Calyx Containers has spent the past year focused on the science of cannabis curing and developing packaging technologies to help preserve terpenes and maintain weight.
Simon Knobel, co-founder and CEO of Calyx Containers, partnered with the Cannabis Research Coalition (CRC) to conduct a 6-month study of plant physiology. Knobel said many of the findings from the CRC study have been integrated into his company's new Calyx Cure line, a nine-layer modified atmosphere pouch that creates the ideal microclimate for maintaining product integrity.
The study helped Knobel understand the importance of water activity around terpene preservation and enzymatic reactions. "We're seeing that there is this 'Goldilocks Zone' between .58 and .6 for water activity where you have the right enzymatic reaction to make a lot smoother of a smoke and stop the trichrome glands from shriveling up and rupturing," Knobel said at MJBizCon 2025 in Las Vegas.
Calyx is now focused on making advanced engineered films that can block terpenes from transpiring through the packaging while allowing a little moisture and oxygen to escape and create an optimal microclimate inside the packaging. Knobel said these films could replace mylar bags.
He noted that 70% to 80% of food products use modified-atmosphere packaging. Cannabis remains a bit tardy to the preservation party, and cannabinoid and terpene degradation remain some of the biggest problems in the market.
Knobel added that he has seen a reversal in the industry's sustainable packaging efforts. Price compression has made such expenses tougher to justify, and sustainable packaging simply doesn't offer the same preservation performance. Fundamentally, if something is biodegradable or compostable, it doesn't have high-barrier properties and tends to break down, Knobel said.
