Proctor & Gamble eyes nanocomposites for consumer packaging

Proctor & Gamble eyes nanocomposites for consumer packaging

International consumer goods manufacturer Proctor & Gamble sees potential for using nanocomposites, but warned prices must come down. Speaking at EPN and PRW’s Nanocomposites 2004 conference in Belgium yesterday, P&G senior scientist Dr Emily Boswell said nanocomposite materials must be inexpensive relative to current plastics. The business wants improved functionality “for less than we pay for today’s plastics”.

“My director wants speciality materials at commodity prices,” she said, and questioned whether the supply chain is yet big enough to serve P&G’s global plastics usage of 840,000tpa. Dr Boswell cited Nanocor’s present capacity for nanofillers – 44,000 tonnes annually – as being only enough to make 900,000tpa plastic, assuming an addition rate of 5% nanofiller.

Dr Boswell, part of the Innov8/Cre8 Corporate Packaging & Prototyping group based in Egham, UK, said nanocomposites could lower packaging costs by enabling a switch from PET to PP. The company would want at least 20% reduction in plastic weight for less than a 10% premium charge, “otherwise it would not be worth looking at”.

It could also make tougher films for products such as baby’s nappies, and improve barrier properties in hair dye and pet food packaging. She also welcomed a self-cleaning feature to prevent goods on the shelf collecting dust and fingerprints. P&G is seeking a much greater increase in PP and HDPE impact strength through use of nanocomposites – more than the 30-60% increases it has seen so far.