Arjowiggins releases “revolutionary” translucent barrier paper to replace plastic

03 Nov 2020 --- Scotland-based packaging company Arjowiggins is releasing a see-through barrier paper called Sylvicta, which it says could revolutionize the packaging industry. The material is translucent, recyclable, compostable, marine-degradable, and proven to preserve foods and cosmetics.

Sylvicta has been in development for the past two-and-a-half years, says Christophe Jordan, managing director of the translucent papers division at Arjowiggins.

“Through precision fiber refining, we create micro fibrillated cellulose fibers from wood pulp. With micro fibrillation comes intense inter fiber hydrogen bonding. This creates a strong, dense, and clean paper without any need for fillers or transparentizing additives,” Jordan tells PackagingInsights. 

“By taking virgin fibers to a microscale, we produce a paper with natural bonding and an exceptional barrier without the need of any harmful chemicals.”

Arjowiggins believes Sylvicta can replace single-use plastics throughout the packaging industry. “With Sylvicta, such solutions can be turned into fully recyclable, compostable and biodegradable paper packaging. The product is simply revolutionary – it can help to create the circular economy society we all desire.”

Breaking ecological barriers 
While recyclability can be a major challenge for flexible plastics, plastics’ life cycle is often shown to produce fewer carbon emissions than other materials. 

Jordan says Sylvicta answers the call for both recyclability and reduced carbon emissions. 

“Sylvicta is paper, which is sustainable by nature as it uses – in large part – wood pulp, a perfectly renewable raw material that contributes to a truly circular model.” 

Sylvicta uses pulp certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), produced on a ISO 14001-compliant site, and carbon-offset through the World Land Trust’s Carbon Balanced program.

Sylvitica is translucent, recyclable, compostable, marine-degradable, and proven to preserve foods and cosmetics effectively.Food and cosmetics applications 
Sylvicta’s sealing qualities are one of the central advantages of its design, says Jordan. 

The material has a very high barrier to oxygen – the leading cause of food spoilage – meaning it can reduce food waste by prolonging shelf life during the transportation, retail and consumer phases. 

The paper is also highly versatile. “Sylvicta offers limitless creative possibilities: it can be foil-stamped, glued, embossed, printed in offset, gravure, and flexography, metalized or coated with heat or cold-sealable materials,” explains Jordan. 

Sylvicta is currently used mainly by less prominent brands, something that Arjowiggins is hoping to change. 

“It is already in use by many, predominantly smaller brands. Around a dozen products in the market are already using Sylvicta. Current applications include frozen and snack foods. We are also working with major brands, partners and converters on development projects that should come to market in the foreseeable future,” continues Jordan. 

The supplier wants to engage more eco-conscious players in the industry, he says, and diversify the material’s uses. 

“From pouches for dry fruits, bags for salads, sachets for solid soap, sacks for pet food and flow-packs for chocolate bars, all the way through to metalized versions of Sylvicta for butter or margarine packaging.” 

Future developments 
The one application Sylvicta is not currently suitable for is liquids. 

“This is due to the hydrophilic nature of cellulose materials like paper,” explains Jordan. 

“To make Sylvicta hydrophobic is quite a challenge, so we are working with converters to develop coatings and metalizations to create a very good barrier for water vapor, which is a must for many brands.” 

Paper replacing plastic 
Arjowiggins is not alone in its goal to replace single-use plastics with a paper alternative. Coca-Cola is currently working with paper bottle company Paboco to produce a drinks bottle made entirely of recyclable paper. 

Coca-Cola says one of the primary motivators driving the innovation is changing EU policy. Tighter restrictions on single-use plastics will mean a greater demand for alternative packaging. 

By Louis Gore-Langton