Sustainability is the big trend in the packaging market. The focus is on using renewable raw materials, cutting CO2 emissions and developing monomaterial-based packaging. Recyclability and circularity are major challenges. Therefore, the repulpability, recyclability, compostability and biodegradability of packaging are becoming more important.

More sustainability and less use of resources are big challenges for society – worldwide. These days, consumers consciously give preference to sustainable packaging that can be recycled. Big brands and retailers in the food industry such as Danone, Mondelez, Nestlé and Unilever along with Sainsbury’s and Walmart have already issued voluntary commitments on sustainability – the sector has set circular packaging solutions as its goal.

Innovation is key to achieving these objectives. Kuraray’s products and know-how make an essential contribution to the development of innovative packaging. Why continue to package coffee beans in aluminium pouches when paper pouches with a PLANTIC™ layer also provide an excellent barrier to oxygen? PLANTIC™ is a biopolymer derived from starch. Moreover, packaging with water-dispersible, biodegradable PLANTIC™ ensures that paper fibres can be repulped without difficulty.

Another example is EVAL™ – our ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymer. Inserting a barrier layer of innovative EVAL™ SC resin between two layers of polyethylene produces a shrink bag for fresh red meat that is both super transparent and recyclable. The thin layer of EVAL™ EVOH produces particularly light and resource-saving packaging.

Another highlight: Kuraray is the first EVOH producer to offer biocircular EVOH with ISCC PLUS certification. Certification is based on the mass-balance approach and documents the fact that the ethylene monomer in EVAL™ is produced from renewable resources.

PFAS are under scrutiny, and the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) now even bans these substances in food packaging above specific thresholds. Brand owners are therefore on the lookout for new, sustainable solutions. The great news from Kuraray is that PFAS can easily be replaced by EXCEVAL™ in paper-based packaging for dry food. Unlike conventional fluoropolymers, EXCEVAL™ is water-soluble, so this type of packaging can easily be recycled in paper mills. 

As a brand owner, you are under pressure to come up with new and more sustainable packaging solutions as quickly as possible, without any reduction in functionality. Here is an example: If you just want to reduce the film layers in multilayer packaging you could simply reduce the weight. However, using thinner layers might mean the packaging no longer has the required barrier properties. What you need are innovative materials.

Kuraray’s products and sector insight can give you completely new options. In our case studies, which you can download below, you can read more about new packaging concepts that successfully combine sustainability with functionality.

We know that every customer has different needs. Your packaging requirements are very specific. And so are the innovative solutions we develop together with you. We’re convinced we can only design the future by working together. That’s what our Innovation Networking Center (INC) is all about. Here, we network our expert knowledge on a global scale within the company and beyond. By networking, sharing knowledge and working together at the INC, we can create value and come up with innovations – with and for our customers.

Sustainability is the megatrend in the packaging industry. However, it also results in regional differences in the demands made by consumers, legislators and regulators. In recent years, governments in many countries have responded to consumer concerns by endeavouring to reduce packaging waste and improve waste management systems. Unfortunately, the regulations vary greatly from one country to another. At present, there is no global harmonization. Moreover, many countries do not have the necessary recycling infrastructure and processes.

As a brand owner, you may have to adopt new material concepts to make sure your packaging can be recycled locally. For example, repulpable packaging made primarily of paper with only a thin barrier layer can be a worthwhile goal. Ideally, a suitable, water-soluble film should improve the paper fibre yield in the repulping process. Alternatively, you could opt for a monomaterial composite with a very thin yet highly functional barrier layer that does not interfere with common recycling processes. Depending on the applicable regional requirements, such packaging can be recycled as a monomaterial. There are many ways to make your packaging much more sustainable and adapt it to local requirements.

Kuraray offers you a wide range of high-performance materials for functional and sustainable packaging for many different applications and use cases. Our innovative products enable you to overcome your specific sustainability challenges – and even play a key role in your sector.

Get inspired! Download our case studies and find out what’s possible!