Toppan Printing creates biomass packaging material

By Joe Whitworth

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Retailing Packaging and labeling

Toppan develops laminated packaging using biomass polyethylene
Toppan Printing Co has developed a laminated packaging material using biomass polyethylene (PE) film with a thickness of less than 40µm.

The mass production of the film, aimed at the food and medicine markets, is expected to begin in Spring 2013.

Toppan Printing said the product is the first laminated packaging material in Japan to use biomass PE with a thickness of less than 40µm, which has been achieved through the use of laminating technology that differs from conventional techniques.

Maintains performance

As part of its BIOAXX series it uses plant-derived raw materials but maintains performance in terms of seal strength and laminating strength, according to the Japanese-based firm.

With this product, it has been possible to produce biomass PE with a thickness of less than 40µm by establishing a processing technology where extrusion laminating technology is used to produce a thin coat of PE that has been melted to one side of a substrate film.

Previous laminated packaging materials using biomass PE have been manufactured using dry lamination where the films are laminated using an adhesive.

Last year Toppan Printing said it was the first firm in Japan to develop a laminated packaging material using biomass PE with a thickness of more than 100µm.

This was commercialized as a flexible packaging material for liquids and is used in applications such as refill standing pouches for toiletries.

Biomass ratio of around 10%

The flexible packaging material also has a biomass ratio of at least around 10%.

Toppan Printing will continue research and development on this product and plans to begin mass production in the spring of 2013, adding it is aiming for sales of 3 billion yen in fiscal 2015.

Earlier this year, the firm announced it had become the first to gain the BRC safety certification for its paperboard packaging plant in Thailand. The Category 1 certification was obtained as part of plans to expand operations into fast-developing markets in the Asia-Pacific.  

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