Barrier materials Ultra
Barrier materials Ultra high barrier for bio-packaging S olving the world’s problems of plastic and food waste is right at the forefront of Plantic Technologies business. To fight food waste Plantic supplies ultra-high barrier films made from renewable and recycled materials throughout the world. The recycled content in the materials is providing a source for food grade waste plastics that would otherwise be going to land fill. As part of Kuraray (headquartered in Chiyoda, Japan) who are the world largest supplier of barrier resins, Plantic Technologies Ltd (Altona, Victoria, Australia) has achieved a unique place in the world market for bioplastics through proprietary technology that delivers biodegradable and renewable sourced alternatives to conventional plastics based on corn and cassava; which is not genetically modified. The barrier properties of the materials start with an Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR) below 1.0 cm³/m²·day. Unlike other bioplastics companies who utilise organic materials, but whose polymers are still developed in refineries, Plantic’s polymer as well as its raw material, are grown in a field. The entire process integrates the science of organic innovation with commercial and industrial productivity in a new way. The result is both a broad range of immediate performance and cost advantages, and longterm environmental and sustainability benefits. Flexible, rigid and semi rigid materials from Plantic have shown to give extension of shelf life for the products packed, this is through the ultra-high barrier in the packaging material. With thermoformable webs for Skin, MAP and Flexible applications the benefits for retailers and brand owners are proven, this enables them to meet their packaging targets and goals. PLANTIC HP a fully biodegradable high barrier structure forms the core of all Plantic products and depending on the customer needs the outer skins can be made to seal onto conventional PE and PET sealing layers. Other materials that are being used with PLANTIC HP are PBS, rPET, Cellulose An additional benefit of these multilayer materials is the ability for them to go through a standard recycling process. A unique process of separation of polymers occurs when the materials are sent through the recycling system. Plantic has recently released a range of high barrier recyclable paper-based structures being used in applications such as coffee pouches. These paper based and paper board structures have the additional benefit of being able to go through a standard thermforming machine, giving producers the chance to use a board or paper structure on standard equipment Plantic Technologies is supplying major retailers and brand owners throughout the world in applications such as fresh case ready beef, pork, lamb and veal, smoked and processed meats, chicken, fresh pasta and cheese applications. Plantic Technologies is expanding rapidly and refining its technology to meet the ever-growing global needs for more environmentally and performance efficient materials. With global recognition through multiple award wins including DuPont Packaging, World Star, PIDA and others, Plantic has a solution for Retailers, Processors and Brand owners who want to fulfill their future packaging targets. “Plantic materials are not just about being a sustainable material, it has an ultra-high barrier that can improve the shelf life of a product, and reduce food waste. With Plantic materials you can have an enormous impact on value change and reduce the effects of climate change, both by reducing food waste and using more sustainable materials.” Brendan Morris Plantic Technologies Limited CEO and Managing Director said. MT www.plantic.com.au 42 bioplastics MAGAZINE [05/19] Vol. 14
Barrier materials New compostable barrier films Development of a biodegradable flexible film with barrier properties for food packaging application Using multilayer films for food packaging in which the layers consist of different types of material makes it possible to combine different properties of different materials, such as oxygen and water vapour protection into a single packaging solution. However, the use of different materials to achieve these different properties makes the multilayer packaging developed to date impossible to recycle at the end of life. And as biodegradable or compostable materials do not offer sufficient barrier properties to be applied in packaging for fresh foodstuffs like cheese, compostable packaging cannot be used, either. To improve the environmental sustainability of multilayer film, the MULTIBIOBARRIER project is working on the development of a new biodegradable and compostable multilayer film for cheese that will offer good oxygen and water vapour barrier properties. The objectives of the project are listed below: • To develop new biodegradable materials to produce flexible and fully compostable packaging according to EN 13432 • To develop a new biodegradable and compostable multilayer film with an oxygen barrier (< 2cm³/m²·day·bar) and water vapour barrier (< 4g/m²·day) suitable for cheese packaging. The new film will be able to be composted together with the food residues as the composition of the film is 100% compostable • Flexible and easily recyclable film, because the layers of the film can be separated easily • To obtain sustainable packaging complying with the legislative changes related to single-use products in countries where biodegradables are exempted from bans • To convince legislators to allow the use of biodegradable and compostable materials for manufacturing single-use products The development of biodegradable materials with an oxygen barrier, the task for which AIMPLAS (Paterna, Spain) is mainly responsible, will be based on a mixture of non-thermoplastic PVOH, additives and plasticizers. It will be processed through blown film extrusion technology During the project, the researchers will be working on the optimization of a formulation to keep oxygen barrier below 2 cm³/m²·day·bar at the lowest possible thickness. On the other hand, biodegradable materials with a water vapour barrier are being developed by Nurel (Zaragoza, Spain). By: Nuria López Aznar Senior polymer researcher AIMPLAS Paterna, Spain These will be based on a mixture of biopolymers derived from starch, biopolyesters and additives, which will allow the water vapour barrier to be improved. The main goal is to obtain a biopolymer with a moisture vapour transmission rate below 4 g/m²·day, measured at 85 % RH and 23°C. In addition, the focus will also be on the compatibility of both materials to avoid using a tie layer. Based on the biopolymers developed by Aimplas and Nurel, a coextruded biodegradable multilayer film will be produced by Gaviplas (Alfarrasí, Spain). The cheese packaging will be manufactured from this film, after which the functional validation of the packaging developed will be studied. Taking advantage of the soluble character of the PVOH, a recyclability study of the external layers of the film will be undertaken at the end of the project. MULTIBIOBARRIER is a three-year project funded by the RETOS – COLABORACIÓN 2018 national call with file number RTC-2017-6034-2. Aimplas, the Plastics Technology Centre, is the technical coordinator of the project. The other participants in the consortium are Nurel and Gaviplas who will also contribute to the development of the new biodegradable, compostable and flexible food packaging. The project has been running for one year and the first biodegradable grades have been already developed from which film will be produced at pilot plant level using blown film extrusion technology. www.aimplas.es www.nurel.com www.gaviplas.es bioplastics MAGAZINE [05/19] Vol. 14 43
