Where better packaging begins.
Locally developing biomaterials that shape the future of food packaging. Safer for people, kinder to the planet.
Packaging is a critical environmental and health challenge.
Global foodservice packaging relies heavily on polyethylene-coated paper — a material that is neither compostable nor recyclable. It contaminates food with microplastics and clogs waste streams worldwide.
In Egypt, this problem is amplified by limited access to sustainable alternatives and a lack of local innovation infrastructure. That's exactly where 3elba Lab steps in.
Conventional packaging causes cancer.
This isn't a fringe concern — it's documented science. The plastics and chemical coatings used in everyday food packaging contain compounds that are classified carcinogens, hormone disruptors, and toxins.
Group 1 Carcinogens
The IARC classifies certain plasticizers and phthalates found in PE coatings as confirmed human carcinogens — chemicals that leach directly into hot food on contact.
PFAS "Forever Chemicals"
Grease-resistant coatings rely on PFAS — compounds that don't break down in the body or environment. Chronic exposure is linked to liver, kidney, and thyroid cancers.
Heat Accelerates Leaching
At typical food service temperatures, PE migration into food increases dramatically. Every hot meal served in conventional packaging is a direct exposure event.
Endocrine Disruption
BPA and BPS compounds in plastic-coated packaging mimic hormones in the body, linked to reproductive harm, developmental issues, and elevated cancer risk over time.
Where we are and where we're going.
A look at the materials we're researching and developing — this reflects our R&D direction, not our current packaging.
| Property | Most plastic-coated packaging | 3elba R&D Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Base material | Virgin wood pulp | Bagasse / agricultural fibers — currently FSC-certified virgin wood pulp |
| Moisture barrier | PE plastic coating | Bio-based coating — currently kaolin clay |
| Compostable | Possible if plastic-free — not the common case | Compostable by design |
| Locally sourced | Typically imported | Egyptian agricultural byproducts (R&D goal) |
Building the future of packaging locally.
Dedicated to advancing the future of foodservice packaging through partnerships with leading institutions in Egypt, we develop innovative solutions and work to localize the latest technologies and innovations.
With the ultimate target of scalable, sustainable production — built and grown in Egypt.
What we're working on.
Four focus areas across materials science, engineering, and production.
Biomaterial Coatings
Researching and testing bio-based barrier coatings that match the grease and moisture resistance of PE plastic — without the environmental cost.
Local Fiber Sourcing
Building supply chains for Egyptian bagasse and other agricultural byproducts as primary raw materials, reducing import dependency and carbon footprint.
Smart Dieline Design
Engineering structural templates that maximize food volume per gram of material, minimize storage space, and reduce waste throughout the product lifecycle.
Scalable Production
Translating lab-validated materials into cost-competitive, locally manufacturable products at commercial scale — making sustainable packaging the default choice.
We're building the future of packaging in Egypt.
This is just the beginning.
More research milestones, material breakthroughs, and partnerships on the way.
Have something innovative in mind?
Let's connect and build the future of safer packaging in Egypt together. Whether you're a researcher, manufacturer, investor, or fellow innovator — we want to hear from you.