Serialization is the provision of a unique serial number to each saleable unit of a product. This number provides information about the product’s origin, manufacturing, and expiration date and works as an identifier for tracking. Serialization codes are generated either randomly or sequentially.

Serialization is important (and obligatory in most countries), especially in the pharmaceutical industry, as it protects against counterfeit drugs.

Different countries have different regulations for serialization although global GS1 standards are also considered. GS1 is a non -profit organization that develops and maintains global standards for business communication-based in Belgium.

The following elements are required to complete serialization, according to GS1:

GLN and GTIN: GLN stands for the global address of operation and GTIN is the unique complement of the manufacturer’s products around the world.

Serial Number: Numeric or alphanumeric character sequence consisting of up to 20 digits which must be unique for each GTIN.

Lot Information: The same as Batch Number, used to determine the production cycle of the company and expiration date.

In India, the law requires manufacturers to uniquely serialize drug products at the tertiary (case), secondary (saleable unit), and mono-carton packaging levels. Different packaging levels also have different requirements in terms of the data being presented. For instance, at the secondary pack level, the GTIN, batch number, expiration date, and serial number must be encoded in a 2D data matrix or at GS1-128 linear barcode.

As technology progress and regulations become more strict, there will be a shift in packaging design to make packaging fully traceable throughout the distribution chain.  Data management capabilities will also grow rapidly in order to keep up with the need for excessive data collection, processing, and storage.

Active and intelligent elements are being widely added to packaging to increase consumer engagement and safety of the product. One such smart addition to packaging is smart ink.

Smart inks are generally of two types:

THERMOCHROMATIC INKS: They change colour when the temperature increases or decreases. This colour change is reversible and constant.

PHOTOCHROMIC INKS: They change colour on exposure to daylight (UV light). Again, this change this reversible and instantaneous.

These inks are used in packaging to communicate valuable information about the product inside, especially if it is sensitive to temperature changes or should be protected from exposure to light. They can also simply be used to create an eye-catching designs for marketing and branding purposes.

An example of the use of smart inks for packaging include:

COCA-COLA CANS IN TURKEY

A combination of four differently-colored thermochromic inks are used to create bright images when the cans are chilled.

Coors light has also used the same technology for their beer cans.

Some other emerging smart inks are:

CUPROUS OXIDE CONDUCTIVE INKS which are essentially invisible antennas and can be used to track the product using RFID. Other conductive inks are also available in the market based on carbon and silver.

Advancement in technology has also led to the development of “chameleon inks” which change colour based on the specific wavelength they are exposed too.

We expect more creativity in the packaging industry with the help of smart packaging techniques in the coming years.

Environmental consciousness is now a must-have core value for every business and company introducing new products into the market. In such an economy, it is necessary to ponder over the following before beginning the design process of your product:

Raw Materials: Using 100% recycled and/or 100% recyclable material is suggested while considering the energy consumption and waste generation of processing. It is ideal to not introduce new, previously unused materials into the cycle.

Carbon Footprint: Optimizing the production process and supply chain, including transport, to lower the overall carbon footprint of the product.

Circular Economy: Making the product efficiently reusable, thus extending its lifecycle and usability.

Besides considering the environmental impacts of a product, there are many social and economic factors that need to be taken into account to truly make it sustainable and eco-friendly.

It is unrealistic to believe that the vast majority will buy eco-friendly products even if they are significantly more expensive than traditional equivalents.

It is also beside the point to use plant-based materials that use way too much water and require clearing of land to grow crops. These products are equally damaging to the environment as oil-based and single-use alternatives.

Other approaches include:

VALUE ENGINEERING: Less is more. Designing your product with the sole idea of saving money will lead to reduced material use.

CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT: Study your audience and give them what they care about. Most millennials are eco-conscious.

FIFO: “First in, first-out” simply means to use all your existing manufactured products before introducing a new design to the market. This method helps avoid wasteful behaviors. Also, the order in small volumes initially to study the response of your customers before going into full-scale production.  

Round nasal spray bottles with snap-on neck finish 20 mm Sterile, sterilized available. These spray bottles are available for nasal and other applications. These are snap on with 20mm neck. Available full range 10ml to 50ml.

