Ultra-thin bio-based sealing film can change the flexibility of the flexible packaging industry

[China Packaging Network News] At CHINAPLAS2017, NatureWorks, one of the world's leading suppliers of bioplastics, exhibited Ingeo's latest functional innovations. Ingeo is a high-performance plastic made from renewable resources.

Compostable and degradable coffee capsules

With the single-cup punched coffee, the independent packaging of tea and soft drinks has become increasingly popular. How used coffee capsules are degraded in landfills has become an issue of increasing concern.

At CHINAPLAS2017, NatureWorks demonstrated compostable coffee capsules, including films, rigid capsules and non-woven technology for filtration, to meet drip irrigation and high pressure temperature requirements when using capsules, and maintain their composting characteristics.

This compostable and degradable coffee capsule is a solution that NatureWorks has been working with for a number of years, working with compound manufacturers, processors, and coffee companies to continuously improve Ingeo.

During the R&D process, the team also encountered a number of technical problems, “such as how to make capsules that can meet the temperature, pressure, and filtration requirements, but still maintain the properties of compost,” explains Mark Vergawen, global director, NatureWorks hard packaging business unit.

“The market places more emphasis on the application of bio-plastics. This is also the driving force for us to continuously develop new products based on market demand,” Mark Vergawen added.

Replacing polystyrene dairy products, dessert packaging with Ingeo sheets

In addition to compostable coffee capsules, Natureworks also brought Ingeo transparent FFS dairy and dessert packaging. These FFS cups are highly transparent, stiff, and have less material than polystyrene (PS).

Packaging is one of Ingeo's main applications, which can improve performance

Mark Vergauwen said: "Natureworks is actively changing another area of ​​people's awareness, using easy-to-mold, filled and sealed (FFS) dairy packaging to replace the traditional polystyrene packaging."

According to reports, the Chinese OEM Hangzhou Zhongya Machinery Co., Ltd. recently tested Ingeo sheet processing on its FFS machine. The Central Asian company stated that using FGS packaging made of Ingeo material is superior to polystyrene packaging in terms of barrier properties and maintaining food flavor.

Change the new material of the flexible packaging industry

NaturWorks also exhibited new high-barrier performance films. Based on Ingeo, EarthFirstUL is an ultra-thin bio-based sealing film that can be used for flexible packaging. It can reduce the cost of the sealing film used, and it also has environmental advantages.

Stefano Cavallo, global industry director of film and card, said: "The use of Ingeo instead of the inner layer of packaging material can significantly reduce the weight of the package, reducing the amplitude by as much as 65%." He explained that one of the main advantages of EarthFirstUL is its high rigidity, which can replace other materials. , And good performance, light weight.

In addition, compared with LLDPE, EarthFirstUL can form excellent seals at a lower initial sealing temperature, which has an inherently high coloring capability, making it particularly suitable for bonding to PET, metPET, PPT, nylon and paper substrates. It can effectively block odor, grease resistance, thickness of 9, 12 and 15 microns.

EarthFirstUL is said to be particularly suitable for food packaging using single pillow pouches, coffee brewing packaging, triangular stand-up pouches, frozen foods and multi-walled bags.

New economic grade for 3D printed silk

NatureWorks owns the 3D Ingeo brand, which is also the leading PLA supplier in the 3D filament manufacturing industry. The company developed the Ingeo3D870 to meet the growing demand from industrial companies for materials that combine ABS performance with IngeoPLA's print performance.

Ning Baoling, marketing manager of Asia-Pacific region, said that Ingeo3D870 is mainly developed for industrial sample manufacturing and additive manufacturing.

NatureWorks stated that the filament manufacturers who tested the product stated that no other material can be as good as the Ingeo 3D870, which can simultaneously have excellent processing performance, printability, and print product performance.

The Ingeo3D870 meets the chemical inventory requirements of major markets in North America, Asia and Europe. The impact strength of the parts made of this material is better than that of the ABS3D parts. The heat resistance after printing is better than that of ABS.

In terms of development strategy, NatureWorks is strengthening its cooperation with downstream manufacturers and brand manufacturers.

According to Du Qinwei, marketing director for Asia Pacific at NatureWorks, “Materials suppliers have a hard time developing all of their commercial applications on their own, so collaboration across the entire supply chain is very important.”