The Consumer Health Division of Bayer is collaborating with long-time open innovation partner, yet2, to launch a sustainable packaging Innovation Challenge. Bayer invites innovators and technologists to share sustainable packaging materials, including biodegradable or compostable, flexible and rigid packaging solutions, for use in packaging Bayer’s consumer healthcare products. This challenge will accelerate Bayer’s efforts to reach a target of 100% of Consumer Health packaging to be recyclable or reusable by 2030, without compromising its commitment to improving the health of its consumers.
“We look forward to bringing in the expertise from specialists in the area of sustainable packaging. Designing and developing more sustainable packaging, as early as possible in the product design and development stages, is vital to reduce the impact on our environment and achieve Bayer’s ambitious sustainability goals,” says Keiko Tago, head of packaging sustainability, Bayer Consumer Health.
Bayer Consumer Health’s product packaging currently meets requirements for the protection of products; however, it frequently results in waste that does not break down when discarded and is not sourced from sustainable materials. Bayer is now seeking biodegradable, compostable, dissolvable, or edible packaging that ensures its products maintain their efficacy and quality standards. Packaging formats of interest include sachets and/or rigid or flexible tubes. Potential packaging material solution areas include those derived from sources such as seaweed or plant extracts such as alginate, starch, bagasse, cellulose, or mycelium; chitosan; agricultural waste, and more.
Key requirements for potential submissions include:
- Sustainable packaging and material end of life
- Potential to scale to industrial packaging volumes
- Achieve required water vapor and oxygen transmission rates
- Solutions derived from bio-sourced or renewably sourced materials are preferred.
Submissions should include non-confidential information only that covers:
- An overview of the technology solution
- Data on water vapor transmission and oxygen transmission rates
- Current scale or potential to scale
- Relevant patents
- Any supporting details such as technical spec sheets, pictures, etc.
The challenge is open for submissions starting September 1, 2022. Bayer will continue to receive and review submissions into October. Submissions should be sent to [email protected]. Promising startups, entrepreneurs, technologists, and researchers are encouraged to submit.
