NATIVIA® films for IML
High Barrier In-Mould Labelling of Biodegradable Pots and Tubs with NATIVIA® Films
Miko Pac is a packaging expert in injection molding of plastics for food packaging. Their slogan is "thinking outside the box" and this is exactly what they did when they took part in this joint development project - a joint development that involved BASF with its Ecovio® biopolymer, Druckhouse Rahning for the manufacturing of the IML labels and Taghleef Industries for the supply of NATIVIA® PLA film.
The working group used existing and well established technologies, designed for use with standard oil-based and compostable injection molded thin-wall and in-mold decorated pot for food packaging. The major step ahead was using the new, biodegradable and bio-based Ecovio® IS for injection molding and the biobased and compostable metallised NATIVIA™ PLA film for the barrier label.
About the benefits of the barrier label:
Ecovio® and NATIVIA® are widely used in packaging applications. However, a known characteristic of both materials is their poor barrier against moisture and gases, which does not allow their use for shelf stable food products. As a consequence, the team decided to use a vacuum-metallised NATIVIA® film for labelling the 0.6mm pot’s bottom and surrounding wall, to provide barrier. Druckhaus Rahninig, a leading printing house specialized in manufacturing of labels, used their know how to print the label using a 5-color + lacquer reel-fed UV printer to produce the wrap around and bottom labels.
The measurement of O2-Permeation at 25°C and 40% relative humidity according ASTM F1927 - 07 showed that just by adding the metallised PLA label the O2-Permeation was lowered to about 25% of the original ecovio O2-Permation value, and 10 times lower than standard PP tubs.
About NATIVIA and Ecovio®
Ecovio® consists of the compostable BASF polymer, Ecoflex®, and polylactic acid (PLA), derived from plant-based starch. The main areas of use for Ecovio® are plastic films such as organic waste bags, dual-use bags (first for shopping, then for organic waste) or agricultural films, as well as paper-coating, shrink films, foam packaging and injection molded products. Products made of Ecovio® IS for injection molding benefit from an optimum balance of rigidity and toughness. Flow behavior is easily adjusted according to the application – from medium to high flow requirements.
NATIVIA® biaxially oriented bio-based and compostable PLA films are widely used in various food packaging applications, thanks to the high clarity, gloss, seal ability and compatibility with existing packaging machines. So far, they had never been tested for manufacturing labels for injection molding.
>>> This article is available on our Ti News_n.12
The working group used existing and well established technologies, designed for use with standard oil-based and compostable injection molded thin-wall and in-mold decorated pot for food packaging. The major step ahead was using the new, biodegradable and bio-based Ecovio® IS for injection molding and the biobased and compostable metallised NATIVIA™ PLA film for the barrier label.
About the benefits of the barrier label:
Ecovio® and NATIVIA® are widely used in packaging applications. However, a known characteristic of both materials is their poor barrier against moisture and gases, which does not allow their use for shelf stable food products. As a consequence, the team decided to use a vacuum-metallised NATIVIA® film for labelling the 0.6mm pot’s bottom and surrounding wall, to provide barrier. Druckhaus Rahninig, a leading printing house specialized in manufacturing of labels, used their know how to print the label using a 5-color + lacquer reel-fed UV printer to produce the wrap around and bottom labels.
The measurement of O2-Permeation at 25°C and 40% relative humidity according ASTM F1927 - 07 showed that just by adding the metallised PLA label the O2-Permeation was lowered to about 25% of the original ecovio O2-Permation value, and 10 times lower than standard PP tubs.
About NATIVIA and Ecovio®
Ecovio® consists of the compostable BASF polymer, Ecoflex®, and polylactic acid (PLA), derived from plant-based starch. The main areas of use for Ecovio® are plastic films such as organic waste bags, dual-use bags (first for shopping, then for organic waste) or agricultural films, as well as paper-coating, shrink films, foam packaging and injection molded products. Products made of Ecovio® IS for injection molding benefit from an optimum balance of rigidity and toughness. Flow behavior is easily adjusted according to the application – from medium to high flow requirements.
NATIVIA® biaxially oriented bio-based and compostable PLA films are widely used in various food packaging applications, thanks to the high clarity, gloss, seal ability and compatibility with existing packaging machines. So far, they had never been tested for manufacturing labels for injection molding.
>>> This article is available on our Ti News_n.12
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