Standard material: HDPE
• Full range from 10 ml to 50 ml
• Also suitable for crimp-on pumps
• Delivered ready-to-fill (sterile) or gamma sterilized
• Officially approved by Aptar Pharma, Nemera and Silgan

Roechling's medical division offers customers a wide range of high-quality, customized components and assemblies, right through to end-to-end OEM products. The product portfolio also includes standard plastic products, with special expertise in the fields of diagnostics, fluid management, pharma, surgery and interventional, and much more. These areas of competence are complemented by an enhanced range of services for development and regulatory affairs, right through to approval of end-to-end medical products.

Pharma | Röchling  EN (roechling.com)
About Packaging Connections | Packaging Products | Key Collabrations of Packaging Industry | Featured Products of Packaging Connections - Packaging Connections 

DO WE KNOW EACH OTHER?

Now that you’re here, let us tell you who we are and how we can help!

Based on the Six Degrees of Separation theory any person on this Earth could be introduced to ANYONE ELSE through a MAXIMUM of SIX mutual connections.

Think about it. Just 6 people between you and your desired contact. This theory applies to both social and professional dynamics.

SO WHERE DOES PACKAGING CONNECTIONS COME INTO PLAY?

In the very concentrated industry of packaging, the network is everything. The appropriate connection can bring you closer to a stronger design, better manufacturing standards, cheaper material and more sustainable product.

RIGHT PERSON, RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME.

This is exactly what Packaging Connections provides. The platform to reach your desired packaging professionals with utmost convenience. With our strong online and offline community and our dedicated support team, we are the only intermediary that you need to contact directly for all things packaging. 

Our growing Linkedin community currently comprises 30,000 packaging experts from around the world. Our Facebook page has an acknowledged viewership of over 45,000. These numbers are strengthened by our unparalleled presence in the industry for 15 years. As industry leaders, we take the responsibility to provide nothing but the best.

We promise to shorten your chain of intermediaries and connect you with the fitting resource in a prompt manner.

TIME EFFICIENT. ONE-STOP SHOP. GLOBAL COMMUNITY.

Make the right choice; choose Packaging Connections as your mutual. 

The Six Degrees of Separation Theory:
https://exploringyourmind.com/the-six-degrees-of-separation-theory/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j1wX5Nznro

What is Migration?

Migration is the transfer of chemical compounds from plastic packaging materials into food products.

These chemical compounds are usually present in inks and adhesives that travel through the primary packaging material to contaminate the contents. This can be extremely dangerous when the contents are either food or medicines.

Earlier, migration testing was only performed on containers, closures and other packaging components, excluding labels.

How are Low Migration Labels different from regular labels?

Some factor that affects the “low migration” capacity of the label are:

• Printing inks with larger molecule sizes are less likely to migrate.
• Proper UV curing systems ensure lower migration rates. This includes ensuring the absence of oxygen during the curing process.
• Levels of residual solvents and other volatile substances should be at the lowest level possible for water-based and solvent-based ink to lower the rate of migration.

The term “low migration” is used because a minimal amount of migration will always occur in any kind of plastic packaging, no matter the kind of label used. However, if the migration or interaction takes place within an accepted window set by regulatory authorities, the packaging components are deemed safe for use.

Label stock primarily consists of a combination of a face stock, adhesive and label liner. The label adhesive is the component that has the most contact with the packaging and that contains numerous elements with the potential to reach out and cause contamination.

To learn more about Low Migration Label solutions, send us an email at info@packagingconnections.com

Here are 5 things you must know while designing your beverage packaging:
 

1. Classification of Beverage

2. Basic requirements for all beverage packaging include:

• Completely leak-proof
• Prevents against contamination
• Protect the contents against chemical deterioration
• No pick up of external flavours
• Be hygienic and safe

3. Characteristics of beverage that need to be considered include:

• Acidity
• Enzymes
• Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
• Added colouring and flavouring

4. External factors that need to be considered include:

• Expected shelf life
• Legislation
• Pack size
• Aesthetic
• Feasibility of manufacturing process
• Moisture vapour ingress and oxygen permeability

5. Types of materials that can be used for beverage packaging include:

• Glass
• Metal: Steel, Tinplate
• Plastic: PET, Metallised polyester/polyester/ polyethylene laminated pouches
• Aseptic Packages: Thermoplastic with paperboard and aluminium foil
• Bags made of EVA-BA-EVOH-BAEVA or LDPE-BA-EVOH-BA-LDPE film

CATCHING THE EYE

From product protection to marketing, packaging serves a multitude of purposes.

