Popnat presentation

Industrial opportunity:Partnership sought: 

Industrial opportunity:Partnership sought For company: Popnat

Summary: 

2 Summary Introduction Popnat product description Technical specifications History Commercial targets Forces and threats Conclusion

Introduction: 

3 Introduction Popnat, with its headquarters in Paris, has developed a new packing material using popcorn to protect fragile goods in transport. Popnat is the first company that has successfully commercialized packing materials from biodegradable starch instead of petroleum-based foams. This innovative process, the result of some four years of R&D, absorbs shocks better than competitive expanded polystyrene and allows users to reduce the volume of packing materials while using biodegradable packing components. The simple packing materials preparation process allows users to create the materials close to the place of use, thereby reducing by a factor of 30 the volumes required for long-distance transport. Popnat offers its partners the possibility of having a market-ready, environmentally-friendly packing technology cost effectively. During a pilot program, Popnat sold packing materials for 35,000 bottles from July 2003 to June 2004 which provided successful transportation under extreme conditions without breakage at an affordable cost. Popnat has patents obtained or pending in Brazil, China, France, Germany, and Japan.

Popnat description : 

4 Popnat description Popnat product description: Popnat is a protective mat made of starch spheres (variety of pop-corn) between two layers of cellulose paper coated with polyethylene (necessary for welding layers and insulating starch from moisture). The popcorn acts as an excellent shock absorber. The material is conformable, resists to humidity and is made with 95 % of biodegradable raw materials.

Technical Specification : 

5 Technical Specification Technical Specification: In a special compost room, the Popnat is decomposed to 82 % after 45 days (Norm ISO/CEN 14855). In an atmosphere with 80 % of humidity and 35°C, the Popnat resists 3 months if polyethylene layers are not damaged. Speed bounce comparison between PSE, PE, and Popnat ( mass : 2,6 kg; area : 0,015 m2; height : 0,9 m; thickness of wedging material : 60 mm; arrival speed : 4,2 m/s ) :

Technical specifications: 

6 Technical specifications Average thickness: 17mm Average gsm: 400 grams per square meter Average volume mass: 24kg/m3 Size of Popnat pads: Width: 5 to 50 cm Minimal length: 20cm Popnat offers the possibility to insure the goods protected by popnat after studies of the product and the means of transport Resistance to heat: the Popnat can be made with fireproof cellulose

Project: 

7 Project Aimed commercial targets If the sending of bottles by mail is a good test for Popnat, the aimed target is the electronic industry. These heavy, fragile and expensive products travel between their place of manufacturing and their final destination. An increasing part is sold by Internet (c.f. Dell). All these companies show a voluntary environmental policy. National Starch / ICI launched out a vast program of R&D on the realization starch foam to replace polystyrene and polyethylene foam.

Commercial targets: 

8 Commercial targets First reached commercial targets Target 1: to send bottles by mail. Popnat sold since July 2003 more than 26 000 protection of bottles. Popnat’s direct competitor is a cardboard box with polystyrene’s foam protection. Target 2: protection of the extremely fragile. Popnat sells a packaging Popnat/Cardboard box to « Nature & Découvertes » to transport Galileo’s thermometers. The new packaging also allows reducing 40% weight and volume of the initial packaging. Target 3: sale with the general public. www. alapage.com sell on its site since September Popnat envelopes

Strenghts and threats: 

9 Strenghts and threats Strenghts Popnat allows bringing an eco-innovative solution of a market in growth, arisen from the rule on packaging. The model business of Popnat is based on three axes which allow adjusting the offer according to the distribution channels: conceive holds, advise the customers, put at the disposal manufacturing’s means. Strategic alliances to maintain the technological headway and to open new markets. A mattering knowledge accompanied with patents, makes more difficult the arrival of new actors. Threats Popnat is a product difficult to comprehend by the customers and it is an mportant technological jump. Solution: develop a niche market which allows demonstrating the efficiency of the concept. Start cooperation with a packaging manufacturer having an existing Competitor's arrival (ICI/ National Starch) on the market with very important financial means. Solution: basic research and applied with the best French and\or European laboratories (RMNP project) and needs of capital to continue to develop.

Turnover: 

10 Turnover Source : Popnat, nov. 2005 Popnat’s Turnover identified by market (France & world) = 31,3 M€

Turnover: 

11 Turnover Popnat’s Turnover identified by customer groups (France & world) = 26,9 M€ Source : Popnat, nov. 2005

Conclusion: 

12 Conclusion Popnat is a perfectly additional product in cardboard in its basic characteristics. Its use allows imagining and quickly defining lighter, less voluminous packaging with a better shocks protection. Starch manufacturers also study solutions of plastic’s foam replacement, but the Popnat technology is the only one to propose a natural starch’s expansion. This process is certainly the most secure, simple and reliable. Popnat is also the first one to market such solutions. PARTNER SOUGHT. Popnat has successfully developed and tested its packing materials, but it does not have the capital available to move to industrial-scale production, particularly in the high labor cost French business environment. Popnat believes that locating such a facility in China will make the materials more cost effective. Popnat is thus seeking a licensee for its patents and know-how. The partner will have an operating packing materials business (for example, expanded polystyrene) and will be looking for a way to differentiate itself from its competitors. The partner will provide production and sales in China, as well as making product available for sales in Asia.

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