UPM Specialty Papers and Eastman Collaborate on Compostable Coating Paper Food Packaging

 A new biopolymer-coated paper packaging solution has been developed by UPM Specialty Papers and Eastman specifically for food applications that need grease and oxygen barriers.  The solution forms a thin coating on UPM's recyclable and compostable barrier base papers by combining BioPBSTM polymer with Eastman's biobased and compostable SolusTM performance additives.  Because of the coating layer's thinness, the solution may be recycled within the current fiber recycling streams, enabling brands to use sustainable packaging.

"We are excited to introduce the result of our development work with Eastman. Together with our partners, we are constantly pushing the performance of fibre-based packaging. This new biopolymer coated packaging solution, for example, provides a new option for difficult-to-pack foods ranging from confectionary end-uses to meat pies found in chilled-food aisles," says Esa Saukkonen, Manager, Packaging Portfolio Development at UPM R&D.

This special packaging solution achieves performance that cannot be achieved by the individual components alone by amplifying the barrier-boosting impact of barrier base sheets UPM SolideTM Lucent and UPM PregoTM.  It is appropriate for flexible packaging because it provides outstanding heat sealability while retaining barrier protection when folded.  Additionally, there is no need for additional capital expenditure because this method works with standard LDPE (low density polyethylene) extrusion coating equipment.

The adhesion of the coating to the paper is typically the problem when combining extrusion coating with paper, particularly when using biobased or biodegradable extrusion coatings.  This problem is addressed by the solution created by Eastman and UPM Specialty Papers.

"Through our collaboration with UPM, we've developed versatile fibre-based packaging solutions that are compostable and smoothly integrate with extrusion coating equipment. Eastman Solus™ additive reduces coating thickness, which lowers plastic usage and enables recyclability of food packaging. These additives have been pivotal in advancing scalable, recyclabel paper packaging for brands," said Bhuma Rajagopalan, Marketing Manager, CASE Innovation at Eastman.

The packaging solution's recyclability has been confirmed using the PTS method (PTS-RH 021/97 cat II), and each of its constituent parts has been verified for both domestic and commercial compostability1.  From November 3rd to November 6th, UPM Specialty Papers will exhibit samples of the extrusion coated paper at their stand W-21110 at PACK EXPO International in Chicago.

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