How this former robotic pizza unicorn reinvented itself round sustainable packaging

A fleet of robots and a few fancy sustainable materials could level the best way to fixing a vexing downside: Tips on how to scale back dangerous single-use packaging supplies, which embrace not simply plastics and polystyrene but in addition chemical substances used to line cardboard packaging.

The corporate in query is Zume, and also you may bear in mind the title from its first life as a pizza-making robotics agency as soon as valued within the billions. After making an attempt to scale its finish to finish automated pizza enterprise too rapidly, the Softbank-backed model pivoted went via main layoffs after which pivoted to sustainable packaging. With a breakthrough partnership with international robotics chief ABB, in addition to a brand new partnership with Solenis, a number one international producer of speciality chemical substances, Zume is launching a line of 100% PFAS-free compostable packaging for the meals packaging trade, capping off a significant model reinvention.

Why is that this essential? Ever regarded intently on the within a cardboard takeout field? That sheen preserving your lo mein from soaking into the cardboard is more than likely PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), broadly used chemical substances generally present in sustainable meals packaging. These poisonous chemical substances bind to proteins within the soil, transmit up the meals chain and have been linked to a slew of well being dangers.

“Till now, an economically viable answer for manufacturers to transition from plastic and foam packaging hasn’t been accessible,” mentioned Zume CEO and Chairman Alex Backyard. “Our patented molded fiber manufacturing gear system and know-how allow us to supply sustainable packaging on the similar worth or lower than plastic. This partnership with Solenis advances efforts to get rid of single-use plastic and permits manufacturers to maintain commitments to cease utilizing PFAS.”

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Zume and Solenis have been working collectively to innovate molded fiber options to interchange total classes of single-use plastic with out dangerous chemical substances. A part of the breakthrough here’s a robotics-enabled manufacturing course of, one thing that is given single-use plastics producers a leg up in terms of pricing single-use packaging. Underneath the phrases of the brand new partnership, Zume will present its superior molded fiber manufacturing capabilities {and professional} companies, and Solenis will provide experience in useful components and floor coatings to extend the energy and performance of Zume’s fiber recipes making them enough for a broad array of business makes use of.

Preliminary merchandise will embrace cups, bowls, plates, premium egg cartons, espresso cup lids, protein trays, and yogurt cups. ABB’s robots will automate manufacturing and allow the size and velocity wanted to make Zume’s sustainable packaging.