Kuraray, the global specialty chemicals company headquartered in Japan, will have two themes at interpack; the co-creation of a sustainable future, as well as a stronger emphasis on innovation creating opportunities.
Kuraray says it will be showcasing its bio-circular and recyclable EVOH “EVAL”, a barrier resin widely used for food packaging. The Kuraray EVAL Europe plant enables the market introduction of EVOH from renewable resources – a fact the company says is also confirmed by its recent ISCC PLUS certification.
To promote innovation globally and across the entire product portfolio, Kuraray has established the Innovation Networking Center (INC). According to the company, the INC has the purpose of fostering networking and exchange across Kuraray's diverse products and business units, as well as improving connectivity with its numerous customers and partners around the world.
Gas barrier performance with double function
At Kuraray’s interpack booth, the company says visitors will have the opportunity to experience the gas barrier performance of EVAL. Avoiding oxygen-induced degradation in food, the company claims that EVAL extends the product’s shelf life and quality. At the same time, it blocks contaminants from migrating into the packaging. This double function, the company claims, makes EVAL the ideal material for film packaging of perishable foodstuffs, as aroma preservation or as an efficient functional barrier for organic solvents or potential contaminants, such as those that might be present in food cartons made of recycled corrugated board or post-consumer recycled plastics.
In addition, EVAL with metallisation protects active pharmaceutical ingredients, offering a barrier against water, light, oxygen, CO2 and chemicals, which Kuraray claims, makes the resin also suitable for the packaging of sensitive content such as medicines. For the most sensitive applications, the "oxygen-scavenging" EVAL EVOH adds extra safety, and potentially reduces further oxygen ingress to zero, the company says.
Recyclable mono-material solution
EVAL EVOH has a thickness of 1 mm, and has the same gas barrier as a 10-metre-thick wall of LDPE, Kuraray claims. This way, the packaging weighs less and still protects the environment. Due to the minimal amount of EVAL needed, packers can use the resin with polyolefins – such as polyethylene – to create a package that will still be considered mono-material and fits well into the recycling stream. Kuraray says that recently EVAL has received ISCC PLUS certification, proving its bio-circular properties.
At the Kuraray booth, Interpack visitors will be able to see packaging examples such as trays for meat, pasta, and cheese, also compliant with RecyClass and Ceflex guidelines.
Innovation Networking Centre: innovation through co-creation
Another highlight shown at Kuraray’s booth is the newly established Innovation Networking Centre (INC). With INC, Kuraray says it is opening up new paths to greater innovation and sustainability for its customers through more intensive exchange and strong networking. The INC is a virtual platform that connects customers with the global network of cross-functional expert teams. Kuraray says it leverages the company’s diverse industry expertise and its capabilities in research, technology, and chemistry to enable complex problems to be solved in partnership.
