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Water-Based Barrier Coatings Are The Future Of Recyclable Food Packaging

Consumers and legislators from all over the world are pushing the packaging industry chain to find new sustainable and safe solutions for renewable and recyclable food packaging. Below is an analysis of why water-based barrier coatings are one of the ideal solutions.

Paper and wood are renewable packaging materials, but they do not inherently have the required barrier properties to achieve oil resistance, water resistance, oxygen resistance, etc. Currently, in many cases, barrier properties are achieved by extruding plastic particles, aluminum or fluorochemicals. Due to poor recyclability of the final product, regulatory compliance issues or the costs associated with these methods, there is an urgent need to find new, sustainable and safe barrier solutions for paper-based food packaging.

Replace Plastic To Make Food Packaging Recyclable

Regulatory action around the world is targeting plastic products, with single-use plastic bans in the EU and China being one of the key moves aimed at limiting the use of plastic in everyday consumer products.

Increased regulation on plastics is important for manufacturers of paper-based materials as it affects inherent procedures across the packaging industry. Brands and retailers have almost all set ambitious goals to achieve 100% recyclable, reusable packaging in the short term, including of course the concept of degradation. “

Water-based barrier coatings help reduce and replace plastics such as food packaging, PE laminations, enabling the development of fully recyclable paper or cardboard packaging. In addition, some key products in the portfolio have renewable bio-based feedstocks to replace petroleum-based chemicals, further reducing the carbon footprint of packaging materials.

Safe Alternative To Fluorinated Chemicals On Food Packaging

New barrier solutions for food packaging, another driving force is food safety. The main function of the packaging is to protect the food inside the package so that the food will not spoil or be damaged in transit, and to allow consumers to keep their hands clean and prevent leakage. The chemical composition of the materials used to protect the food inside also needs to be safe, which is why there is a growing focus on the use of fluorine chemicals

Perfluorinated and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS, are used to provide oil and moisture resistance in food packaging. These compounds are difficult to metabolize in the environment and in the human body, accumulate easily, and have various adverse health effects. In July 2020, Denmark became the first country to ban the use of PFAS on food contact paper and cardboard, and the European Food Safety Authority recently set strict limits on the tolerable intake of such substances. In the United States, several states have implemented fluorochemical bans in food packaging, and in some states, such as New York, the legislation has already been passed. Although Asia, especially China, has not yet implemented or proposed such restrictions, considering the health and safety of food, there is a high probability that policies or decrees will soon be issued in this regard.

Some brands have already taken the initiative to replace PFAS on food packaging, and while this change will not happen overnight, there is clearly an increase in demand for safer alternatives. Water-based barrier coatings help replace fluorochemicals and provide oil-barrier functionality in paper-based packaging.

Cost-Effective And High-Value-Added Products

For paper and board manufacturers, water-based barrier coating technology has the potential to produce higher-value products on-site with fewer production steps.

Water-based barrier products help improve the functionality and sustainability of paper-based packaging, adding protection to foods such as oils and liquids. They also do a good job of stopping the migration of mineral oil residues, which helps protect food packaging made from recycled paper.

Every paper machine and coating line is different, take these differences into account and develop coating formulations to provide optimum performance for each case and each machine. When the final mix configuration of the formulation is done on-site at the factory, logistics and additional handling costs can be minimized.

To achieve a low carbon economy, a circular solution is needed to reduce human impact on the environment, keeping materials out of landfills and the production-consumption cycle. While this is a daunting task that requires long-term attention, it can be achieved through a systemic strategy, where businesses and governments work together to provide consumers with safe, hygienic food packaging that also protects the environment and enables circularity economic development.

FUTUR plastic free cups are designed to be easy to dispose of at end of life. If you are on a high street you can dispose of these in the normal paper bin. This cup can go through the same process as a newspaper, washing the inks away and recycling the paper easily. 

Benefits of Paper Coffee Cups:

1.Made in heavy duty paperboard, sturdy and better performance

2.All sizes, single wall and double wall for all applications

3.Paperboard made from sustainably managed forest or tree free bamboo

4.Food grade compliant

5.Printed by water-based ink

6.Plastic Free Coating