Danisco wins Frost & Sullivan's Excellence in Research Award in the Food Packaging Industry

06 Jan 2006

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This is in recognition of the company's successful development of a novel vegetable oil-based plasticizer - GRINDSTED SOFT-N-SAFE.

06/01/06 Frost & Sullivan's recent analysis, Advances in Food Packaging Technology, selected Danisco A/S (Denmark) as the recipient of the 2005 Frost & Sullivan Award for Excellence in Research for the food packaging market. This is in recognition of the company's successful development of a novel vegetable oil-based plasticizer - GRINDSTED SOFT-N-SAFE - that facilitates the production of soft and flexible polyvinyl chloride ( PVC) applicable for effective food and beverage packaging.

GRINDSTED SOFT-N-SAFE is produced from hardened castor oil and acetic acid. It is colorless, odorless and completely biodegradable. This plasticizer is an interesting alternative to phthalates, which are believed to cause hormonal disruptions in the body that could result in infertility. GRINDSTED SOFT-N-SAFE on the other hand, is metabolized upon ingestion as a vegetable oil and shows no signs of disrupting hormonal activity.

While plasticizers find several applications, the use of GRINDSTED SOFT-N-SAFE has to be specialized due to cost factors. The product is targeted for use in the production of flexible polyvinyl PVC for consumer products such as toys, bottle cap liners, floorings, teething rings, tubes, cling films, conveyor belts, food packaging and medical devices.

GRINDSTED SOFT-N-SAFE has been authorized for marketing within Europe and has also been included in Europe's positive list for food contact materials, often referred to as the super directive. In addition, it is considered safe to be used in food contact materials. US FDA approval is expected to come soon. After receiving approval in Japan, then it is likely to be launched in the competitive Japanese market.

Production will take place at Danisco's plant in Grindsted, Denmark, and because of its desirable physico-chemical characteristics, it is expected to have a strong market impact, offering consumer product marketeers a unique brand protection.

In summary, Frost & Sullivan's Excellence in Research Award recognizes Danisco's research efforts in developing GRINDSTED® SOFT-N-SAFE, a breakthrough vegetable oil-based plasticizer that will significantly enhance the quality of food and beverage packaging.

Danisco is one of the world's leading producers of ingredients for food and other consumer products. The group employs approx. 10,000 employees in more than 40 countries and reported revenue of DKK 17.8 billion in 2004/05.

Danisco's broad technology platform and product portfolio include emulsifiers, enzymes, stabilisers, cultures, flavours, sugar and sweeteners such as xylitol and fructose. The majority of these ingredients are produced from natural raw materials. Danisco's products are mainly used in the food industry, for instance to improve the texture in bread and ice cream, but are also applied to feed, cleaning, textiles and plastics.

Each year, this award is given to a company that has carried out new 'disruptive' research; and has, in general, a strong commitment to research and development. It recognizes a research and development program that has or is expected to bring significant contributions to the industry in terms of adoption, change and competitive posture. The award also recognizes the overall research excellence of a company as well as its commitment toward differentiating itself based on science-backed services or solutions.