partnered with Industrial Physics, a global packaging, product and material testing and inspection company headquartered in Boston, to create a set of water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) test methods for Hydropol biodegradable polymers.

        Hydropol is understood to have the advantages of traditional polymer plastics and is water-soluble, biodegradable, non-toxic and UV-resistant. It also provides a variety of end-of-life options, such as recyclability, compostability and compatibility with anaerobic digestion plants.

        Industrial Physics is a global testing and inspection partner working across a wide range of industries to help customers protect the integrity of their packaging, products and materials. The group includes various professional testing brands including Systech Illinois, TQC Sheen, Quality By Vision, Eagle Vision, Steinfurth, Technidyne, RayRan, Testing Machines Inc. and others. Industrial Physics surveyed 255 packaging professionals around the world. The survey found that professionals say testing new sustainable materials is challenging. Nearly half (49%) of the 255 packaging professionals around the world said that meeting testing standards is one of the biggest challenges they face in the wider adoption of sustainable packaging materials. Current WVTR test methods and standards are based on traditional polymers, not biodegradable alternatives such as Hydropol. Aquapak approached Industrial Physics to support the development of a repeatable and reliable WVTR test method for its Hydropol biodegradable polymer.

        The WVTR test method is a known challenge for hydrophilic polymers, and the team at Aquapak was looking to leverage the knowledge and resources of Industrial Physics to develop a test method that could be performed in-house or replicated for customers wherever they are in the world.

        “Getting the WVTR test balanced means we have confidence in the results. Over the past few months, we have conducted a comprehensive analysis of multi-layer samples to understand how our customers can replicate their own WVTR testing regimes on Hydropol.” Max Phippard, Quality Control Manager at Aquapak, added: “As highlighted in the industrial physics study, companies face challenges when looking to switch to new, sustainable packaging materials. Developing the WVTR method for Hydropol is one of the ways we are supporting our customers.”

        “By using Aquapak “With the approach we take ourselves, we have reached the point where we can replicate Hydropol’s WVTR test anywhere in the world,” said Alana Shema, Product Line Director at Industrial Physics. “This is a major step forward as it will determine how hydrophilic films are tested in the future. It allows our global customers who source sustainable packaging materials such as Hydropol to conduct their own WVTR knowing they can trust the results.” Industrial Physics said it provides a range of packaging, product and material integrity testing solutions for the food and beverage, flexible packaging, medical, pharmaceutical and coatings markets. The company takes a collaborative approach with its customers to help them meet the challenges of moving to sustainable packaging.