Renewable materials for the packaging of the future

Fredrik Andersson’s research focuses on developing more sustainable packaging solutions by replacing fossil-based plastics with renewable materials based on cellulose fibers. The focus is particularly on packaging closures, such as caps and lids, which are currently most often made from plastic or metal.

In collaboration with the company Blue Ocean Closures and Karlstad University within the EXACT Graduate School, he studies a recently commercialized dry-forming technology, in which dry cellulose fibers are shaped under high pressure instead of in water. Through material characterization, modeling, and numerical simulations, the effects of process conditions and mold design on product quality are investigated. The aim is to improve process efficiency, reduce costs, and make renewable packaging more competitive on the market.

The EXACT Industrial Graduate School is funded through grants from the Knowledge Foundation (KK Foundation).