Spark Sourcing, a distributor of sustainable packaging solutions, has announced that its product eco-shell has received the EN 13430 certification for recyclability.

eco-shell is a bio-calcium compound derived from eggshells through a patented seven-step process that involves calcination. Patents have been granted in the USA, UK, Taiwan, Australia, and China.

The material reportedly offers a 70% reduction in carbon emissions compared to virgin plastics. It is compatible with a wide range of plastics, including PP, PE, HDPE, PET, EVA, PS, ABS, rubber, PVC, PLA, as well as recycled plastic, ocean-bound plastics, and bio-plastics.

The new certification adds to a growing list for eco-shell that includes SGS eco-certification for plastic, waste, and carbon reduction, as well as EU RoHS, antibacterial, and high FIR emissivity certifications.

Packaging applications for eco-shell cover jars and bottles for the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, wellness and cannabis industries, trays and industrial packaging with 50% eco-shell, bags made form 30% eco-shell and 70% recycled plastic, eco-shell + PLA for reduced plastic and biodegradable straws and utensils, industrial buckets, bins, and barriers with a 30% plastic reduction, and pallets made of recycled plastic and eco-shell.

The material can also be incorporated into current manufacturing, avoiding the need to change the shape, size, material, or design of current product or packaging, or the subsequent shipping dimensions.

Egg-shell-based materials are a relatively untapped area within the packaging industry. In 2016, researchers at Tuskegee University in the US developed nanoparticles from eggshells, in a bid to enhance the strength of biodegradable packaging material.