Amcor Lift-Off Shortlists Four Startups to Solve Moisture Barrier Challenge in Compostable Packaging

Amcor Announces Shortlist for Latest Lift-Off Competition

Image Credits: Amcor

Amcor, which is a worldwide leader in developing and creating responsible packaging solutions, declared the shortlist for its modern Amcor Lift-Off challenge, attentive towards finding solutions to one of the most significant hurdles in sustainable packaging and delivering effective Water Vapour Transmission Rate (WVTR) barriers for compostable substrates, including paper. The four qualified start-ups, based across the U.S. and the U.K., will shift on to the next phase of valuation.

In this newest Amcor Lift-Off competition, several start-up corporations offered their advanced solutions to the challenge of offering superior moisture protection in fiber and other compostable packaging resources. Despite being at different phases in the growth process, each of the accepted companies stood out for their exclusive approach to tackling this challenge. The four selected teams will now enter a more severe evaluation process with Amcor’s R&D and Corporate Venturing teams. This may comprise technical trials, joint development arrangements, and potential investment.

This challenge was introduced under the Amcor Lift-Off Sprints program, one of two tracks within the broader Amcor Lift-Off initiative. First presented in 2022, Amcor Lift-Off is an open-call platform planned to identify and support early-stage start-ups working on the invention of packaging technologies. Through Lift-Off Sprints, the focus is on solving specific R&D challenges by providing selected start-ups the opportunity to partnership with our technical teams and receive up to $500,000 in funding.

Previous Amcor Lift-Off rounds have resulted in successful collaborations in areas such as nanocoatings, AI-powered waste credit, and plant-based chemical conversion. Lehmann added, "Amcor Lift-Off is more than a funding mechanism, it's a gateway to long-term collaboration. Our desire is to be the go-to partner for packaging invention, and Amcor Lift-Off helps us connect with the brightest minds in the start-up ecosystem."

Frank Lehmann, Vice President Corporate Venturing and Open Innovation at Amcor, expressed, "We're energized by the creativity and commitment these innovators bring to the table. Their ideas not only align with Amcor's sustainability ambitions but also reflect the power of open innovation to accelerate progress across the packaging industry. Their technologies show strong promise in helping to meet the functional demands of moisture-sensitive applications while advancing our sustainability goals."