The collaboration involves ABB one of the world’s leading robotics manufacturers, and Zume, a six-year-old California-based startup that has been pioneering the production of molded pulp compostable packaging made from agricultural waste. ABB has announced an agreement to collaborate with Zume by supplying robotic cells (referred to as MFCs, or Molded Fiber Cells) that will facilitate Zume’s production of sustainable packaging on a global scale. ABB robots will automate production, enabling the scale and speed required to make Zume’s compostable packaging a cost-effective alternative to single-use plastic.
Zume’s packaging material, which is ASTM D6868 certified as compostable, is made from sustainably harvested plant material left over from agricultural production, including bamboo, wheat, and straw. Foodservice applications, like the bowls used by the Cava chain of quick-serve restuarants in the U.S., have led the way for the most part. But trays for beef, poultry, or other protein products are sure to appear in supermarkets before too long. Plant material uses significantly less water and energy and reduces CO₂ emissions when compared to the production and disposal of plastic packaging. Unlike plastic, plant-based material is 100 percent biodegradable and simply breaks down after use. But making molded pulp packaging at scale has never been a slam dunk.