The targeted audience must be able to quickly grasp the need, purpose, and use of a product from its packaging to want to buy it.

A rather cynical and hard-to-please audience is children. Easily bored and extremely dependent on visual stimulation, the young demographic needs instant engagement features even before they reach the toys inside.

In this case, packaging plays a key role in catching and then holding a child’s attention long enough to maintain their interest.

COLOURS AND IMAGERY

Bold, primary colors and clearly demarcated shapes tend to be easily processed and registered by a child’s cognition. While your packaging needs to be perceptible, it should also be unique enough to differentiate itself from the competitors in the market.

TEXT

Packaging for toys for young kids must be strategically designed. It must subtly provide all necessary information and directions of use in clear words for the parents but, at the same time, should also SCREAM why the child would enjoy playing with the product in a quick glance. The correct font, size, and placement play a crucial role in making the product appropriately informative and attractive.

PACKAGING MATERIAL

Any product meant for a child also needs the approval of its parent/guardian.

Since your packaging is responsible for making the first impression, it must reflect quality and safety to reassure the parents and build brand reliability.

Avoid using plastic wraps, shrinks, and wire ties that can be choking hazards or suffocation risks.

INTERACTIVE

Make the packaging a part of the experience. Add buttons, sneak holes, or other primary packaging elements that can be used by the child to play with. 

Following up on the previous blog, we want to share with you 5 nationally and internationally brands that adopted 100% recycling or 100% recycled packaging in 2020.

DETTOL LAUNCHES HANDWASH WITH 100% RECYCLED PLASTIC PACKAGING

The new Dettol Liquid handwash Black is made with 100 percent Post-Consumer Resin (PCR).

With the introduction of the category-leading Dettol Handwash in a fully recycled bottle, Dettol aims to take a formative step in the direction of addressing the plastic pollution problem which has further exacerbated amidst Covid-19.

AT INTERPACK, HOFFMANN TO INTRODUCE RECYCAN® RECYCLED STEEL-BASED TINPLATE PACKAGING

Hoffmann, a global provider of high-quality packaging for a broad array of industries and applications, will introduce a new line of tinplate cans comprised of 100% recycled steel at the Interpack, May 7 to 13, 2020 in Düsseldorf, Germany.

NESTLÉ WATERS NORTH AMERICA EXPANDS USE OF 100% RECYCLED PLASTIC (RPET) IN THREE ADDITIONAL BRANDS, DOUBLES RPET USE ACROSS U.S. DOMESTIC PORTFOLIO

Nestlé Waters North America (NWNA) announced that three more of our U.S. domestic still water brands have started to convert their packaging to 100% recycled plastic. 

COCA-COLA IN WESTERN EUROPE TRANSITIONS TO 100% RECYCLED PLASTIC (RPET) BOTTLES IN TWO MORE MARKETS

The switch to 100% rPET in the Netherlands will eliminate the use of more than 10,000 tonnes of new virgin oil-based plastic, amounting to a 21% reduction in the carbon footprint of its plastic bottles per year compared to the rPET level before the transition, when the portfolio in the Netherlands already consisted of more than 50% recycled PET. Additionally, during the first half of 2021, Coca-Cola in Norway will transition to 100% rPET for all plastic bottles that it produces locally.

MIRIUS PULLS THE TRIGGER ON 100% RECYCLED BOTTLES

In a 1st for the UK cleaning industry, the new 100% recycled bottle is also 100% recyclable. The bottle is available for its customers of its own label cleaning products and also across Mirius’s off-the-shelf professional cleaning range – Super Professional.

The past year has been one during which we saw a major wave of recycled products coming into use. Many global packaging companies announced the arrival of new designs incorporating recycled paper, recycled plastic. This year foresees the induction of fully recyclable and/or fully recycled packaging for most big brands.

