Prince George, B.C. – The University of Northern British Columbia has named a new research facility on its Prince George campus to honour a donation of specialized equipment from industry partner Brown’s Bay Packing Company Ltd. (BPP) that is accelerating innovation in sustainable materials.

The Seawise Biopolymer Processing Lab is the first laboratory at UNBC dedicated to producing plant-based biopolymer samples for research purposes, including the exploration of environmentally friendly packaging solutions. The new lab houses a state-of-the-art extruder and supporting equipment valued at more than $350,000.

“This generous contribution from Brown’s Bay Packing and its subsidiary, Seawise Innovative Packaging, expands the University’s capacity to innovate and empowers UNBC researchers and students to lead in the transition to more sustainable technologies,” says UNBC President Dr. Geoff Payne. “The naming of this lab recognizes the incredible impact this gift will have on the University, and the broader community, for years to come.”

Located in Room 106 of the Research Laboratory Building, the Seawise Biopolymer Processing Lab serves as a hub for UNBC researcher Dr. Hossein Kazemian and his team, who are working in partnership with the Campbell River-based company to develop eco-friendly packaging solutions to conventional plastics and polystyrene foam.

“Donating this equipment to UNBC was an investment in a cleaner future and the kind of forward-thinking research that can get us there,” says Seawise Innovative Packaging Chief Executive Officer Jesse Knight. “Our collaboration with UNBC is grounded in a shared commitment to sustainability and innovation. Seawise is dedicated to revolutionizing the packaging industry with sustainable options ˗˗˗ creating value, while reducing the industry’s environmental footprint.”

The partnership between Brown’s Bay (Seawise) and UNBC’s Northern Analytical Laboratory Services (NALS) began in late 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic when many research labs across the province were shut down. NALS remained operational and Brown’s Bay reached out to discuss a potential collaboration on biopolymer research.

“The project presented an exciting opportunity to mobilize our research expertise to develop a local solution with the potential for global impact,” says Kazemian, NALS Director. “At the time, we lacked the extruder, which was a critical piece of equipment to advance the work. Thanks to Brown’s Bay’s generosity, UNBC now has a leading-edge facility that supports this innovative research into developing tangible solutions to the urgent environmental challenge of petroleum-based packaging.”

Gifted directly to UNBC, the extruder was installed in May 2022. Since then, the research team has developed a recyclable hybrid thermal packaging solution called Thermoloc, while continuing work on a fully biodegradable solution.

“Our relationship with UNBC continues to grow through our shared vision to leverage innovative materials science to solve a pressing industry challenge,” says Knight. “The research coming out of the Seawise Biopolymer Processing Lab directly supports our mission to transition to sustainable packaging and play a role in advancing B.C.’s leadership in clean technology. We’re honoured to have this facility reflect not only that commitment, but also the power of partnerships to drive meaningful change.”

The new lab will facilitate the next phase of the collaborative research development between Seawise and UNBC. Several recent funding awards, including a BC Innovate Ignite Award and BC Manufacturing Job Fund award, will support transforming the lab-proven Thermoloc prototype into a commercially viable product.

“Industry partnerships like this collaboration with Brown’s Bay and Seawise are vital to UNBC’s ability to conduct impactful research,” says UNBC Vice-President Innovation and Research Dr. Paula Wood-Adams. “This lab supports breakthrough research and provides valuable hands-on learning experiences for our students, helping to prepare the next generation of scientists and leaders working towards a more sustainable future.”

To date, the joint research initiative has received $1.2 million from industry funding contributions, with additional in-kind contributions and support from the provincial government, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Alliance and the Mitacs Accelerate program.

The funding supports two graduate students and two postdoctoral researchers working in the new lab, providing valuable experience in biopolymer formulation and advanced packaging technology development.