Paper Technology International 2024 - Journal - Page 67
PAPERTECHNOLOGYINTERNATIONAL
sustainability in 昀椀bre
AAdvancing
based food packaging with PFAS
and plastic free chemical concepts
Emma W Janco, Segment team leader Moulded 昀椀bre
Petter Bragd, Segment team leader Surface
Jeroen Jansen, Senior product developer
Warwick Hudson, Business development manager
Peter Wållberg, Owner and founder BIM Kemi
INTRODUCTION:
In the realm of food packaging, the quest for sustainability has become paramount as we seek alternatives to traditional materials
that are both environmentally friendly and functional. Brands need to 昀椀nd ways to align their packaging solutions with their sustainability
commitments. Fibre based food packaging, derived primarily from renewable resources, has gained prominence for its eco-friendly
attributes. The versatility of paper makes it adequate for different kinds of applications such as fast foods, frozen food and liquid products.
However, a critical consideration in the realm of food packaging is its ability to resist different liquids, fats, water vapour and oxygen, a
property traditionally associated with less sustainable materials. This plays a vital role in whether the packaging meets the criteria for each
application or not.
Chemical solutions for oil and grease resistant 昀椀bre based
packaging
Fibre based packaging lacks inherent resistance to oil and
grease, necessitating the incorporation of additional components to
provide them grease resistance. Oil and grease resistance, OGR,
is the ability to inhibit the penetration of grease, oils, and fats. This
is important to protect against the accidental transfer of oil, grease,
and fats from the product or package to the user, and to stop the
aesthetic spoiling of the packaging caused by oils, grease, and
fats penetrating the substrate. Without a proper protection, oils and
liquids can soak into the package and cause the paper 昀椀bres to
degrade, compromising the package’s structure and creating stains
and blotches.
The key to expanding the use of 昀椀bre based packaging for
new and more demanding end-uses is chemistry. Chemistry enables
renewable 昀椀bre based packaging that not only meet high standards
of functionality, durability, and safety but also maintain complete
recyclability.
Moving beyond PFAS and plastic dependency
Historically, the most common commercial method for
imparting oil and grease resistant properties to 昀椀bre based food
packaging involves the use of plastic or harmful compounds such as
per- and poly昀氀uoroalkyl substances, PFAS.
Plastic is the predominant raw material in packaging
applications, primarily owing to its cost-effectiveness and protective
attributes.
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