Let’s elucidate some of the benefits of recycling used paper and plastic and further using the recycled product:

1. Redirects waste for landfills and incinerators, thus reducing overall environmental degradation.
2. Reduces the import of new raw materials and internalizes the process leading to higher domestic gains.
3. Preserves precious raw materials, especially in the case of plastics. Since we have a limited source of fossil fuel hydrocarbons, it is important to limit their use to only when necessary.
4. Reduces environmental disruption caused by the extraction of new raw material. This, in turn, benefits the wildlife and local ecosystems.
5. Lower overall energy consumption. Although energy is still used to recycle previously used material, a lot more energy is saved due to reduced sourcing and waste processing.

Once we achieve the goal of introducing fully recycled products in the market, our next aim should be to find ways to completely avoid disposal and maintain once-manufactured products in the cycle of use without compromising on quality or increasing energy consumption.

ALL ABOUT VACUUM PACKAGING

What is Vacuum Packaging?

Any packaging that can be sealed in an airtight manner by removing all the air from the inside package.

Why is Vacuum Packaging used?

Vacuum packaging is especially used to package food in order to prevent oxidation and thus spoilage and can extend the shelf and storage life of the product. Another benefit of vacuum packaging is the reduced volume as compared to rigid airtight containers.

• Eliminates oxidation, dehydration, and rancidification
• Prevents freezer burn
• Helps maintain the natural moisture
• Prevents moisture contamination
• Preserves delicate oils

VACUUM PACKING MACHINES

• External Bag Machines: The bag to be vacuum-sealed is attached to the machine externally. The entire process takes place outside the machine. A heat sealer is used to seal the pack which allows the seal to be opened only by cutting.

Factors affecting seal:

1. Bag Thickness
2. Bag Material
3. Number of Bags being sealed

• Vacuum Chamber Machines: The contents and package pouch are placed inside the machine to be vacuumed and heat sealed. They could either be single-chambered or double-chambered. Automatic belt vacuum machines are the third option.
• Thermoforming Vacuum Packaging Machines: Used in large production facilities and provide high customizability. These follow a Form-Fill-Seal style.

Typical Vacuum Packaging Use Cases:

• Fruits
• Meat
• Seafood
• Cheese

Invest in developing a packaging design that doesn't use a large amount of packaging material. Minimal packaging helps in reducing material use, leading to reduced production costs. You would even consume less energy to manufacture both the material and packaging and less fuel is used to transport items.

Material Reduction Tips:

Culture is the culmination of patterned behavior of people who identify with one another and share common beliefs. These patterns are driven by geographical location, socio-economic factors, and much more.

Like every other aspect of life, culture also has an impact on packaging and products are used. Following are a few case studies of how different cultures and cultural beliefs were taken into account by the same brand to modify packaging and marketing:

1. Kellogg’s

Kellogg’s is an American food manufacturing company known internationally for its cereals and convenience foods. It entered the Indian market in September 1994, marketing its products as “crispy breakfast foods”. However, cold breakfast was a foreign concept to the Indian population and would add hot instead of cold milk to the cereal. This made the flakes soggy and negated the promise of “crispy”.

To overcome this hurdle, Kellogg’s reintroduced its product as an “All Day Meal” and focused more on the nutritional value.

In 2016, the Indian market alone contributed 10% to the parent's Asia-Pacific revenues of Kellogg’s, making the country its fastest-growing market in the region.

2. Paper Boat

Paper Boat made its debut in the Indian market in August 2013 as a non-carbonated drinks company and branded itself as a “traditional, indigenous, authentic drink”. It is packaged in eco-friendly packaging. The drinks were produced from locally available spices, fruits, and some locally available fruits that are grown wild. It adopted the local flavors in the country like drinks with a taste of ―Jamun, Kala Khatta, AamRas, Anardana, Kokum, etc. with the tagline of “Drinks and memories” which immediately connected with the Indian audience.

REFERENCE STUDY:

Mun, Mun & Ghosh, Munmun & Ghosh, Arindam & Ghosh, Moumita. (2016). Impact and Influence of Culture on Brands in the Indian Market. Journal of Business and Management (IOSR-JBM). 18. 54-60. 10.9790/487X-18

It’s no surprise that most life-altering innovations and discoveries of the past have been accidental. Here are the stories of a few “accidents” that changed the packaging industry for good.

