Finland based VTT has developed a new packaging film that is fully bio-based and transparent. This product won the “New Tree award”, a competition launched to find the best solutions for exploiting wood-based materials.
Each layer of the three-layer film, produced from fully renewable raw materials, has a specific function. The thin middle layer is made from cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), which are ground from traditional Finnish birch pulp. It is highly impermeable to gases, particularly oxygen, and is necessary when packaging fatty foods.
The inner and outer layers are made from Brazilian sugar cane, through fermentation and polymerisation into biopolyethylene. They make the packaging resistant to moisture. This is essential when packaging dry food products. The inner layer also enables the packaging to be sealed tightly through heat sealing.
Compared to ordinary fibre-based packaging and paperboard cups and trays, this three-layer material is a fully transparent film, opening up a wide range of potential applications.
Click here for source (VTT)
Photo: Food Production Daily
