NMIS-DIRF-06683 - Mechanical Testing of HUID’s Compostable Onion-Based Packaging Material

The project was set to establish the environmental impact baseline for the onion-based film packaging.
The goal was to gather data for a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of HUID’s onion-based packaging material, identifying database knowledge gaps for their supply chain and manufacturing processes and work with the Advanced Materials Research Laboratory to test the mechanical properties of the innovative product.
I provided consultancy and support to HUID, starting with the grant application and submission for RTO funding. Later, I led the delivery of the sustainable development work package, interacting closely with the customer to help them understand the environmental impact of their new process. The sustainability analysis I conducted also helped refine and further develop the production process.

This project helped HUID grow from a micro-company to a larger team. The initial work acted as a stepping stone to secure significant grants (over £100K) for further development. Additionally, the success led to a new DIRF project worth £6,000 for the CTO team. The unique nature of the project attracted media attention, resulting in multiple articles, including coverage by the BBC.

This project was fundeed from an RTO Growth Support Account, costed at £15,000.