Chemical and plastics company Borealis says its new “next generation” polypropylene grade Borclear RC737MO – designed for cosmetics and baby bottles – eliminates Bisphenol A (BPA).
Amid some controversy, an EU-wide ban on baby bottles produced using BPA came into effect on 1 June last year (2011), following an earlier similar move by Canada.
Austria-based Borealis claims Borclear RC737MO takes transparency in extrusion blow moulded PP bottles to new heights, enhancing visual appeal and processability, as well as offering cost-efficiency and sustainability advantages for converters and brand owners in the fast moving consumer goods market.
“Borclear RC737MO is the clear advance in transparency that the safety-conscious, aesthetically-driven cosmetics and baby sectors have been looking for when selecting PP for their product or packaging,” says Rainer Höfling, Borealis vice president business unit moulding.
“Borealis’ next generation PP provides converters and brand owners with a novel and cost-efficient approach to the differentiation and competitive edge they seek.”
Suited to production of bottles up to 2 litres in size, Borclear RC737MO can be processed by applying the usual processing settings for random PP grades, with barrel temperatures in the range of 190-220°C, and its lower weight variations will reduce the potential for breakage during transportation and use.
Compared with established standard products, the Borclear RC737MO haze value can be reduced by 25%. And when compared with next best alternatives such as metallocene grades, it also offers better surface scratch resistance to ensure longer-term consumer attractiveness.
Owned 64% by the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) of Abu Dhabi and 36% by OMV, the leading energy group in the European growth belt, Borealis reported sales of €6.3 billion in 2010, with customers in over 120 countries.
New Borealis Borclear RC737MO PP grade targets cosmetics products and baby bottles
