Ecolean

- functional packaging in an eggshell

Bringing together interests of functionality, energy savings and low environmental impact the new packaging material from Ecolean may summarize the tradition of packaging and invention found in the Oresund Region.

Using the calcium rich eggshell as a model, the inventor and founder of the packaging company Ecolean, Åke Rosén, has developed a material that looks like plastic but consists of a mixture of 40% chalk (calcium carbonate) and polyolefin, the simplest and least harmful of all plastics. The result is a low cost material that is strong, resilient and ideal for food packaging. Suited for a wide range of packaging applications such as soft bottles, stand-up/pillow pouches, wrap around film, or sealable peel liddings the company is challenging the international competition for markets.

Ecolean’s Head Quarter, R&D centre and main production plant is found in Helsingborg. Today, the company founded in 1996 employs 180 and has staff in Poland, Bulgaria, China and in the US, as well as agents in some 20 countries. In May 2002 Ecolean opened its first factory outside Sweden, in Tianjin, China, 200km from Beijing, and is now aiming at new markets around the world. Several well-known profiles from the Tetra Pak management serve on the Ecolean board today. Among others you find former CEO Hans Rausing who saw the Tetra Pak staff grow from 6 to 36 000 during his time in the company.

Speaking for the future of the company is also the low environmental impact of the lean material. This is minimized throughout the production process and the product life cycle. The manufacturing process consumes 30% to 60% less energy in comparison to conventional plastic, aluminium and paper applications.  The need for water in the production process is small, something that has proved to be important on markets where clean water is scarce. After use the packaging can be recycled or incinerated, but it is also photo/biodegradable.

www.ecolean.com