New eco-friendly packaging that biodegrades in 21 days developed in Finland

Helsinki-based award-winning start-up Sulapac has developed a series of containers and packaging for luxury cosmetics made of a new material produced from wood waste and natural additives.

This plastic-free packaging has a shelf-life of three years but dissolves in just 21 days in compost and in less than a year in the sea.

It is due to be launched onto the market in 2019, the same year as biodegradable straws developed in collaboration with Swedish firm Stora Enso.

A number of luxury brands have already decided to use Sulapac packaging for their products, although the company’s ultimate goal is to encourage the entire world packaging industry - a market currently worth €800 billion - to adopt sustainable, environmentally-friendly strategies. Sulapac’s next step will be to focus on food packaging and water bottles.