Research teams at Amcor are currently stress-testing Kelpi’s proprietary technology, which utilizes seaweed to create moisture and gas barriers. The collaboration focuses on maintaining high-speed production standards while ensuring the final material remains fully compatible with existing paper recycling streams. By leveraging nature-sourced materials, the companies intend to reduce the carbon footprint of flexible packaging without sacrificing the functional durability required by consumer goods manufacturers.

Peter Ettridge, Director of Research and Development for AmFiber, noted that the initiative aligns with recent mandates from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation for accelerated innovation in paper-based materials. For Amcor, the partnership serves as a strategic move to scale emerging technologies within its vast, 400-location global network. Frank Lehmann, Vice President of Corporate Venturing at Amcor, emphasized that the focus remains on finding commercially viable solutions that bridge the gap between high-performance packaging and circular economy goals.