The food packaging industry is at a crossroads. On one side, there is the undeniable need to meet strict safety and performance standards to preserve freshness and protect products. On the other, there is a growing imperative to transition toward sustainable practices, driven by environmental concerns and tightening regulations. Enter IonKraft, an Aachen-based startup aiming to bridge this divide.
Recently, IonKraft secured €3.5 million in funding from a consortium of investors, including M Ventures, the TechVision Fund (TVF), and High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF). With this financial boost, the company is poised to bring its innovative plasma-based barrier coating technology to market—a solution that could fundamentally reshape the way food packaging addresses recyclability and chemical safety.
The challenges facing food packaging are complex and deeply entrenched. Most packaging materials today rely on multi-layer plastics, a blend of different polymers that provide durability and protection against moisture and oxygen. While effective, these materials are non-recyclable because the layers cannot be separated during the recycling process. Additionally, many of these packages incorporate per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), chemicals prized for their resistance to oil and water but now under increasing scrutiny for their persistence in the environment and potential health risks.
For decades, the industry has relied on these solutions, but rising environmental concerns and regulatory changes—such as the European Union’s tightening restrictions on PFAS—are creating significant pressure for change. IonKraft’s technology offers a compelling answer to these challenges.
The Innovation: Plasma-Based Coatings
At the core of IonKraft’s approach is plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), a technology that applies a thin, glass-like barrier coating to common plastics such as PET and PE-HD. Developed by co-founder Dr. Montgomery Jaritz during his tenure at the Institute of Plastics Processing at RWTH Aachen University, this coating offers a unique combination of properties: it is chemically inert, highly resistant, and exceptionally thin—less than 100 nanometers thick.
Unlike traditional multi-layer packaging, IonKraft’s coated plastics remain fully recyclable. The coatings have been certified by Recyclass, a key credential for any material aiming to support a circular economy. Importantly, this innovation eliminates the need for PFAS, aligning with regulatory trends and environmental goals.
Scaling for Impact
With its recent funding, IonKraft is preparing for the next phase: scaling its production and integrating its technology into real-world manufacturing. The company is currently building capacity to deploy its first coating plants at customer sites by the end of 2023. By 2025, products featuring IonKraft’s coatings are expected to hit the market, offering a tangible solution to longstanding industry challenges.
The capital infusion will also support IonKraft’s broader mission to enable manufacturers to replace millions of tons of non-recyclable, PFAS-containing packaging with recyclable alternatives. This is particularly significant for the food industry, where the demand for safe and effective packaging often clashes with environmental goals.
IonKraft’s potential has not gone unnoticed by investors. Owen Lozman, Managing Director of M Ventures, highlights the multifaceted appeal of the technology. “IonKraft’s innovative coating is attractive for several reasons: It offers an alternative to PFAS, which are increasingly regulated, and to glass, which easily breaks or requires additional packaging,” he says. The coatings also enable manufacturers to maximize the use of recycled materials in their products, addressing a critical industry need.
Meanwhile, Nils Lang of HTGF underscores the strategic alignment between IonKraft’s solution and market demands. “IonKraft’s technology meets strong market demand and is aligned with the current dynamics of change,” Lang notes, emphasizing the company’s readiness to navigate future challenges.
The food packaging industry stands to gain significantly from IonKraft’s innovation. For manufacturers, the plasma coatings represent a straightforward integration into existing production lines, minimizing disruption while delivering substantial environmental and regulatory benefits. For consumers, this technology promises a future where packaging no longer comes with hidden ecological costs.
IonKraft’s journey from university lab to industrial application is a testament to the power of targeted innovation. By addressing the intertwined issues of recyclability and chemical safety, the company has positioned itself as a pivotal player in the push toward sustainable packaging. For investors, this makes IonKraft not just a promising startup but a critical enabler of the circular economy in one of the most challenging sectors to transform.
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