Paper Coating |
Paper Coating | Laminating Extrusion coating and laminating with biopolymers Under the brand name Sustainex Mondi offers versatile biodegradable and sustainable packaging materials suitable for applications in the food and non-food industry. Biodegradable packaging has been on the market for several years already but with the shortage of landfills and rising oil costs, it is becoming increasingly popular. The growing demand for biodegradable packaging material and the increasing number of fields of application were discussed by numerous economic experts and packaging producers during the London ‘Sustainable Plastics Packaging Conference 2008’ sponsored by Mondi in October. This trend is also reflected by the success encountered by Mondi’s biodegradable portfolio Sustainex at the Interpack 2008 trade show in April. Sustainex is a versatile biodegradable and sustainable packaging material thanks to its excellent sealability, gas and grease barrier and thermal resistance. Mondi uses biopolymers for the extrusion-coating and laminating process on a carrier substrate such as paper. Both technologies require the polymer to have high thermal stability and melt resistance, which biopolymers do not inherently possess. But Mondi engineers have found a unique technique that allows using biopolymers in those two processes. After the successful launch of its innovative packaging solution Sustainex, Mondi started to cooperate with various customers to test the applicability of the material. First industrial productions have been delivered to selected customers and even more projects are in the pipeline. “We deliver specifications for a wide range of applications”, says Michael Strobl managing director of Mondi Coating Zeltweg, the lead plant for biopolymer coatings within the Mondi Group. “Currently we focus on coated paper and cardboards. Here the products range from lidding materials and wrapper for meat and cheese to cups for liquids and yoghurt. Additionally we can offer Sustainex coatings on other biodegradable substrates thus combining the mechanical properties and barriers of special ’bio’ films with the performance of our coatings”, continues Strobl. Mondi sees enormous potential and numerous applications for biodegradable packaging materials especially in dry food and fast food, milk and dairy, single-use paper cups and bowls, as well as in hygiene products. “We are sure that not even all application areas for biodegradable packaging are discovered yet. We know there are still limitations for the use of biopolymers in flexible packaging, but Mondi believes in the opportunities given by our Sustainex portfolio. The wide range of different specifications is only one advantage we can offer here. Especially the fact that Sustainex combines sustainable sources with the option of composting will be a key factor for the successful implementation by our customers”, says Strobl. www.mondigroup.com 22 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/08] Vol. 3
Inside and outside: 100 % nature ! Bio-Flex ® for transparent blown film applications FKuR Kunststoff GmbH | Siemensring 79 | D - 47877 Willich Tel.: +49 (0) 21 54 / 92 51-0 | Fax: +49 (0) 21 54 / 92 51-51 | sales@fkur.com www.fkur.com
