LiquiGlide Launches Innovative Food Packaging
Alex ToddLiquiGlide Orkla ASA – a Norwegian company in Oslo, could be the first to use an innovative food packaging marketed by LiquiGlide Inc. of Cambridge.
This reduces waste caused by contents sticking to a container while saving consumers’ time.
It’s interesting to note that Orkla ASA is a $3.9 billion branded consumer goods company. It is a major food supplier for bakery, takeout and grocery markets in the Baltic countries, Nordic countries, and regions of India and central Europe.
LiquiGlide started its journey in 2012 with the license of a slick coating technology developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Though it’s not into manufacturing, it researches and develops coatings, which are customised according to applications.
Before LiquiGlide’s Orkla agreement on June 30, the company had announced a licensing agreement in March with Elmer’s Products Inc – a glue and adhesives maker.
More About The LiquiGlide Packaging System
This system includes a solid layer on the container’s interior with a liquid layer atop it.
Thanks to capillary forces, the liquid layer sticks firmly to the solid layer and stays in place when the contents of a container are emptied.
This solid and liquid layer can be made from absolutely safe food ingredients like vegetable oils. This will make the system a suitable packaging for food products.
LiquiGlide has a collection of hundreds of material choices for these coatings. This allows it to modify coating characteristics based on every application.
Spray coating equipment, similar to the ones used to coat the inside of the packaging like bottles or cans, can be used for applying LiquiGlide’s coatings.
Since these coatings can be easily washed out in caustic soda baths, usually used to clean containers in recycling lines, they won’t hinder recycling of bottles or cans with LiquiGlide’s coatings.
According to LiquiGlide’s co-founder and CEO Dave Smith, coating material costs are likely to be extremely low as the system uses inexpensive, commonly available materials. He predicted the cost to be possibly a cent or less for each 12-ounce bottle.
However, he didn’t provide any estimates of other costs, such as for licensing, spray coating or heat sealer equipment.
LiquiGlide in Health and Beauty Industry
LiquiGlide has announced the launch of a new line of packaging for the health and beauty industry. The new EveryDrop™ packages mark a major shift in consumer experience, recyclability and sustainability. Yves Béhar together with his team designed the new package.
The patented LiquiGlide technology enables product manufacturers to package their products without the use of traditional materials like plastic or glass. It reduces waste and packaging costs. It provides a more green option for consumers. In addition, the LiquiGlide technology makes it possible to package products in a way that is easier to use, more efficient, and less wasteful.
For example, the technology can be used to package shampoo in a way that allows users to get every last drop out of the bottle. The new line of LiquiGlide packaging is currently being piloted with select partners in the health and beauty industry, with plans to roll out globally in the coming months.
EveryDrop™ packaging
For years, we’ve all been struggling with those last few drops of ketchup, shampoo, or laundry detergent. You know the drill: turn the bottle upside down, smack it on the bottom, and hope that the dregs will finally come out. Usually, they don’t. This means that a lot of perfectly good product ends up going to waste.
But thanks to a new coating technology from LiquiGlide, those days are finally over. The new EveryDrop™ packaging has a frictionless coating allowing products to flow completely out of the container. With translucent packaging, consumers can see the product inside and how much is left. As a result, the packages are more recyclable.
Partnership with Colgate
LiquiGlide’s and Colgate launched the Colgate Elixir sub-brand. The modern, transparent PET bottles for toothpaste go beyond what was previously feasible in terms of sustainability. The new bottle is a fully recyclable package and eliminates product waste. With the new bottles, the companies win the Ameristar awards for “Best of Show” and “Design Excellence”.
LiquiGlide in Recycling and Sustainability
LiquiGlide has created a non-stick, durable, and safe coating for consumer packaged goods. The company was founded in 2012 by startup veterans Kripa Varanasi and David Smith who met while working at the MIT Media Lab. Together, they developed a new class of materials that can be applied to the inner surface of packaging to prevent sticking and enable easy sliding.
The potential applications for LiquiGlide’s technology are virtually limitless. In addition to making it easier to empty containers, the non-stick coating could be used to prevent food waste, reduce cleaning requirements, and enable recyclable packaging for large producers.
Moreover, the technology could be used to improve the efficiency of manufacturing processes and reduce energy consumption. Indeed, LiquiGlide has the potential to make a significant difference from a sustainability standpoint.
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