Hubergroup supports monomaterial packaging with oxygen barrier coating for sensitive foods

28 Mar 2022 --- Hubergroup has developed a new print solution branded HYDRO-LAC GA Oxygen Barrier. This barrier coating solution protects the packaged food from oxygen and supports the use of monomaterial packaging that is easier to recycle.

The oxygen barrier coating can be applied between film laminates made of the same polymers – usually PE and PP.

An oxygen transmission rate of less than 10 cubic centimeters of oxygen per square meter per day can be achieved under industrial conditions when using PP. Therefore, oxygen-sensitive foods such as muesli or nuts can be protected from atmospheric oxygen in modern, recyclable packaging.

Dr. Lutz Frischmann, global product director for flexible packaging at Hubergroup, says: “Through innovative solutions such as our new barrier coating, we can contribute to a circular economy together with our customers.”

Innova Market Insights pinpointed “Monomaterial Mastery” as a top packaging trend for 2022, highlighting the transition away from hard-to-recycle, multilayer packaging to monomaterial solutions that are recyclable through existing infrastructure.

Hubergroup’s new barrier coating supports the transition to recyclable monomaterial packaging.Multi-layer packaging issue
Hubergroup says recyclable packaging solutions are increasingly in demand. However, due to a complex requirement profile, flexible food packaging often consists of combinations of different films and is, therefore, difficult to recycle.

“Conventional flexible food packaging often consists of several laminated film layers of different chemical natures. Each fulfills a specific function – one of which is the protection against oxygen,” explains Dr Ralf Büscher, senior expert projects Flexible Packaging at Hubergroup.

“However, packaging that consists of several plastics cannot be recycled at all or only with great effort.”

Hubergroup developments
Last year, Hubergroup debuted a barrier coating for protection against water in food and non-food packaging surface printing. The HYDRO-X GA Water Barrier Coating eradicates the need for PE film lamination barriers using a revised water-based coating binding agents formulation.

In a similar development, AMB unveiled a series of monomaterial PET films for optimizing food preservation and reducing retailer and consumer food waste, last year.

Edited

By Natalie Schwertheim

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