At SmartSolve, one of our favorite things is spotlighting the innovative ways our partners are using our water-soluble technology to bring Zero Waste products to market.
Punch Gunk is redefining recovery with its new Muscle Therapy Recovery Bath, a product that not only delivers pain relief but also eliminates single-use plastic packaging waste. We had the pleasure of interviewing Cameron McIntyre, co-founder of Punch Gunk, to hear more about their journey and what it’s been like working with SmartSolve.
Q&A with Cameron McIntyre, Co-Founder of Punch Gunk
Q: What first drew you to SmartSolve?
A: I was looking online for a material that was water-soluble and would fit the needs of our Muscle Therapy product.
Q: Tell us how Punch Gunk came to be. Where did it all start?
A: We founded Punch Gunk in 2015 and launched our pain relief product in 2017. As older athletes we found the popular topical pain relievers to be marginally effective and unpleasant to use.
Q: What challenge led you to partner with SmartSolve?
A: In 2019 we launched a recovery bath bomb product. While effective, it had stability issues, was bulky, and not very innovative.
Q: What SmartSolve material did you use, and how did it solve the problem?
A: We used the SmartSolve 3X15 Heat Seal material which allowed us to redevelop and improve the bath bomb formula and deliver it in an innovative, eco-friendly way.
Q: What are you most excited about regarding your company’s future?
A: We are psyched for the Punch Gunk Muscle Therapy launch and look forward to pursuing development of future Punch Gunk products.
A Packaging Win for People and Planet
Punch Gunk’s use of SmartSolve’s water-soluble packaging means their customers can enjoy therapeutic relief without adding to landfill waste. It’s one small change with big impact — and a perfect example of how performance and sustainability can go hand in hand.
Punch Gunk in Action
SmartSolve’s CEO, Jonathan Jakubowski, made a video to highlight Punch Gunk’s success and the power of sustainable packaging. From problem to product launch, this video captures the collaboration, innovation, and impact behind the Punch Gunk Muscle Therapy Recovery Bath.
🎥 Watch the full video below to learn about the SmartSolve and Punch Gunk partnership
Curious About Our 3X15 Material?
SmartSolve’s 3X15 Heat Seal Material is a paper-based, water-soluble flexible film designed for a wide range of pouching applications — from health and wellness to feminine care and household cleaning. Despite its dissolvable nature, it offers excellent printability and maintains structural integrity until exposed to water, where it dissolves completely at any temperature. The 15-micron heat seal coating enables easy conversion into various pouch formats, making it a versatile and sustainable alternative to traditional packaging films.
Key sustainability and safety highlights:
- 🌱 FSC Mix – Responsibly sourced from FSC-Certified forests
- 🌾 75% Bio-Based – Verified to ASTM D6866
- ♻️ Zero Waste – Meets OECD 301B, ISO 14851, and FG502 Slosh Box standards
- 🐟 Non-Toxic to Fish – Validated through US EPA Ecological Risk Assessment
- 🚫 No Microplastics – Not expected to generate or meet the definition of microplastics
- 🧪 No PFAS, BPA, or Phthalates* – Not knowingly manufactured with these substances
- 🌍 Readily Biodegradable – Per OECD 301B
- 🚽 Safe for Drains & Flushable – Passes FG502 Slosh Box Disintegration Test
- 🐰 No Animal By-Products – Material is not created with animal ingredients
- ⏱ 100% Biodegradable in <30 Days – Verified to ISO 14851:2019
- 🇪🇺 REACH Compliant – Conforms to European safety standards
- 🧻 Recyclable – Fiber is 100% recyclable and can be recovered under traditional paper-cyling processess
To Learn More
To learn more about SmartSolve’s product offerings and how you can use them for your specific application, request a sample or contact our team today.
Marketing Manager