NATIVIA® films for paper bags and in mould labels

A range of biobased films for more sustainable packaging solutions

Heat, grease and oil resistant PLA film for paper bags

Italian retail chains are always looking for sustainable packaging solutions in response to consumers’ increased desire to reduce the depletion of fossil resources and to fight climate change. Following this trend, Nicoletti SpA, an Italian manufacturer of paper bags for fresh foods, has recently introduced in its portfolio a bag for roasted chickens made entirely of renewable resources.

The paper bag is fully laminated with recently developed NATIVIA® D808 20 µm film, and has a transparent window which allows see-through of the packaged products. Unique performance and thermal properties of D808 20 µm film ensure heat resistance of the bag at storage temperatures up to 80°C. Improved heat resistance was the primary requirement of the film, since roasted chickens that are cooked every morning in the deli corner need to be kept at a temperature above 65°C (in bulk) in order to avoid proliferation of microorganisms.

Like all NATIVIA® films, D808 20 µm provides very good barrier to grease and fatty juices from the foodstuff, protecting the paper packaging against grease penetration. NATIVIA® D808 film also shows better heat resistance in terms of lower heat shrinkage and higher values of Tg, glass transition temperature, and Tm, melting temperature, compared to standard PLA films.

PLA film for In-Mould Labels

At LabelExpo 2015, Taghleef Industries presented an injected container with an in-mould label produced with NATIVIA® NTSS 40 µm. The highly transparent and glossy film offers a bio-based and compostable (according to EU standard EN 13432) solution for injected containers. This joint development project involved Taghleef Industries for the supply of the IML film, Grafiche Seven S.p.A. for the printing of the labels, and Elledi Plast S.r.l. for the injection moulding of the PLA based container for cream cheese. The label was printed using reel fed offset and flexo technology with 6 colors + varnish. Superior stiffness and film flatness ensure print register stability during the printing run, while film surface properties lead to suitable ink adhesion for IML application. Optimal stiffness is also crucial for efficient die cutting.
PLA based resin Ingeo™ 3251D has been used for the injection moulding of the containers.

The article is available in the last issue (06/15) of Bioplastics Magazine, at page 14.