NatureWorks Archives

PLA-based barrier films has variety of applications

Madrid based Coexpan has 13 production plants in eight countries. Its extrusion expertise sees it entering into a partnership with biopolymers supplier NatureWorks and Italian manufacturer of extrusion and thermoforming lines AMUT Group to create a range of PLA rigid sheets for thermoforming. NatureWorks are the founder of the established Ingeo PLA bioplastic. It has been used to deliver good performance in processing and packaging applications and the partnership aims to expand its usage. The CoexBioR range of PLA solutions have medium and high-barrier capability to reduce oxygen, grease and water vapour to help maintain flavour and aroma of food for longer. Applications include dairy desserts, coffee capsules and fresh food trays. The PLA sheets also deliver a high degree of transparency and gloss with high tear strength and excellent strength and formability properties compared to other thermoplastic materials.

The U.S. barrier film market is forecast to grow 4.2% to $5.7 billion in 2021, driven by increased demand for high-performance films. Improvements to processing technologies will help to support low-cost production and expand the range of suitable applications for barrier films, according to a study from research company the Freedonia Group.

Natureworks is known to work with other operators to expand the reach of their PLA bioplastic and this is another good example.

This has applications mainly for products in the Food and Beverage sectors.

New generation of compostable coffee capsules delivers high performance

Italian plastic packaging supplier Flo has introduced what is claimed to be a new generation of compostable coffee capsules. The business has introduced Gea, an industrially compostable coffee capsule brought to market in collaboration with world-leading biopolymers supplier NatureWorks. The Gea capsule is made from Natureworks’ established Ingeo PLA, which is a renewably sourced polymer certified for industrial composting. The first compostable coffee capsule made from 100% Ingeo is approved for food contact and is now in testing for compostability certification. A fully compostable capsule provides a way to capture the used coffee grounds for industrial composting. The Gea capsule is shelf stable for years without degrading and offer an excellent barrier to oxygen.

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We are seeing a lot more compostable packaging initiatives come to market particularly since with the recent anti-plastic sentiment. The coffee market has been active in this area.

This has opportunities for a Beverage sector coffee products.

New generation of biodegradable film launched

Newark, Delaware headquartered Taghleef have introduced what is claimed to be a new generation of biodegradable films. NATIVIA is made from renewable PLA bio-based resin to deliver a natural product that helps to reduce CO2 emissions. NATIVIA films are made of Ingeo PLA resin from world-leading biopolymers supplier NatureWorks. The PLA is obtained from corn or other starch/sugar sources. It is designed to cover a wide range of food and non-food packaging applications. NATIVIA films can replace oil-based polypropylene, polyester or polyethylen. As well as being bio-based, the material is also compostable. The range uses existing converting and packaging technologies and includes heat sealable transparent and solid white films.

We are seeing a lot more compostable packaging initiatives come to market particularly since the recent anti-plastic sentiment. This initiative is not without its challenges. This can only be industrially composted at present. Compostable packaging is are not on brand owners’ radars. According to an independent study from Smithers Pira only 5.1% of respondents thought that biodegradable or compostable packaging is a strong sustainable directive.

This has opportunities for a range of Food sector products as well as uses in non-Food such as Health & Beauty and Pet Care.

New generation high barrier substrate keeps food fresher for longer

NatureWorks is the manufacturer of the plant-based biopolymer called Ingeo. The company has collaborated with Italian metallized film producer Metalvuoto to develop a high barrier substrate with the intention of improving the shelf-life of processed foods. The innovation is called Ingeo Propylester. The Metalvuoto film consist of only two layers and it is claimed that it delivers a performance equivalent to that of three-layer pouches. Metalvuoto’s films boast high gas, aroma and water vapour barriers to help preserve packaged foods. The new film is created by coating Ingeo with Metalvuoto’s Oxaqua biocoating technology. This is combined with paper to provide a fully biobased pack comparable cost and performance wise with three-layer equivalents.

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PLA-based barrier films has variety of applications

New generation of compostable coffee capsules delivers high performance

New generation of biodegradable film launched

New generation high barrier substrate keeps food fresher for longer

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