French start-up Lactips has signed a contract with US packaging group SmartSolve to produce 210 tonnes of its casein-derived, water-soluble polymer, used in place of petroleum-based polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) in biosourced, water-soluble packaging. The deal follows two years of joint research and development between the two companies. Lactips is based in Saint-Paul-en-Jarez, France.
Why this mattersA 210-tonne order gives casein-based polymer its first commercial-scale outlet as a non-fossil substitute for PVOH in water-soluble packaging.
- Lactips signed a contract to produce 210 tonnes of its casein-based polymer for US firm SmartSolve
- The two companies have collaborated for two years on an alternative to petroleum-derived polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH)
- Lactips makes 'plastic-free' granules from casein, a protein found in milk
- Lactips is based in Saint-Paul-en-Jarez, France
- SmartSolve specialises in biosourced, water-soluble packaging technologies
French bio-polymer maker Lactips and US-based SmartSolve Industries have signed a global strategic partnership to commercialise PureNil 0, a 100% plastic-free, water-soluble flexible packaging substrate. The companies began collaborating in 2024 and have taken the material from development to commercial scale, with customers in beauty, personal care, food and beverage. The agreement extends to a joint roadmap for future bio-based, plastic-free packaging materials.
Why this mattersA commercial-scale, food-contact-approved, plastic-free dispersible substrate could give brand owners a viable alternative to conventional flexible plastic packaging, pressuring incumbent film suppliers.
- Lactips and SmartSolve announced a global strategic partnership on 18 September 2026.
- The partnership commercialises PureNil 0, described as the first 100% plastic-free, dispersible, printable flexible packaging substrate.
- PureNil 0 combines SmartSolve's bio-based functionalized paper with Lactips' natural polymer resin technology.
- The material is approved for direct food contact and is already sold to customers in beauty, personal care, and food and beverage.
- The two companies began an R&D collaboration in 2024 and reached commercial scale in under two years.
- The agreement includes a joint innovation roadmap for future generations of bio-based, plastic-free packaging materials beyond PureNil 0.
- Lactips will supply SmartSolve Industries with 210 tonnes of PureNil 0 casein-based polymer film annually under its largest contract to date.
- PureNil 0 is designed to replace petroleum-derived PVAL (polyvinyl alcohol) and dissolves fully in water within five minutes.
- A US market launch for PureNil 0 is planned for early 2027.
- Lactips aims to scale its overall production capacity from 1,500 to 10,000 tonnes annually.
- The commercial agreement is exclusive and has no fixed term, covering 210 tonnes of hydro-soluble granules a year.
- Lactips must increase daily production at its Saint-Paul-en-Jarez site, which currently makes 1,500 to 2,000 tonnes of polymer a year, to meet the contract.
- Lactips raised EUR 16m (USD 18.3m) in late 2024 from Swen Capital, Impact Ocean Capital and the SPI fund, partly to finance US expansion.
- The partnership is described as exclusive for deployment across the US market.
- The plastic-free barrier paper from the Lactips-SmartSolve partnership is named PureNil 0.
- PureNil 0 is described as bio-based, printable, water-dispersible and free of conventional plastic.
- PureNil 0 is also commercialised in agriculture, extending beyond beauty, personal care and food and beverage
- SmartSolve launched PureNil 0 in household cleaning products in August 2026 and in agricultural single-dose packaging in July 2026
- Companies say PureNil 0 disperses rapidly in water without leaving microplastic residue
- PureNil 0 has been in commercial production since 8 January 2026.
- Lactips, founded in 2014 and industrialising its technology since 2022, employs 40 people.
