Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

July 2, 2010

UMaine, Waterville co. win packaging patent

By The Mainebiz News Staff

The University of Maine and a Waterville-based technology company have received a patent for a food packaging technology that could help boost paper companies.

UMaine and Cerealus Holdings say the Holdout product is a sustainable and biodegradable alternative to traditional food packaging materials, which use fluorocarbon compounds, according to a press release from UMaine. The Holdout product is made from corn-based proteins and other natural materials. Michael Bilodeau, director of UMaine's Process Development Center, said in the release the product gives paper and other packaging companies "access to a renewable, non-toxic barrier coating."

Tony Jabar, founder and CEO of Cerealus, told Mainebiz in February the company has been working with UMaine since its founding in 2004 to develop the food packaging product, funded in part by two $10,000 seed grants and a $185,000 development grant from the Maine Technology Institute.  Cerealus and UMaine are also working to commercialize another grain-based product that would allow paper companies to make certain grades of paper stronger while lowering production costs and reducing raw material loss.

Sign up for Enews

Mainebiz web partners

Most Recent

Most Recent

Comments

Order a PDF