Saskatchewan Polytechnic and EnviroWay Detergent Manufacturing are working on an applied research project to turn the fibre left over from flax and hemp crops into biodegradable, bottle‑grade plastics.
With $250,000 in funding from the Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, and $7,000 from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program, this applied research project aims to create sustainable, biodegradable packaging for cleaning products.
The challenge
Most biodegradable plastics on the market today work well for compostable cutlery, food containers or thin films, but they’re not strong enough for the tough job of holding detergents, degreasers and disinfectants. These bottles must be able to handle rough use and strong chemicals while being made through high‑speed blow moulding.
That’s where Sask Polytech comes in. The innovative manufacturing B-TAP facility is equipped with specialized tools that allow researchers to turn agricultural materials into commercial‑ready products. The B-TAP team has experience processing biomass from flax and hemp that would typically be discarded or burned into usable manufacturing materials.
Project Phases
This project recently secured funding and work will start this year. The first step will be evaluating Saskatchewan‑grown flax and hemp fibres to determine how well they can blend with biodegradable plastics. Researchers are looking at factors such as fibre quality, availability, cost and overall sustainability. Once they land on the right mix, Sask Polytech will produce biocomposite pellets using a combination of fibre and biodegradable resin.
Once pellet formulations are refined, the team will produce prototype bottles and test their performance under real-world conditions. The prototypes will be filled with actual cleaning products, like alkaline degreasers, detergents and acidic solutions, and observed for signs of leaching, material degradation or changes in product quality over time. The tests will mimic everyday conditions, from sitting in a warehouse to being knocked around during shipping.
EnviroWay’s Saskatoon facility will play a key role in the project, offering its production line to test how well the new bioplastic bottles fit with existing moulds and filling systems. By working directly with industry, the researchers can identify any changes needed for large‑scale manufacturing and provide a clear path for companies interested in switching to greener packaging. This industry‑embedded validation shortens the time required to bring new bioplastic materials and ensures the final product meets real manufacturing requirements. Intellectual property of this project will be retained by EnviroWay.
