Aquapak, which specialises in developing high performance, environmentally safe materials to reduce plastic pollution and improve recycling, has today announced the appointment of retail packaging expert, Karen Graley, and leading polymer scientist, Professor Andrew Dove, to its Advisory Board.
The Board provides advice and input to support Aquapak’s senior team as they develop multiple applications for its marine-safe, non-toxic HydropolTM polymer technology, which provides an alternative to conventional plastics.
Karen brings over 30 years of managing own brand portfolios and has led the packaging strategy, innovation, and delivery for prominent retailers, including Waitrose and M&S. During this time, she has spearheaded the development and implementation of numerous innovative packaging designs, formats, and material choices. She is also a founding member of the OPRL board of directors, a longstanding judge of the UK Packaging Awards, and was appointed to the Government’s Advisory Committee on Packaging. In 2024, Ministers appointed Karen to the Extended Producer Responsibility Steering Group.
Andrew joined the School of Chemistry at the University of Birmingham as Professor of Chemistry and now leads the Dove Research Group, a multinational collection of vibrant and dynamic researchers that are focussed on challenges in polymer and materials science. He is part of the Birmingham Plastics Network, an interdisciplinary team of more than 40 academics working together to shape the fate and sustainable future of plastics. This unique team brings together chemists, environmental scientists, philosophers, linguists, economists, and experts in many other fields, to holistically address the global plastics problem.
Hydropol is currently used in place of conventional plastic in crisp and snack wrappers, and for garment bags. It makes unrecyclable packaging fully recyclable because it is dissolvable and biodegradable and breaks down harmlessly in all existing recycling streams. If it does escape into the environment, it biodegrades completely, leaving nothing behind (i.e. no harmful microplastics). This means that consumers can put packaging and wrappers made with Hydropol in their kerbside collections where it is recycled alongside paper, plastic, metal or food without any risk of contamination, where it disappears without a trace.
Commenting on the new appointments, Mark Lapping, Chief Executive Officer, Aquapak, said: “It is fantastic to have highly experienced experts like Karen Graley and Professor Andrew Dove joining the advisory board as we develop Hydropol as a planet-friendly replacement for millions of tonnes of plastic which are used in packaging and other materials.”
Karen Graley said: “I very pleased to join Aquapak’s Advisory Board as it seeks to build relationships with brands and retailers and position Hydropol as an environmentally favourable and functional alternative.”
Professor Andrew Dove said: “Replacing the millions of tonnes of plastic used every day with alternative materials is an enormous scientific challenge. Aquapak has developed Hydropol as a viable and scalable solution and I look forward to supporting the business as it develops new applications for the technology.”