Paper Technology International 2020 - Journal - Page 109

PAPERTECHNOLOGYINTERNATIONAL
What about the impact on paper converting?
Besides coating or lining there are several other processing
steps for paper converting like printing (e.g. radiation-curing
polymerising inks, UV varnishes) or gluing (dispersion adhesives,
hotmelts). These steps could introduce other “plastic” ingredients to
paper based products. However, according to recital No 11 of the
Directive [1] and confirmed by the Commissions Guidelines text [3],
paints, inks and adhesives should not be addressed by the Directive
and therefore these polymeric materials should not be covered by
the definition. Interestingly, varnishes are not mentioned explicitly –
however, if you follow the definitions from the Draft of the German
twenty-first Ordinance amending the Consumer Goods Ordinance
(Bedarfsgegenständeverordnung) [7] which defines “printing inks”
as printing inks or printing varnishes, or the EuPIA definition [8] of
printing inks which states that besides mixtures of colourants [..]
also other coloured or uncoloured overprint varnishes which are
normally applied in combination with mixtures of colourants fall
within the definition of “printing ink” - then printing varnishes should
be excluded from the scope of the SUPD as well.
In addition to paper-based packaging, other fibre-based
products may be concerned by the current regulations, e.g.
certain wet wipes which are made of a mixture of viscose/lyocell
(regenerated cellulose) and polyester /other synthetic polymer fibres
(PET; PE) or cigarette filters that contain cellulose acetate. Many
examples are illustrated within the Guidelines [3].
Apart from the ban of certain products such as cotton bud
sticks, cutlery (especially forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks), plates,
straws, beverage stirrers, support sticks to be attached to balloons,
food containers made of expanded polystyrene, or products made
from oxo-degradable plastic, the Directive also provides for a
consumption reduction on certain products and packagings by 2026
as compared to the condition in 2022. These products include cups
for beverages, inclusive of their covers and lids, and food containers
(receptacles such as boxes for food) intended for immediate
consumption either on-the-spot or take-away, if the food is
consumed from the receptacle and without any further preparation,
e.g. without cooking, boiling, heating.
Moreover, the extended producer responsibility requires
producers to establish and take over the cost for raising customer
awareness for packaging waste and return systems (collection,
transport, treatment).
Within the scope of raising customer awareness, singleuse plastic products must bear a clearly visible, clearly legible
and indelible marking “plastic in product” as of 3rd July 2021. A
transitional provision allows products to be marked with labels for a
transitional period ending July 2022. Specific symbols (refer to Fig.
1 for an example) for single-use plastic markings are prescribed and
provided as pictograms in different formats and languages on the
Commissions website.
Some grey zones for interpretation of SUPD still remain
One of the remaining grey zones are “barrier varnishes”
made of synthetic polymers, which are applied to paper and board not for protection of the printing or to extent the gloss, but to achieve
a barrier effect e.g. against oxygen, moisture or fat. Furthermore,
the definition of “coating and lining” is not unambiguous, as
illustrated by the example of water-based dispersion coatings
which contain “plastic” ingredients. By this coating technology
dispersions containing natural or synthetic polymeric material are
applied to the substrate via coating machines and impregnate
the surface of the substrate. In the case of the porous structure
of paper surface it does not necessarily form a distinct
separate layer, but protects the substrate against water or fat.
Other Actions within the Single Use Plastics Directive
Figure 3: Impact on final articles according to Single Use Plastics Directive 2019/904.
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