Speciality barrier coatings with moisture vapour-, flavour- and grease-proof properties and ‘environmentally considerate’, are being developed by packaging manufacturer Chesapeake.
The coatings are designed to improve grease barriers, especially for dried pet-foods, which can have oil content in excess of 10%, and traditionally have a substantial layer of plastic applied to cartonboard says Chesapeake.
The technique, suitable for different packaging formats, involves applying a special coating to the reverse of a cartonboard. It allows the application of coatings that are not typically applied at the board mill during production, adds Chesapeake.
Carol Hammond, Head of R&D at Chesapeake, said, ” We have focused on more environmentally considerate options such as water-based or organically derived coatings to deliver the same benefits. The results are very encouraging and we already have an improved coating for packs that require a flavour barrier. We are close to offering a more environmentally considerate grease-proof barrier as well.”
In a joint project with a Scandinavian paper company, whose name Chesapeake would not reveal, Chesapeake has developed a ‘naturally formed’ coating with additional heat sealing properties that has been applied to paper and is being tested for various food-packaging applications.
