Patent Application
20210229883
The present disclosure is directed in general to the field of biodegradable additives for packaging materials and, more particularly, to a biodegradable additive having an organic fertilizer.
Packaging materials (e.g., corrugated material, cardboard, paper, molded pulp, plastic, etc.) are typically used to store one or more goods during transport. This can include containers for packaging goods during shipment and/or carriers for food and/or drink. In some versions, packaging materials include a corrugated material having two or more layers that are bonded together by an adhesive. Such packaging materials can be discarded after use. Currently, these packaging materials can remain undecomposed for years and fail to provide a beneficial aspect when the packaging materials are decomposed into soil.
Accordingly, described herein is a biodegradable additive for packaging materials that is configured to enhance decomposition of the packaging materials and/or to release nutrients into the soil as the packaging materials decompose.
The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments which serve to explain the principles of the present innovation.
The drawings are not intended to be limiting in any way, and it is contemplated that various embodiments of the innovation may be carried out in a variety of other ways, including those not necessarily depicted in the drawings. The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present innovation, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the innovation; it being understood, however, that this innovation is not limited to the precise arrangements shown.
The following description of certain examples of the innovation should not be used to limit the scope of the present innovation. Other examples, features, aspects, embodiments, and advantages of the innovation will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, which is by way of illustration, one of the best modes contemplated for carrying out the innovation. As will be realized, the innovation is capable of other different and obvious aspects, all without departing from the innovation. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.
It is further understood that any one or more of the teachings, expressions, embodiments, examples, etc. described herein may be combined with any one or more of the other teachings, expressions, embodiments, examples, etc. that are described herein. The following described teachings, expressions, embodiments, examples, etc. should therefore not be viewed in isolation relative to each other. Various suitable ways in which the teachings herein may be combined will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the teachings herein. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.
For clarity of disclosure, spatial terms such as “top,” “bottom,” and “interior,” are used herein for reference to relative positions and directions. Such terms are used below with reference to views as illustrated for clarity and are not intended to limit the innovation described herein.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations.
A biodegradable additive is provided to enhance decomposition of a packaging material and/or to release nutrients into the soil as the packaging material decomposes. The packaging material can comprise a corrugated material having two or more layers such as a substantially flat layer and a fluted layer positioned adjacent to the substantially flat layer. In some versions, the fluted layer is positioned between a top layer and a bottom layer. The two or more layers are bonded together with an adhesive comprising a biodegradable additive. The biodegradable additive includes an organic fertilizer, such as seaweed extract (e.g., kelp), alfalfa meal, bat guano, fish emulsion, cotton seed, meal corn, gluten meal, cow manure, green sand, compost, soybean meal, blood meal, bone meal, feather meal, fish meal, etc. In some other versions, a coating comprising the biodegradable additive can be applied to a surface of the packaging material. Accordingly, the packaging material can act as a renewable source of organic biodegradable fertilizer that may help the packaging material decompose more easily and/or contribute to ground soil enrichment as the packaging material decomposes.
Referring to
Corrugated material 10 further comprises an adhesive 20 applied between fluted layer 16 and top and bottom layers 12, 14 to bond fluted layer 16 with top and bottom layers 12, 14. In the illustrated version, each peak 17 of fluted layer 16 is bonded to the interior surface of top layer 12 by adhesive 20 and each trough 19 of fluted layer 16 is bonded to the interior surface of bottom layer 14 by additive 20. Adhesive 20 comprises a biodegradable additive such that adhesive 20 is configured to enhance organic decomposition of corrugated material 10 and/or to release nutrients (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, etc.) and/or amino acids into soil as it decomposes. For instance, the biodegradable additive can include an organic fertilizer in a soluble liquid and/or powder form. Such organic fertilizers can include a seaweed extract (e.g., kelp), alfalfa meal, bat guano, fish emulsion, cotton seed, meal corn, gluten meal, cow manure, green sand, compost, soybean meal, blood meal, bone meal, feather meal, fish meal, etc. An example of a seaweed extract is Kelp-It™ Soluble Powder made by North American Kelp in Waldoboro, Me.
Accordingly, adhesive 20 can comprise a mixture of one or more of water, starch, borax, caustic soda, and a biodegradable additive such as seaweed extract. For instance, adhesive 20 can comprise from about 70% to about 78% water. The starch of adhesive 20 can include corn, wheat, pea, tapioca, etc. Adhesive 20 can comprise from about 22% to about 29% starch. The caustic soda of adhesive 20 can include a sodium hydroxide 50% solution. Adhesive 20 can comprise from about 0.8% to about 1% caustic soda. Adhesive 20 can comprise from about 0.3% to about 0.6% borax. Adhesive 20 can comprise from about 3% to about 5% seaweed extract power. Still other suitable configurations for adhesive 20 will be apparent to one with ordinary skill in the art in view of the teachings herein for bonding layers 12, 14, 16 of corrugated material 10.
