OPTIMISING EXISTING PLASTIC PACKAGING STRUCTURES
Redesigning packaging means striking the right balance between protection, minimal material use and recyclability. EVAL™ EVOH offers a lot of performance in tiny amounts of material, adding vital barrier function to the entire package. If your packaging already contains EVAL™ EVOH, we can advise you on down- gauging . Selecting an EVAL™ EVOH grade with a lower ethylene molar percent can reduce the percentage of EVAL™ EVOH to 5% by weight or less, making your packaging comply with the most stringent current recycling guidelines – without losing efficiency. The packaging will retain its oxygen barrier performance and have the same shelf life. As an added benefit, it will reduce your cost and lower your carbon footprint.
EXPLORING FIBRE-BASED PACKAGING Another way to meet the PPWR regulation is by choosing fibre-based packaging. However, a barrier is still needed to extend shelf life and to prevent contamination (using EVOH) and moisture (using PE). Combining a thin layer of EVAL™ EVOH and a PE layer with consumer-preferred paper packaging is a possible solution.
Example of a down-gauging opportunity with low ethylene grades*
Research according to 4evergreen* standards has shown that EVAL™ EVOH:
• will not disrupt the paper recycling stream, • will not end up in the wastewater, • will not affect the quality of the recycled paper (no impurities or adhesion).
PE
PE
PE
As consumers increasingly tend to favor paper-based packaging, its use is becoming widespread in various applications such as food and cosmetic packaging.
7.6% (EVAL TM 32 mol%)
5.2% (EVAL TM 29 mol%)
100µm
3.4% (EVAL TM 27 mol%)
PE
PE
PE
*4evergreen is a cross-industry alliance dedicated to developing tools and guidelines for an even more sustainable sector, aiming for consistency across Europe’s recycling practices.
Ready-to- recycle
*EVOH (wt%) in 100μm PE/EVOH/PE film to maintain an OTR level of 1cc/m2,day,atm. Based on Kuraray data (cast film), at 20°C 65%RH.
— Different grades of EVAL™ EVOH Kuraray’s specialists have created the world’s widest range of EVOH grades by varying the ratio of ethylene and vinyl alcohol in the copolymer. Each grade has specific applications. Generally, a lower ethylene content means better barrier properties.
SC
24% 27% 32% 38% 44% 48%
mol% ethylene 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
M L
F
H
E
G
T J
Available types of EVAL™ resin
Facing new packaging challenges — 9
8 — Facing new packaging challenges
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