Voith has acquired shares in the sustainability start-up Yangi®, headquartered in Varberg, Sweden. Both parties signed the purchase agreement in December 2022. Yangi's® ground-breaking technology emerges from 10 years of R&D within its sister company, The Loop Factory®, which focuses on the megatrends of sustainability and circular economy. As a result, the leading full-line supplier Voith is investing in new, future-oriented technologies to further drive decarbonization in the paper industry.
Yangi® has developed a manufacturing process and is pioneering a new technology to produce 3D-formed, cellulose-based packaging. The process is based on dry forming principles in one machine line and enables a cost- and resource-efficient solution that has the potential to replace rigid plastic at scale. Compared to the water- and energy-intensive wet pulp molding process, Yangi's® dry forming process uses no water and less energy, resulting in minimized CO2 emissions and 75 percent less energy consumption. The applications for packaging solutions are diverse and range from cosmetics and beauty products to fresh food, take-away, and consumer goods. For example, in addition to Voith, the luxury brand CHANEL has also acquired shares in Yangi® and is actively supporting its business development.
"We are excited about the partnership between Voith and Yangi. With Voith, we have found the right partner to further develop our innovative solutions and also grow in new business areas," says Johann Kaiser, CEO of Yangi®. "From the beginning, we have been united by our common interest and motivation in sustainable technologies," confirms Anna Altner, founder of Yangi® and The Loop Factory®.
"Voith's expertise as the leading full-line supplier in the paper industry and Yangi's expertise in dry processing of fibers open new doors for innovative solutions. Fiber-based packaging is a sustainable alternative to plastic and will continue to gain relevance," emphasizes Dr. Michael Weiss, CTO of Voith Paper. Compared to petroleum-based packaging, the newly produced fiber packaging saves 75 percent CO2 emissions. In addition, the innovative process is characterized by short cycle times. Michael Weiss continues, "The investment in Yangi is therefore an important strategic step for us to advance our decarbonization strategy as part of our Papermaking for Life sustainability program."
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