mBlack™ to replace traditional plastics: let’s all be part of the solution
mPackting developed a 100% bio-based, compostable material called mBlack™ made from its own upcycled wood waste, that can replace traditional plastics in various applications. The material is a carbon sink, which means it has the ability to absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in the long term (for hundreds or even thousands of years), mitigating the impacts of climate change, and can help businesses meet growing consumer demand for sustainable products.
Why developing mBlack™, in the first place?
At mPackting we are on a constant journey to innovation. Developing eco-responsible materials that can replace plastics has become a growing area of interest and research in recent years. This is true also in the beauty packaging industry. Some reasons why such direction has been targeted at mPackting are:
Environmental impact: Plastics are a major source of pollution and waste, with many ending up in landfills or oceans where they can take hundreds of years to decompose. Developing sustainable materials that replace plastics can help reduce the environmental impact of packaging and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Versatility: Plastics are versatile materials that are used in a wide range of applications. Developing sustainable alternatives to plastics should aim at providing the same type of functionality and versatility, allowing them to be used on a wide range of applications typically covered by plastics.
Customization: Developing such materials can allow for customization to meet specific needs and applications. This can help create more tailored and efficient solutions for various markets.
Consumer demand: There is a growing consumer demand for more sustainable products, including packaging. Developing sustainable moldable materials can help businesses meet this demand and fulfill their most ambitious sustainability targets.
What makes mBlack™ special?
mBlack™ is a 100% bio-based material, which comes from the wood waste from our own manufacturing activities (upcycled wood). The waste is transformed into biochar and then mixed to a biopolymer. Biochar is a great material because it absorbs and stores carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in the long term (for hundreds or even thousands of years). Plants, having captured CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis, would otherwise release that compound during their decomposition. "It is estimated that one ton of biochar sequesters between 1.3 and 2 metric tons of CO2 equivalent over a 100-year period," said Axel Reinaud, the president of the French company NetZero, which he co-founded in January 2021 along with, among others, climatologist Jean Jouzel.
mBlack™ comes from nature and it is destined to return to nature at the end of its life cycle, as it is compostable. After use, microorganisms in the soil or water can break it down into water, CO2 and biomass, leaving no microplastics behind. This makes mBlack™ totally safe for the environment during its whole life cycle. In addition, with mBlack™ we aimed at improving our environment, one tiny step at a time, hence why we made mBlack™ a carbon sink material.
What’s a carbon sink, and why is it important?
A carbon sink material is any material that has the ability to absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This can include natural materials such as trees and soil, as well as synthetic materials such as concrete or certain types of plastics. The relevance of carbon sink materials lies in their ability to mitigate the impacts of climate change by removing CO2 from the atmosphere, since it is a major greenhouse gas responsible for trapping heat and causing global warming. Carbon sink materials are particularly important because the current concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is higher than it has been in at least 800,000 years, and is continuing to rise due to human activities, mainly the intensive use of fossil fuels. This is causing the Earth's temperature to increase and resulting in a range of negative impacts, including more frequent and severe weather events, sea level rise, and loss of biodiversity.
The use of carbon sink materials at scale in various applications can help to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and store it in a safe and stable form. This can help to slow the rate of global warming and reduce the impacts of climate change.
Our virtuous cycle
mBlackTM for the beauty packaging industry
mBlackTM is a valid alternative to other materials currently on the market (mainly traditional plastics like PP, ABS, PE…). It is injection moldable, sustainable and…black (decoration options are possible). mBlack™ offers the benefits of a truly eco-responsible material while not sacrificing the need of making safe, functional and beautiful products. Contact mPackting to learn more!