WIPO China: Natural Solutions To Battle Microplastics
本文原载于2023年第4期《WIPO杂志》。作者为产权组织信息和数字外联司Catherine Jewell。
The article was originally published in the issue 1/2024 of WIPO Magazine. The author is Catherine Jewell, Information and Digital Outreach Division, WIPO.
法国初创公司Lactips正在重新思考塑料问题。Lactips是天然蛋白质基聚合物开发领域的先驱，它提供了一种可完全生物降解并且更可持续的塑料包装替代品。（图：Courtesy of Lactips）
The French startup Lactips is rethinking plastic. Lactips is a pioneer in the development of natural protein-based polymers, which offer a fully biodegradable and more sustainable alternative to plastic packaging. (Photo: Courtesy of Lactips)
塑料污染是当今最为紧迫的全球挑战之一。我们每年产生超过4.5亿公吨塑料垃圾。对自然生态系统造成的破坏令人深感不安。如果我们不改变自身生活方式，到2060年，塑料垃圾水平将会增至三倍。清除工作势必需要几代人为之努力。然而，阴霾笼罩中也有乐观的一面，法国初创公司Lactips等富于创造性的公司为了帮助缓解这一问题，开发出了更可持续的包装选项。Lactips正在重新思考塑料问题。作为天然蛋白质基聚合物开发领域的先驱，Lactips提供了一种环保型塑料包装替代品，可在所有环境中完全生物降解，不会残留任何微塑料。《WIPO杂志》 最近采访了该公司的首席执行官Alexis von Tschammer，以进一步了解这一引人入胜的解决方案。Lactips是2023年产权组织全球奖的七家获奖企业之一。
Plastic pollution is one of today’s most pressing global challenges. Every year, we generate more than 450 million metric tons of plastic waste. The damage caused to natural ecosystems is profoundly disturbing. If we don’t change our ways, plastic waste levels are set to triple by 2060. The clean-up will surely be the work of generations. Yet, amid the gloom, there is scope for optimism as innovative companies like the French startup Lactips, develop more sustainable packaging options to help alleviate the problem. Lactips is rethinking plastic. A pioneer in the development of natural protein-based polymers, Lactips offers an eco-friendly alternative to plastic packaging that is fully biodegradable in all environments without leaving any microplastics. WIPO Magazine recently sat down with the company’s CEO, Alexis von Tschammer, to find out more about this intriguing solution. Lactips is one of the seven winners of the WIPO Global Awards 2023.
《WIPO杂志》：能否介绍一下Lactips和它的起源？
WM: Tell us about Lactips and its origins?
Alexis von Tschammer：2014年，塑料工程师Marie-Hélène Gramatikoff和圣埃蒂安大学的 Frédéric Prochazka教授基于Frédéric获得专利的研究成果成立了这家公司。Lactips是全球唯一一家能用天然聚合物（酪蛋白）制成塑料并将其转化为工业用塑料颗粒的公司。这是它的独到之处。我们的技术是一项“顺带”解决方案，塑料制造商无需额外投资即可运用。因此，我们将为企业开辟新的可能性，在不破坏行业稳定的情况下“绿化”它们的业务。
Alexis von Tschammer: Marie-Hélène Gramatikoff, a plastics engineer, and Professor Frédéric Prochazka of the University of Saint-Etienne, set up the company in 2014, on the strength of Frédéric’s research, which he patented. Lactips is the only company in the world that can make plastic from a natural polymer - the milk protein casein - and transform it into plastic pellets for industrial use. That's what's unique about it. Our technology is a “drop in” solution that plastics manufacturers can use without additional investment. As such, we are opening up new possibilities for businesses to “green” their operations without destabilizing the industry.
目前，我们正将Lactips从初创公司转变为一家公认的业内主题专家。我去年加入这家公司，负责指导并引领这一转型。我在塑料和造纸领域拥有超过25年的丰富经验，董事会因此委任我负责公司的产业规划。我们现在拥有一个于2021年投入使用的4,200平方米的新工厂，还有一个大型研发中心，配备有设施完善的实验室和一支50人团队。
We're currently transforming Lactips from a start-up to a recognized industrial SME. I joined the company last year to guide and lead this transition. With my strong experience in plastics and paper over 25 years, the Board took me on to develop the company’s industrial profile. We now have a new 4,200 square meter plant, which opened in 2021, and a big R&D center with a well-equipped lab and a team of 50 people.
Lactips是全球唯一一家能用天然聚合物（酪蛋白）制成塑料并将其转化为工业用塑料颗粒的公司。（图：Courtesy of Lactips）
Lactips is the only company in the world that can make plastic from a natural polymer - the milk protein casein - and transform it into plastic pellets for industrial use. (Photo: Courtesy of Lactips)
知识产权对Lactips起到了什么作用？
What role does IP play for Lactips?
