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Cheers to Unplastic; an edible, compostable alternative to plastic, made from beer leftovers

5 min read

Sustainable Planet
Cheers to Unplastic; an edible, compostable alternative to plastic, made from beer leftovers
Source: OutlanderMaterials.com

UnPlastic is a functional, 100% compostable and non-plastic alternative that releases no toxins into the environment—as it is made from food industry by-products—so it will never break down into micro- or nanoplastics.

UnPlastic The (edible) Alternative to Single-Use Plastics

UnPlastic is Rotterdam-based Outlander Materials’ answer to single-use plastics: a functional, compostable and non-plastic alternative that releases no toxins. It is circular—made from food industry sources, by-products, and beer waste—and will never break down into micro- or nano-plastics. In fact it’s so safe, it’s edible! UnPlastic is high in fibre, vegan friendly, and doesn’t harm nature; even fish can eat it.

“I was brewing beer in my kitchen and started to take a more serious look at the amount of waste produced during the beer brewing process. I thought: there’s definitely cool stuff I can make out of this.”
Lori Goff, Outlander Materials — “I was brewing beer in my kitchen and started to take a more serious look at the amount of waste produced during the beer brewing process. I thought: there’s definitely cool stuff I can make out of this.” Source: BLUEcity.nl

From beer to idea to UnPlastic

Lori Goff, at Rotterdam-based Outlander Materials transforms the waste stream of nearby beer brewer VET & LAZY into ‘UnPlastic’; an alternative for single use plastics. UnPlastic is functional, compostable and vegan friendly. But perhaps most importantly – it is a circular product and will never break down into micro or nanoplastics.

The idea was born a few years ago when Lori received a beer brewing kit as a birthday gift. “I was brewing beer in my kitchen and started to take a more serious look at the amount of waste produced during the beer brewing process. I thought: there’s definitely cool stuff I can make out of this.”

And so she did. She settled in BlueCity Lab, started experimenting and soon got in touch with VET & LAZY. “To create one litre of beer you need seven litres of fresh water.” she states. The remaining six litres, referred to as brewery effluent, is normally being wasted. But not on Lori’s watch. “I use the waste stream that is produced during the beer brewing process. With biotechnology, as a result, we produce a material that can be developed into a non-plastic that can function as a new alternative to plastics.” 

Source: BlueCity.nl 

“There are different ways of processing the brewery effluent and there are a lot of variables I can change that will affect the resulting material. This makes the material suitable for multiple applications.” she says.
The first thing Lori created with this new material were candy wrappers, but it can be used to replace multiple types of single use plastics. “There are different ways of processing the brewery effluent and there are a lot of variables I can change that will affect the resulting material. This makes the material suitable for multiple applications.” she says. Source: BLUEcity.nl

UnPlastic Features

  • Biodegradable & Non-Plastic – UnPlastic biodegrades in soil and water, and never breaks down into micro- or nanoplastics. It leaves no harmful traces in the natural environment.

  • Lightweight & Flexible – The material is flexible and lightweight, making it ideal for packaging products.

  • Extends Shelf Life – UnPlastic has exceptional barriers against fats, oils and oxygen, extending the shelf life of products.

  • Non-Toxic, Non-Allergenic & Vegan – UnPlastic is free of toxins, allergens, and animal products.

  • Circular – UnPlastic can be created from already existing food production streams and waste, minimising the depletion of natural resources.

  • Semi-Transparent – UnPlastic foil is semi-transparent, so consumers can see what is inside.

  • Odourless – Unlike many other packaging alternatives, UnPlastic is free of odours, leaving no unintended smells or flavours.

  • Can Be Made From Beer! By making UnPlastic using brewery waste, one of our favorite beverages becomes a world saviour.

Source: OutlanderMaterials.com

“We do need packaging,” she states, “because food travels from one place to another and without the protection of packaging, we would have a lot more food waste. To me it just doesn’t make sense that we have food that only lasts for a few moments that is wrapped in plastic that lasts an eternity.”
Lori hopes to provide a solution to the plastic waste problem without having to eliminate packaging all together. “We do need packaging,” she states, “because food travels from one place to another and without the protection of packaging, we would have a lot more food waste. To me it just doesn’t make sense that we have food that only lasts for a few moments that is wrapped in plastic that lasts an eternity.” Source: OutlanderMaterials.com
It’s compostable, vegan, transparent and it’s possible to add flavours or scents if desired.
UnPlastic has multiple other advantages that could possibly make this material the ultimate alternative to single use plastics. It’s compostable, vegan, transparent and it’s possible to add flavours or scents if desired. Source: BLUEcity.nl

The future for unplastic

On Outlander Materials website they state: 

Currently we are in the proof of concept phase. We aim to design a product that can be scaled quickly and effectively, by iteratively developing UnPlastic so it fits the market’s needs. 

To achieve this we are searching for partners within packaging, manufacturing and consumer goods companies to develop the product stepwise together. 

By developing it in a lean and agile manner and continuously testing, our goal is to have UnPlastic market-ready within 2 years.

Outlander Materials hope to turn materials like UnPlastic into common resources for the packaging world. After commercialisation, they say they will further develop end applications for foils and coatings within the flexible packaging market, and explore non-packaging applications for the raw products. 

Another stated long-term goal is to become a technology provider. Licensing of Outlander materials would provide decentralised production of the raw product to as many companies as possible, replacing unsustainable materials and reducing waste around the globe.

Source: OutlanderMaterials.com

flexible, lightweight, transparent, colourless and odourless. It has an excellent barrier against fats, oils and oxygen, helping to preserve products.
What makes UnPlastic a genuine alternative for single-use plastics and fit for commercial use, are its properties: flexible, lightweight, transparent, colourless and odourless. It has an excellent barrier against fats, oils and oxygen, helping to preserve products. Source: BLUEcity.nl
Source: OutlanderMaterials.com

Eu single-use plastic ban now in effect

Ten single-use plastic (SUP) products that for years have blighted Europe’s beaches and clogged our waterways are now largely banned, as the EU’s Single-Use Plastics Directive of 2019 came into force on Saturday 3 July 2021.

Plastic cotton bud stems, cutlery, plates, straws, stirrers, balloon sticks and polystyrene drink and food containers cannot be sold as of Saturday. Also banned are oxo-degradable plastic bags that are marketed as biodegradable but which, according to the EU, break down into microplastics that long remain in the environment. Learn more.

Currently single-use plastics contribute massively to the worldwide emission of CO2 and global warming. They can also release toxic substances and breakdown into microplastics. UnPlastic, being a functional, compostable, and circular alternative, can improve health and our environment at scale.
UnPlastic is designed as an alternative for single-use plastics. Currently single-use plastics contribute massively to the worldwide emission of CO2 and global warming. They can also release toxic substances and breakdown into microplastics. UnPlastic, being a functional, compostable, and circular alternative, can improve health and our environment at scale. Source: OutlanderMaterials.com
Make an Impact

9 REASONS TO REFUSE SINGLE-USE PLASTIC + 9 TIPS FOR LIVING WITH LESS OF IT

Single use plastic is everywhere. In a matter of decades we have become addicted to the convenience of single use plastic. But we cannot escape the consequences of throwing away vast quantities of a material that takes hundreds of years to break down. Here are 9 reason why we should refuse it, and 9 ways to be less reliant on it.