A collaboration between University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) and Vancouver Island’s Browns Bay Packing Company aims to change the way seafood is packaged and shipped across the globe.
By Fabian Dawson
SeaWestNews
In 2018, British Columbia’s salmon farmers challenged one of Western Canada’s leading seafood processors to find sustainable alternatives to Styrofoam packaging.
Dave Stover, CEO and co-owner of Browns Bay Packing Company Ltd., which has a seafood processing legacy dating back to the early 1900s in Campbell River, didn’t hesitate.
A key figure in B.C.’s aquaculture and First Nations wild fisheries sector, Stover responded by steering Browns Bay toward an ambitious clean-tech vision, one that today is powering cutting-edge research into plant-based alternatives to conventional plastic packaging.
That mindset culminated in the creation of a first-of-its-kind research facility at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) and a lab that aims to change the way seafood is packaged and shipped across the globe.
Last week, UNBC officially named it the Seawise Biopolymer Processing Lab in recognition of a $350,000 equipment donation from Brown’s Bay Packing and its Campbell River-based subsidiary, Seawise Innovative Packaging.
The new lab is the first of its kind at the university dedicated to the production of plant-based biopolymer samples, with an emphasis on developing sustainable packaging alternatives to petroleum-based plastics and polystyrene foam.
“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,” said University 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,” he said.
The donation consisting of a state-of-the-art extruder and support equipment was gifted directly to UNBC and installed in May 2022. It now forms the cornerstone of the lab, which is led by Dr. Hossein Kazemian of UNBC’s Northern Analytical Laboratory Services (NALS).
The collaboration between UNBC and Browns Bay began during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, when most research labs in the province had shut down. With NALS remaining operational, Browns Bay saw an opportunity to partner on a project that could address an urgent packaging problem facing the seafood industry.
“The project presented an exciting opportunity to mobilize our research expertise to develop a local solution with the potential for global impact,” said Dr. Kazemian.
“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.”
Since its installation, the extruder has helped researchers develop Thermoloc—a recyclable, hybrid thermal packaging solution that combines cardboard for structure and starch-based foam inserts for insulation and water resistance. The team continues to explore new biodegradable alternatives and is now working to commercialize the Thermoloc prototype.
“Donating this equipment to UNBC was an investment in a cleaner future and the kind of forward-thinking research that can get us there,” said Seawise CEO 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 lab is also a training ground for future innovators. Currently, two graduate students and two postdoctoral researchers are embedded in the project, gaining hands-on experience in biopolymer formulation and packaging system development.
“Our relationship with UNBC continues to grow through our shared vision to leverage innovative materials science to solve a pressing industry challenge,” added 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 initiative has received $1.2 million in industry support to date, with further contributions from the BC Innovate Ignite Award, the BC Manufacturing Job Fund, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Alliance, and the Mitacs Accelerate program.
“Industry partnerships like this collaboration with Brown’s Bay and Seawise are vital to UNBC’s ability to conduct impactful research,” said Dr. Paula Wood-Adams, UNBC’s Vice-President of Innovation and Research.
“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.”
For Stover and the team at Browns Bay and Seawise, it’s a natural extension of their long-standing commitment to the communities and coastal waters they rely on.
(Main image from UNBC shows researcher Dr. Hossein Kazemian and his team join with Seawise Innovative Packaging CEO Jesse Knight and company representatives to recognize the new Seawise Biopolymer Processing Lab)