Green news: Lactips/SmartSolve partner for plastic-free packaging; Loop sets up committee to review India PET recycling project

Lactips, a French innovator in 100% bio-based, water-soluble natural polymers, and US-based water soluble packaging provider SmartSolve have announced a global partnership to accelerate the shift away from plastic packaging.

The companies began collaborating in 2024, advancing PureNil 0 — the world's first 100% plastic-free, dispersible, printable, flexible packaging substrate — from development to commercial scale in under two years.

Approved for direct food contact, PureNil 0 disperses rapidly in water without leaving microplastic residue, with customers across beauty, personal care, food and beverage markets. The partnership's roadmap extends beyond PureNil 0 to future bio-based, plastic-free packaging generations.

"Lactips gave us the one thing this industry has been missing: a truly plastic-free, water-soluble material that performs at commercial scale. What started as an R&D collaboration is now a long-term strategic partnership, and PureNil 0 is proof that plastic-free packaging isn't a future promise — it's here today." said Jonathan Jakubowski, CEO/Co-Founder at SmartSolve.

"Signing this exclusive agreement with SmartSolve marks a significant milestone in Lactips' global expansion. We are delighted to partner with SmartSolve, and I would like to deeply thank their team for their trust and for the energy they are bringing to accelerate the adoption of zero waste natural packaging solutions. Together, we have the opportunity to make a lasting positive impact on both industry practices and the environment," said Alexis von Tschammer, CEO at Lactips.

In other news, recycler Loop Industries has announced that its Board of Directors has formed a Strategic Alternatives Committee to advance commercialisation, strengthen the company's capital position and maximise long-term shareholder value. Its immediate priority is looking at financing joint-venture PET recycling project in India.

It will create a formal Board-led process to evaluate Loop's capital needs, strategic direction and opportunities to unlock the value of its technology and intellectual-property platform.

The Committee's immediate priority is to support management in securing Loop's required capital contribution and broader project-financing structure for the planned India joint venture through project-level debt, strategic capital, equity financing or a combination of those sources.

The Committee will evaluate strategic and financial alternatives, including strategic investments, project-level financing, licensing and commercial partnerships, regional joint ventures, business combinations, corporate-structure alternatives, a potential sale, merger or going-private transaction, and other initiatives to enhance shareholder value.

"The recent change in Board leadership is a catalyst for a disciplined review of Loop's strategic and financial alternatives," said Jeff Geygan, Chairman of the Board. "Our immediate priority is securing the capital required to advance the India joint venture through the most efficient and shareholder-aligned structure available. At the same time, the Board will evaluate every credible path to unlock the value of Loop's technology and intellectual-property platform and maximize shareholder value."

Daniel Solomita, Founder/CEO, will continue to lead Loop's operating and commercial activities, including the India joint venture, strategic customer and partner relationships, financing initiatives and commercialisation of Loop's technology platform.

The company says it has not made any decision regarding a specific alternative, and no timetable has been established for completing the review. There can be no assurance the process will result in a sale, merger, going-private transaction or any other transaction or outcome.

Last year, its India joint-venture ELITe (Ester Loop Infinite Technologies pvt Ltd), formed in partnership with Ester Industries, awarded the detailed engineering contract for its Infinite Loop India project to Toyo Engineering India.

The Loop India manufacturing facility is expected to have an annual production capacity of 70,000 tonnes of PET resin, with completion projected for end of 2027 and capital expenditure was said to have been trending below the US$176 million budget

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