Aquapak’s Hydropol bags picked up by Navico group

Aquapak, manufacturer of specialist polymers for sustainable packaging, has developed Hydropol bag technology for Navico Group to protect its electronics during shipping.

Mark Lapping, chief executive officer at Aquapak, said: ‘Hydropol is perfect for a business like Navico Group, which operates in the highly sensitive marine environment. It can be used as an alternative to conventional plastic as it provides the same functionality and performance but without harming the environment.’

This is a unique new polymer which is water-soluble and non-toxic to marine life. Hydropol is dissolvable and biodegradable and breaks down harmlessly in all existing recycling streams. If it does escape into the environment, it biodegrades completely, leaving nothing behind (i.e., no harmful microplastics). 

Hydropol can then be processed on existing packaging machinery at scale to produce a versatile barrier film layer that can be combined with paper and other bio-plastics or simply turned into strong, durable, puncture-resistant, anti-static bags.

Navico Group has chosen to use Hydropol bags as part of its commitment to protecting the natural environment and ensuring that its supply chain and end-of-life processes are as sustainable as possible.

The ‘leave no trace’ bags used by Navico Group are a great alternative for brands looking to move away from traditional plastic polybags (like LDPE). Although these are ‘recyclable’ or made from recycled materials, they often end up being incinerated or sent to landfill and will not break down easily if they’re accidentally released into the environment.

Hydropol garment bags have also been used for many years by leading brands in the fashion industry, including BCorp and sustainability pioneers Finisterre, and more recently NBrown Group, one of the UK’s largest online fashion retailers.

Jeremiah Clark, VP product management, Navico Group, said: ‘Our commitment to sustainability and protecting the natural environment is a high priority for Navico Group. 

‘We’re continually exploring innovative solutions to reduce our environmental footprint. That’s why we’ve chosen to use Hydropol bags, a sustainable alternative that is non-toxic to marine life and does not generate harmful microplastics.’