The company BillerudKorsnäs, together with researchers from Uppsala University, are working to bring to the market very cheap and environmentally friendly batteries made from algae cellulose. From ecological packaging to smart packaging with paper batteries.
Research in Sweden opens new horizons in energy storage. BillerudKorsnäs, a manufacturer of renewable packaging materials, together with researchers at Uppsala University are making paper batteries a reality. The collaboration between the two began in 2017 with the aim of offering new solutions for cellulose from algae, a fiber included in the list of raw materials that the company uses to produce its packaging.
The work, carried out by one of Sweden’s leading research teams under the leadership of Maria Strömme, paved the way for eco-friendly and inexpensive storage devices, with the long-term goal of starting large-scale production and providing specific applications, such as the realization of intelligent packaging.
Actually, paper batteries are nothing new to the world of research. As well as being particularly thin, paper batteries are flexible and contain no toxic components, allowing them to be integrated into a wide range of products.
“ What is special about this is the collaborative model between BillerudKorsnäs and Uppsala University that has adapted the technology to commercial production processes, ” explains Lars Sandberg, director of innovation projects at BillerudKorsnäs. « We are combining the great theoretical experience of the researchers with our understanding of innovation and manufacturing technology. By creating a common platform, we can focus our work in the future on creating an advanced product that can be commercially viable. In the long term, explains the company, these paper batteries offer the possibility of achieving smart and more sustainable packaging. The integration of technology with small sensors allows, for example, tracking packages throughout the transport chain or measuring the temperature in real time. The aim of the project is to make it possible to recycle the batteries together with the boxes in the future. «
The paper battery is a key piece of the puzzle to produce smart packaging that requires small, sustainable energy sources.
More information: www.billerudkorsnas.com