知识产权和创新是我们DNA的一部分。公司的立足之本是联合创始人Frédéric Prochazka因其大学研究获得的专利。我们的知识产权组合目前包括在主要市场上受到保护的七个专利族。我们的知识产权是我们取得成功的核心要素，因为除非投资者相信你有重大创新产品，也相信这种产品受到了妥善保护，才会对你的公司进行投资。我们依赖的是我们各项知识产权的互补性。我们的专利保护我们的配方、有前景的新开发成果，以及我们针对的各种应用。它们是我们竞争优势的基础，使我们能够展现我们工作的创新性和开拓性。它们还有助于我们规避本领域主要市场参与者的阻碍。
IP and innovation are part of our DNA. The foundation of the company is the patent that our co-founder Frédéric Prochazka secured for his university research. Our IP portfolio currently includes seven patent families, which are protected in key markets. Our IP is central to our success, because investors will only invest in your company if they believe you have, first, something very innovative, and second, something that’s very well protected. We rely on the complementarity of our IP rights. Our patents protect our formulations and promising new developments as well as the applications we are targeting. They are the basis of our competitive advantage and enable us to demonstrate the innovative and pioneering nature of our work. They also help us avoid being blocked by major market players in this field.
我们与所有合作伙伴和我们的团队都有严格的保密管理程序协议（包括NDA、MTA和JDA）。这一方式使Lactips得以筹集到2,500万欧元资金，使我们跻身欧洲生物塑料领域的前五大初创企业。当然，我们的注册商标也有助于建立品牌知名度。
We have strict confidentiality management procedures in place (including NDAs, MTAs and JDAs) with all our partners and our teams. This approach has enabled Lactips to raise EUR 25 million in funding, placing us among the top five start-ups in the bioplastics field in Europe. And, of course, our registered trademarks help build brand recognition.
您是如何着手制定Lactips的知识产权战略的？
How did you go about establishing Lactips’ IP strategy?
2015年以来，我们一直受益于法国国家工业产权局（INPI）的知识产权学徒计划。在此过程中，我们请求INPI开展专利摸底调查，由此确认了我们所处的技术和竞争环境。整个进程（以及我们外聘法律顾问Plasseraud的专业知识）使我们得以实施一项支持我们业务目标的有力的知识产权战略。
Since 2015, we have benefitted from an IP apprenticeship with the National Institute of Industrial Property of France (INPI). In that process, we asked INPI to carry out a patent mapping exercise, which allowed us to identify the technological and competitive landscape we’re operating in. The whole process - plus the expertise of our external counsel Plasseraud - enabled us to implement a robust IP strategy that supports our business goals.
成为2023年产权组织全球奖的获奖企业对您意味着什么，这对您的业务有何帮助？
What does it mean to you to be a winner of the WIPO Global Awards 2023 and how is it going to support your business?
这是对我们的工作、我们的热情、我们的参与、我们保护自然和地球的解决方案的高度肯定。
It’s really strong recognition of our work, our passion, our engagement and our solutions to preserve nature and our planet.
我们感到自豪的是，我们所做的事情的重要性得到了人们以及产权组织这种机构的认可。这一奖项将提高我们的全球知名度，也有助于我们进入热衷于生物塑料的世界其他地区，找到新的客户。这也向我们的投资者证明，我们拥有一个强大的知识产权组合和一项强有力的知识产权战略。
We are proud that we're doing something that people, and organization’s like WIPO, recognize as important. The award will give us greater global visibility and will help us reach other areas in the world that are keen on bioplastics and find new customers. It also demonstrates to our investors that we have a robust IP portfolio and a very strong IP strategy.
Lactips的技术是一项“顺带”解决方案。塑料制
造商无需额外投资即可运用，从而为其开辟新
的可能性，在不破坏行业稳定的情况下“绿化”
它们的业务。（图：Lactips提供）
Lactips’ technology is a “drop in” solution. Plastics
manufacturers can use without additional investment,
thereby opening up new possibilities for them
to “green” their operations without destabilizing
the industry. (Photo: Courtesy of Lactips)
在线阅读访谈全文，进一步了解应对微塑料的天然解决方案。
Read the full interview online and learn more about natural solutions to battle microplastics.
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Scan the QR code below to subscribe to WIPO Magazine!
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1. 在第一步中选择"WIPO杂志“；
Select "WIPO Magazine" in the step 1；
2. 在第二步中填写必填项信息；
Fill in the required information in the step 2;
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That's it! You're now subscribed to WIPO Magazine. Enjoy your reading!
点击阅读原文查看关于WIPO中国办事处的更多信息。
Click on Read more for more information about the WIPO Office in China.
