LAMDA-Pack: Precision Vacuum-Forming for Semi-Rigid Wool Packaging

**LAMDA-Pack: BIO-BASED WOOL PACKAGING TO REPLACE PLASTIC FOAM**

Expanded polystyrene (EPS), the white plastic foam used to protect medicines, electronics, and fragile goods during shipping creates significant environmental problems. It breaks down into microplastics, cannot be easily recycled, and is made from petroleum. Yet it remains the industry standard because no sustainable alternative matches its combination of thermal insulation, moisture resistance, and structural rigidity.

This project develops LAMDA-Pack: a new type of protective packaging made entirely from British wool. Building on our existing LAMDA rigid wool board technology, we are adapting our manufacturing process to create shaped packaging inserts that can replace EPS in cold-chain logistics - the supply chains that keep medicines, vaccines, and temperature-sensitive products safe during transport.

The innovation locks sheep wool fibres into a rigid, moisture-resistant structure. Unlike paper-based alternatives that soften when wet, or flexible wool liners that cannot hold precise shapes, LAMDA-Pack maintains its structure under the humid conditions found in refrigerated shipping. This makes it suitable for pharmaceutical and electronics packaging, where dimensional accuracy and thermal performance are critical.

The project brings together Wull Technologies, a Manchester-based materials company, with Woolcool(r), an established manufacturer of wool-based temperature-controlled packaging. Working with accredited testing laboratories, we will validate the material's thermal, mechanical, and biological performance, then conduct real-world shipping trials with pharmaceutical and electronics customers.

If successful, LAMDA-Pack will offer UK businesses a plastic-free packaging option that meets the same performance standards as EPS, while eliminating plastic tax liabilities and supporting circular economy goals. The project also creates new demand for British wool, currently a low-value...