Nfinite Receives $4.6 Million CAD Grant for Sustainable Packaging Innovation

Nfinite Receives Major Grant for Sustainable Packaging

Nfinite, an advanced materials startup, has proudly announced securing a substantial grant of $4.6 million CAD from the National Resource Council of Canada (NRC) to advance its innovative thin-film technology. This funding will play an essential role in scaling Nfinite’s atmospheric pressure spatial atomic layer deposition (AP-SALD) process, designed for producing ultra-thin, highly conformal coatings that can revolutionize the flexible packaging industry.

About Nfinite and Its Innovations

Founded in 2021 as a spin-off from the University of Waterloo, Nfinite focuses on creating high-barrier paper packaging alternatives. The company’s proprietary AP-SALD technology has shown great promise, demonstrating barrier performance on paper that rivals traditional metallized plastic. Miguel Galvez, CEO of Nfinite, stated, "We have introduced an innovative paper solution that matches the shelf-life performance of plastic, potentially allowing us to eliminate plastic in the flexible packaging sector."

As highlighted by Grand View Research, the flexible packaging market is currently worth approximately $270 billion, which signifies enormous potential for Nfinite’s technology. By shifting to paper-based packaging solutions, large consumer packaged goods (CPGs) companies will have the opportunity to diversify their packaging formats and adhere to sustainability objectives while maintaining product integrity and shelf life.

Collaboration with Industry Leaders

A significant portion of the grant will support collaborations with prominent industry players such as Amcor, PepsiCo, and Unilever. These partnerships aim to create compostable and recyclable packaging solutions that adhere to the growing demand for sustainable materials in the market. The grants are set to be utilized over a three-year period as Nfinite deploys its pilot production facility in Waterloo, Ontario, and finalizes plans for its first industrial-scale production site, which aims to produce millions of square meters of high-barrier paper annually.

Michael Hartman, Senior Fellow at Amcor, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: "Amcor is thrilled to support Nfinite as both an early-stage investor and collaborator on this groundbreaking initiative. The AP-SALD technology has demonstrated promising results that could significantly contribute to fiber-based flexible packaging."

In a similar vein, Mark Newman from Unilever emphasized that their collaboration with Nfinite focuses on finding alternatives to difficult-to-recycle flexible plastics, which are pivotal to meeting their sustainability goals. He noted, "Together, we are working towards recyclable and compostable flexible packaging that fulfills the performance needs for Unilever’s extensive product line."

Sridevi Narayan-Sarathy, Technical Director at PepsiCo, commented, "We have been impressed with the progress made by the Nfinite team since our initial contact during their time at the University of Waterloo. Their advancement from lab-scale technology to real-world applications has been remarkable."

Looking Ahead

Nfinite's CEO, Miguel Galvez, expressed gratitude towards the NRC and its partners for their support in realizing a sustainable future devoid of single-use plastics. He remarked, "We are eager to see the potential impacts of our work, allowing us to contribute to a more sustainable and circular packaging ecosystem."

Conclusion

As Nfinite pushes its technology from laboratory research to commercialization, it stands at the forefront of an important evolution in packaging. Through the strategic collaborations and support from the NRC, Nfinite not only reinforces the belief in sustainable packaging but is also set to make a significant dent in the flexible packaging industry.

This initiative not only addresses environmental concerns but also encapsulates a growing trend of sustainability within the packaging industry, promising a greener and cleaner future. The journey ahead for Nfinite looks promising, backed by innovations that challenge traditional packaging paradigms.