US microcellular foaming specialist Trexel (Wilmington, Massachusetts; www.trexel.com) and UK plastics technology group Bockatech (Oxford; www.bockatech.com) say they have developed sustainable, recyclable and reusable packaging products for takeaway food service and food retail sectors, other fast-moving consumer goods markets and industrial applications.

The pair will look to advance Bockatech’s “EcoCore” technology, which produces containers by injecting a gas-laden melt, usually polypropylene, into a mould at a fast rate and at high pressure.

Trexel, known for its patented Mucell microcellular foaming process, claims that using EcoCore results in a weight saving of around 30% compared to traditionally injection-moulded containers. EcoCore was developed using chemical foaming agents, and the partners are working to replace those materials with gas foaming agents.

Chris Bocking, Bockatech’s founder and chief strategy officer, said working with Trexel had helped his firm get a better understanding of the benefits of using gas for foaming in packaging. “This results in containers that take advantage of specific expansions designed for MuCell N2, and we’re looking forward to sharing more about the excellent results from the collaboration later this year.”