Blue Ocean Closures, the Swedish start-up developing proprietary fiber based screw caps, has obtained a second investment from co-owner ALPLA Group to further develop and speed up the process of bringing environmentally friendly closure solutions to market. Blue Ocean has also partnered with co-owner Glatfelter Corporation, a manufacturer of airlaid nonwovens, to develop the caps, which have been awarded an IDEA 2022 Innovation Award from INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry.
Blue Ocean Closures was founded one year ago and the ALPLA Group, an Austrian family run corporation leading in plastic packaging and recycling, immediately partnered up as a part owner. Further investment in Blue Ocean Closures should increase possibilities to grow its sustainable operations and activities in the field of fully biobased, biodegradable and recyclable caps and lids.
"We have seen great progress, moving fast to meet the goal of developing usable fiber solutions, and as part of ALPLA’s important strategic development in circular economy, we have now decided to invest further in Blue Ocean Closures,” says Christian Zmölnig, Director Corporate Research, development and innovation at ALPLA Group.
Achievements include significant product and material, production and people development. The ALPLA management team visited Blue Ocean Closures’ production facility in Säffle in August, where the first continuous production plant for fiber based closures is located.
"It is a very important step that a fully functioning machine is already installed, up and running together with a skilled and knowledgeable team” affirms Zmölnig.
Founder and CEO of Blue Ocean Closures, Lars Sandberg, comments, "We now have a product with the potential to replace plastic closures in several important global product segments and markets. The intention is to go commercial with our fiber screw caps in 2023. A dedicated and growing team and the additional investment from ALPLA is for sure evidence that we are on the right path and means that we can significantly strengthen our business resources” Lars concludes.
Blue Ocean Closures is considering opening for new investors to join the company during the first quater 2023.