Germany-based Veganz has secured a license for its patented vegan milk printing process.

Veganz Group AG — Europe’s only multi-category vegan food provider — has partnered with U.S.-based Vitiprints LLC to bring its newly patented two-dimensional (2D) printed milk to market.

2D milk

Veganz says the partnership will allow it to produce a market-ready line of vegan milk that is environmentally friendly by reducing the package volume and eliminating water usage, which reduces shipping weight by more than 90 percent.

The new milk will be packaged in plastic-free packaging at a CO₂ reduction of more than 75 percent and a 53 percent reduction of other greenhouse gases compared to the impact of typical plastic milk containers, the company says. More than 380 million tons of plastic are made every year, and most of it is not recycled.

Veganz says the new patented tech increases the shelf life of its milk to more than two years.

The milk is printed into quick-dissolving sheets, discs, or pads made from oat, almond, or soy, which the company says can be mixed in a standard blender or dropped directly into coffee and tea as a stand-in for conventional creamers. Veganz says the 2D milk is free from added sugar, gluten, fillers, and preservatives. It will roll out consumer-facing products as well as food service options.

“The Vitiprints license for printed milk alternatives will allow us to leverage a leading-edge printing technology, helping us address consumer needs in a healthy, green and sustainable way, while at the same time enabling us to expand our portfolio of products into new target markets,” Jan Bredack, founder and CEO of Veganz Group AG, said in a statement. “We are incredibly excited that our new printed products will offer environmentally superior, great tasting and even heathier alternatives that our customers look for in every Veganz product they purchase.”

Andrew Ferber, Chairman of Vitiprints, says the innovative new process will enable Veganz not only to produce a superior tasting product, “but will dramatically reduce the standard milk footprint at retail and beyond,” Ferber said. “We look forward to working together and introducing the Vitiprints technology in Europe with a great partner like Veganz and introduce an all-new standard in the food and beverage marketplace.”

‘Rising consciousness of food sustainability’

Veganz announced its plans to IPO on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (VEZ) late in 2021, with the goal of using those funds to support innovative tech to develop new products such as the printed milk.

“With ten years of experience, Veganz is a ‘first mover’ in the plant-based food market.,” Bredack said at the time. “[We] offer a highly innovative product range that is able to satisfy consumers’ needs from breakfast to dinner,” he said.

“We see a positive momentum for purely plant-based food products driven by several trends like the rising consciousness of food sustainability and for animal welfare,” Bredack said.

Veganz products are sold around the world and include a range of categories including frozen ready meals, meat and cheese successors, and confectionery products.