Corrugated material 10 can thereby act as a renewable source of organic biodegradable fertilizer to allow corrugated material 10 to decompose more easily than a corrugated material without a biodegradable additive and/or to contribute to ground soil enrichment as corrugated material 10 decomposes. This may enhance landfills receiving disposed products having corrugated material 10 and/or soil receiving landscaping products incorporating corrugated material 10. The use of a seaweed extract in adhesive 20 may further provide a use for excess seaweed that may be a nuisance.
Referring to
Additionally or alternatively, the biodegradable additive can be applied as a coating on a packaging material. Referring to
The following examples relate to various non-exhaustive ways in which the teachings herein may be combined or applied. It should be understood that the following examples are not intended to restrict the coverage of any claims that may be presented at any time in this application or in subsequent filings of this application. No disclaimer is intended. The following examples are being provided for nothing more than merely illustrative purposes. It is contemplated that the various teachings herein may be arranged and applied in numerous other ways. It is also contemplated that some variations may omit certain features referred to in the below examples. Therefore, none of the aspects or features referred to below should be deemed critical unless otherwise explicitly indicated as such at a later date by the inventors or by a successor in interest to the inventors. If any claims are presented in this application or in subsequent filings related to this application that include additional features beyond those referred to below, those additional features shall not be presumed to have been added for any reason relating to patentability.
A packaging material for transporting one or more goods, wherein the packaging material comprises one or more layers and a biodegradable additive applied to at least a portion of a surface of the one or more layers, wherein the biodegradable additive comprises an organic fertilizer having one or more nutrients such that the biodegradable additive is configured to release the one or more nutrients when the packaging material decomposes.
The packaging material of example 1, wherein the packaging material comprises a corrugated material having fluted layer bonded with another layer by an adhesive comprising the biodegradable additive.
The packaging material of example 2, wherein the fluted layer includes a plurality of peaks and a plurality of troughs to form an undulating configuration, wherein the fluted layer is positioned between a top layer and a bottom layer, wherein the adhesive is applied between the top layer and the plurality of peaks to bond the plurality of peaks with an interior surface of the top layer, wherein the adhesive is applied between the bottom layer and the plurality of troughs to bond the plurality of troughs with an interior surface of the bottom layer.
The packaging material of any one or more of examples 1 through 3, wherein the biodegradable additive is applied as a coating to at least a portion of the surface of the one or more layers.
The packaging material of any one or more of examples 1 through 4, wherein the biodegradable additive comprises a seaweed extract.
The packaging material of any one or more of examples 1 through 5, wherein the biodegradable additive further comprises one or more of water, starch, borax, and caustic soda to form an adhesive.
The packaging material of example 6, wherein the adhesive comprises from about 70% to about 78% water.
The packaging material of any one or more of examples 6 through 7, wherein the adhesive comprises from about 22% to about 29% starch.
The packaging material of any one or more of examples 6 through 8, wherein the adhesive comprises from about 0.8% to about 1% caustic soda.
The packaging material of any one or more of examples 6 through 9, wherein the adhesive comprises from about 0.3% to about 0.6% borax.
Example 11
The packaging material of any one or more of examples 6 through 10, wherein the adhesive comprises from about 3% to about 5% seaweed extract.
The packaging material of any one or more of examples 1 through 11, wherein the one or more nutrients comprises one or more of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
The packaging material of any one or more of examples 1 through 12, wherein the packaging material is decomposable in soil to thereby release the one or more nutrients in the soil.
An adhesive for bonding one or more layers of a corrugated material, wherein the adhesive comprises a biodegradable additive, wherein the biodegradable additive comprises an organic fertilizer having one or more nutrients such that the biodegradable additive is configured to release the one or more nutrients when the biodegradable additive decomposes.
The adhesive of example 14, wherein the adhesive comprises one or more of water, starch, borax, caustic soda, and seaweed extract.
The adhesive of example 15, wherein the adhesive comprises: from about 70% to about 78% water; from about 22% to about 29% starch; from about 0.8% to about 1% caustic soda; from about 0.3% to about 0.6% borax; and from about 3% to about 5% seaweed extract.
A method of manufacturing a biodegradable additive for application to a packaging material, the method comprising the steps of: mixing an organic fertilizer with water until the organic fertilizer is substantially dissolved; and straining the mixture to form a biodegradable additive.
The method of example 17, further comprising coating at least a portion of a surface of a layer of a packaging material with the biodegradable additive.
The method of any one or more of examples 17 through 18, further comprising mixing the strained mixture with one or more of starch, borax, and caustic soda to form an adhesive.
The method of example 19, further comprising applying the adhesive to a layer of a corrugated material to bond the layer with another layer of the corrugated material.
Having shown and described various embodiments of the present innovation, further adaptations of the methods and systems described herein may be accomplished by appropriate modifications by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present innovation. Several of such potential modifications have been mentioned, and others will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For instance, the examples, embodiments, geometrics, materials, dimensions, ratios, steps, and the like discussed above are illustrative and are not required. Accordingly, the scope of the present innovation should be considered in terms of the following claims and is understood not to be limited to the details of structure and operation shown and described in the specification and drawings.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/967,360, entitled “Biodegradable Agriculture and Landscape Material,” filed on Jan. 29, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62967360 | Jan 2020 | US |
