Saskatchewan Polytechnic and EnviroWay Detergent Manufacturing are working on an applied research project to turn the fibre left over from flax and hemp crops into biodegradable, bottle‑grade plastics. With $250,000 in funding from the Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, and $7,000 from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program, this applied research project aims to create sustainable, biodegradable packaging for cleaning products.
The applied research project is led by Dr. Satyanarayan Panigrahi, Sask Polytech Biomaterials Testing and Prototyping (B-TAP) research chair, in partnership with EnviroWay Detergent Manufacturing.
“The B-TAP team is tackling a major challenge in sustainable packaging using local resources and manufacturing facilities,” says Dr. Robin Smith, who heads up Sask Polytech’s Sustainability-Led Integrated Centres of Excellence (SLICE).
Most biodegradable plastics on the market today work well for compostable cutlery, food containers or thin films, but they’re not strong enough for the tough job of holding detergents, degreasers and disinfectants. These bottles must be able to handle rough use and strong chemicals while being made through high‑speed blow moulding.
That’s where Sask Polytech comes in. The innovative manufacturing B-TAP facility is equipped with specialized tools that allow researchers to turn agricultural materials into commercial‑ready products. The B-TAP team has experience processing biomass from flax and hemp that would typically be discarded or burned into usable manufacturing materials.
This project recently secured funding and work will start this year. The first step will be evaluating Saskatchewan‑grown flax and hemp fibres to determine how well they can blend with biodegradable plastics. Researchers are looking at factors such as fibre quality, availability, cost and overall sustainability. Once they land on the right mix, Sask Polytech will produce biocomposite pellets using a combination of fibre and biodegradable resin. “Getting these pellets to work in blow moulding machines is a major technical hurdle, because fibre‑reinforced plastics often behave unpredictably when melted and shaped. The goal is to develop a plastic that flows smoothly and produces bottles that are as durable as traditional plastic ones,” says Panigrahi.
Once pellet formulations are refined, the team will produce prototype bottles and test their performance under real-world conditions. The prototypes will be filled with actual cleaning products, like alkaline degreasers, detergents and acidic solutions, and observed for signs of leaching, material degradation or changes in product quality over time. The tests will mimic everyday conditions, from sitting in a warehouse to being knocked around during shipping.
EnviroWay’s Saskatoon facility will play a key role in the project, offering its production line to test how well the new bioplastic bottles fit with existing moulds and filling systems. By working directly with industry, the researchers can identify any changes needed for large‑scale manufacturing and provide a clear path for companies interested in switching to greener packaging. This industry‑embedded validation shortens the time required to bring new bioplastic materials and ensures the final product meets real manufacturing requirements. Intellectual property of this project will be retained by EnviroWay. This strengthens Saskatchewan’s ability to commercialize home‑grown innovation and provides a model for how collaboration between research institutions and local industry can accelerate technology adoption.
By converting flax and hemp fibres into bioplastic, Sask Polytech is helping create new demands for materials that are often underutilized or discarded. This strengthens economic returns for Saskatchewan farmers and encourages investment in rural fibre‑processing infrastructure. This work aligns with the province’s goals for value‑added agriculture to increase processing of crops within the province and helps open doors to bio‑based manufacturing markets.
By turning prairie fibres into durable, biodegradable bottles for everyday cleaning products, Sask Polytech and EnviroWay are showing how innovation, applied research and agriculture can work together to create practical, sustainable solutions. This work not only reduces reliance on fossil‑fuel plastics but also supports a circular economy that benefits farmers, manufacturers and the environment.
To learn more about applied research at Sask Polytech visit saskpolytech.ca/research.
Saskatchewan Polytechnic is signatory to the SDG Accord. Sustainable Development Goal alignment is one of the ways Sask Polytech is leading the rise of polytechnic education.
