It is the core mission of Natural Resources Limited (NRL) to bring to market a viable, wood-fibre based alternative to plastic packaging with sustainable end-of-life characteristics.
And that’s exactly what we’re doing. Over ten years of development, NRL have created a patent-protected manufacturing process for producing paper fibre containers that are functional and cost-competitive to plastic alternatives.
Containers produced using our unique processes are fully compatible with recycling methods and bio-degradable in the event of being discarded.
95%
Production of plastics has increased twenty-fold over the last fifty years, but 95% is still discarded after just one first-use cycle.The New Plastics Economy: Rethinking the future of plastics — Ellen MacArthur Foundation 2016
" It is one world. And it’s in our care. For the first time in the history of humanity, for the first time in 500 million years, one species has the future in the palm of its hands. I just hope he realises that that is the case "
— Sir David Attenborough, 2018
Any viable competitive product to plastic must achieve three key features. It must be functional, sustainable and cost-competitive.
Our unique production process has the potential to achieve this; combining a moulded fibre container, with bio-degradable coatings and a fibre or bio-polymer cap. 2016 saw a proof of concept project with Britvic Soft Drinks PLC, which clearly showed the viability of the NRL solution.
A viable solution like this could transform a dry-goods market of £10.8bn and a wet-goods market of £40bn worldwide.
FUNCTIONAL
Providing an effective barrier to water, carbon dioxide, oil, grease and oxygen.
Moulded to shape to fit cutting edge brand identity.
Strength fit for the distribution chain.
SUSTAINABLE
Feedstock from sustainable forests or recycled paper pulp.
Rapid, non-harmful decomposition.
Readily fits into paper / corrugate recycling stream.
COST-COMPETITIVE
Targeting the bar set by PET and HDPE packaging alternatives.
Providing a commercially viable product.
Moulding units designed to be co-located with filling to save transport cost and emissions.
NRL reformed under new management in 2008, having previously worked in the area of tooling development for the moulded pulp products industry.
Since then, with the aid of EU and UK grant funding and shareholders, NRL has completed a number of projects to provide proof-of-concept (PoC) of its moulding process, barrier coating and fibre closures. Major projects have included demonstrations of repeatable manufacturing technology (2014), a water-proofed bottle PoC with Britvic (2016) and a fibre closure PoC (2017).
NRL is actively seeking applications for “dry goods” packaging, such as household goods, beauty care, health supplements and horticultural products.
2012
Early POF Bottles from Recycled Paper
2013
Initial Moulding Patent Filed
2014
EACI Demonstration Moulding Unit
2016
Proof of Concept Project with Britvic
2017
Initial “Virgin Pulp” Mould Unit
2020
Sample Development for Customers
Our Partners
Further Reading
We’ve provided some recent material about NRL and the challenges of plastics packaging.
Meet the Team
James Gardiner
Managing Director
With a background in production engineering initially with Turner and Newall, James is an experienced former consultant with Booz Allen focused on consumer good supply chains. James held an international P&L responsible position with private-equity-backed manufacturer Elster Group, before more recently working with smaller privately held companies.
James took over as Managing Director at the beginning of 2017, focusing on building the company’s proposition to customers. He is also Non-Executive Chairman of Holland Environment Group BV.
Ian Thomas
Chairman
Ian Thomas is a Managing Director of Turquoise International, a merchant bank specialising in the energy and environmental sectors. Turquoise acts as adviser to private companies engaged in fundraising and M&A and makes venture capital investments including as fund manager of the Low Carbon Innovation Fund (LCIF).
Previously Ian worked for Morgan Grenfell/Deutsche Bank, Flemings and Close Brothers.
Tony Hardacre
Peter Dixon
Dorian Hardacre
Non Executive Directors
Contact us for partnership, investment or customer enquiries
NRL are actively seeking B2B partners in the wet and dry goods markets, as well as investors in advance of going to market in 2019.