Sacmi has announced a major milestone in sustainable packaging with the progression of its FIBER-CAP project.

Co-funded by the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) through the “Agreements for Innovation” tender, the project has successfully transitioned from experimental development into a fully tested, industrial-ready technology for manufacturing natural fiber-based packaging solutions.

Developed by the SacmiI Rigid Packaging Lab, FIBER-CAP centres on an automated pilot dry moulding line designed to reshape the future of rigid packaging by unlocking the potential of paper-based biomaterials.

Advanced dry moulding technology

At the heart of the FIBER-CAP initiative is cellulose, nature’s most abundant biopolymer, which is both fully compostable and recyclable through traditional paper stream engineered an innovative dry moulding process that brings distinct technical advantages:

• Zero water usage: by eliminating water from the moulding process, the technology drastically reduces environmental footprints and resource consumption.
• Cycle times & energy efficiency: the dry process achieves significantly faster cycle times compared to alternative techniques while maintaining high energy efficiency.
• Advanced material compaction: specialised engineering ensures proper material compaction — even along complex side walls — enabling the production of intricate shapes and functional geometries.

Transitioning from pilot to industrial reality

Rigorous validation and stability testing conducted on Sacmi’s automated pilot line have confirmed the soundness of the manufacturing process and the exceptional mechanical quality of the finished components. The technology has demonstrated remarkable flexibility, capable of handling diverse material specifications and a broad spectrum of formats.

Developed in close collaboration with international universities and major food industry partners, the technology has already proven its viability for a wide array of applications:

• Closures and Caps: High-performance beverage and container caps.

• Single-Dose Containers: Sustainable coffee pods and single-serving capsules.

• Lids and Rigids: Various specialized rigid packaging components.

Broadening sustainable packaging horizons

By establishing a reliable pathway to produce fiber-based caps and containers that can be disposed of via standard paper recycling or organic waste collection streams, FIBER-CAP provides brand owners and manufacturers with powerful new tools to meet evolving environmental regulations. With the technology now fully validated for industrial deployment, SACMI continues to expand the boundaries of circular packaging, offering the market scalable alternatives that combine high performance with genuine environmental stewardship.