Dow Paper Coatings sees a shift towards compostable and biodegradable paper products

By Jenny Eagle

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Packaging

Dow Paper Coatings sees a shift towards biodegradable paper
Dow Paper Coatings has seen a shift towards a heightened interest in compostable and biodegradable paper products. 

The news comes as the company launches its styrene acrylic and vinyl acrylic binders for food packaging; Rhoplex Diamond Styrene Acrylic (SA) Binders and Polyco Diamond Vinyl Acrylic (VA) Binders. 

Paper consumption has changed

Bob Gargione, global business manager, Dow Paper Coatings, told FoodProductionDaily, this focus on compostable and biodegradable paper productshas increased as demographics shift. 

Paper consumption has changed as younger populations increasingly live in urban settings and look for more sustainable paper products,​” he said. 

Doing more with less is a hallmark of sustainability and a driving force behind the development of many technologies for paper and paperboard​. 

Dow Paper Coatings has responded to the demand in the food packaging industry for technologies that improve the performance of paper and paperboard coatings with lower binder levels.​ “ 

The firm is known in the industry for its coatings for food packaging which help food stay fresh and maintain flavor, while protecting it from contaminants, damage, and spills or seeping. 

Our portfolio of ingredients for clear and pigmented coatings help manufacturers of coated paperboard, SBS paperboard, coated freesheet, coated groundwood and specialty paper products achieve desired performance characteristics​,” added Gargione. 

Acrylic, vinyl acrylic & styrene acrylic binders

We offer acrylic, vinyl acrylic and styrene acrylic binders; rheology modifiers; dispersants; opacifiers; matting agents; and more including the development of polymers that enhance opacity and gloss, binders that increase strength and functionality, and technology for higher hiding efficiency.​” 

He said Polyco Diamond VA Binders optimize paperboard coating performance using fewer synthetic materials. 

The binder’s dry pick strength, gluability, optical coverage, and UV and heat stability along with compliance with the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and German BfR food contact standards make it an excellent technology for food packaging​,” said Gargione. 

Rhoplex Diamond SA Binders allow mills to reduce binder consumption by up to 30% while maintaining strength and performance properties equal to or greater than conventional styrene acrylic and styrene butadiene binders​. 

“RHOPLEX Diamond SA Binders also meet FDA 21CFR 176.170 and 21CFR 176.180 standards, BfR recommendation XIV-A, and China’s GB9685-2008 standard for uses of additives in food containers and packaging materials​.” 

Minimize oil and grease

He added Hypod Polyolefins address customers’ interest in barrier coatings that minimize oil and grease from penetrating outer food packaging layers. 

Hypod Binders can serve as FDA and BfR food contact compliant components of flexible packaging as well as paper coatings for food packaging. They offer polyolefin performance benefits in water-based applications, forming a heat sealable, moisture and grease resistant layer with excellent adhesion to paper coatings and other food packaging materials. 

My priority is innovating to meet customers’ ever-changing and evolving needs,​” added Gargione. 

“Not only do we need to keep pace with the innovation taking place across the industry, we need to continue to be a market leader – not an easy task. We’re no longer exclusively a business-to-business company – we continue to expand and adapt our focus as we gain insights from consumers.”

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