Casein-based material is made from milk protein processed into thermoplastic pellets. Lactips (France) makes CareTips pellets that are water-soluble, biodegradable and 100 percent biobased, processed at 80 to 100 degrees C on standard equipment.
It replaces polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film used in dishwasher and laundry pods, water-soluble sachets, paper coatings and luxury packaging. BASF signed a distribution partnership with Lactips, and in February 2025 the company launched a paper-coating grade, PFP344MAX.
End of life is dissolution and biodegradation. The material is at pilot to early-commercial scale with small volumes.
Drawbacks: it depends on dairy feedstock, which brings allergen-labelling questions and the footprint of animal agriculture; water solubility limits it to dry or single-dose uses; no published cost figure was found.