Thursday, March 12, 2026

Lactips unveils CareTips, a bio-based, plastic-free polymer for paper coating

By leveraging the natural properties of casein, the biotechnology company Lactips has developed a plastic-free alternative with its flagship material, CareTips. Exhibiting at the Édition Spéciale by LUXE PACK show in Paris in June 2026, the Saint-Étienne-based company will highlight its latest application for paper coating.

With the rise of so-called “plastic-free” solutions, the packaging industry often has to strike a compromise between performance and biodegradability, as many bio-based materials only break down in industrial composting facilities.

Founded in 2014 by Frédéric Prochazka, a research professor at Jean Monnet University in Saint-Étienne, Lactips has spent nearly a decade refining a 100% bio-based, water-soluble and biodegradable polymer made from milk proteins.