1. Polyethylene

On March 27, 1933, two organic chemists, R.O Gibson and E.W. Fawcett, were working for the Imperial Chemical Industries Research Laboratory. They came across a white, waxy substance while testing various chemicals.

The researchers set off a reaction between ethylene and benzaldehyde, in an autoclave. It appeared that the testing container sprang a leak and all of the pressure escaped. They found a white, waxy substance inside. Upon carefully repeating and analyzing the experiment, the scientists discovered that the loss of pressure was only partly due to a leak; the major reason was the polymerization process that had occurred leaving behind polyethylene. Polyethylene had been discovered before, in 1898, when German scientist Hans von Pechmann discovered a residue in his test tube. But he discarded it as he believed the waxy resin couldn’t have practical applications.

The first patents for polythene were registered in 1936 by Imperial Chemical Industries.

2. Bakelite

In the nineteenth century, many researchers were troubled by a highly viscous by-product sticking to their beakers. In 1909, it was Leo Baekeland who put together phenol and formaldehyde and subjected it to heat to replicate this thick, sticky resin that could be molded into hard infusible articles, thus inventing Bakelite. 

3. Bubble Wrap

Created in 1957 by Alfred Fielding and his business partner, a Swiss chemist named Marc Chavannes, Bubble Wrap is the result of an attempt to create a textured wallpaper that would appeal to the burgeoning Beat generation. They stuck two plastic shower curtains together through heat-sealing. It failed to sell for its chosen purpose, but they later realized that their invention could be used for packaging.

4. Superglue

In 1942, Harry Coover was searching for materials to build clear plastic gun sights for the war, but what he discovered instead was a chemical formulation that stuck to everything it touched. His discovery was rejected because researchers didn't see a need for such a sticky formula, especially in his field of study. It wasn't until 1951 that the same formula was embraced and repurposed by Coover and fellow Eastman Kodak researcher Fred Joyner as "Alcohol-Catalyzed Cyanoacrylate Adhesive Compositions/Superglue".

Tamper Evident Packaging (TEP) is a broad category of packaging practices and technology that alerts the consumer of foul play or damage to the product during the B2C route. This is usually useful for international shipments or high-value local shipments that are delivered to the consumer through a third party. As opposed to Tamper Resistant Packaging, which is designed to be very hard to open, Tamper Evident Packaging provides a visual indication of tampering.

Traditional TEP leaves behind a sort of trace on the package when there is attempted manipulation. Modern technology aims to provide an on-the-spot notification to the consumer in the case of tampering.

TEP has also proven to be extremely helpful in the case of products that are consumed with use. For example, medicines, cosmetics, and food. TEP can alert consumers if the product has been exposed to unwanted conditions and can prevent them from consuming potentially detrimental substances.

The following are a few examples of TEP in use.

BLISTER PACKAGES

Now been in use for decades, blister packaging is the go-to option for pills and tablets. The visual evidence of a tear on the foil seal is usually enough to indicate to the consumer that the contents have been compromised.

TAMPER EVIDENT TAPE

Used a security seal for containers such as boxes, crates, and shipping pallets, its removal leaves a clear mark for the consumer to see.  Some TEP labels and stickers work in the same way.

Other commonly used TEP include Shrink Bands, Over Wraps, Lidding Films, Tear-Away Lids, and Induction Seals.

You can find many more solutions at the following two sites:

Schreiner Medipharm Leading Development Partner | Innovative Specialty Labels | Self-Adhesive Marking Solutions | Pharmaceutical Industry (packagingconnections.com)

Security Technologies - Schreiner Group (schreiner-group.com)

We had two sessions of this webinar on the services of Packaging Connections 2021 on 12th January 2021. We had a good number of registrations from across the globe and understood that more and more people are looking for services supported remotely. It has been a good way to share the information without traveling and we could utilize our time better. Of course, face to face meeting has its own charm but I think digital is the next best way and in some cases even better. This can certainly help to reduce traveling and so the carbon footprint and then we can travel once in a while. Here is the link to recordings that you may be interested, https://youtu.be/t4chkPJa2A0 

PackagingConnections covered the following partners and services: 
•Davik : Carry Handles
•Bernhardt: Vacuum sealing and filling machines
•Design Services: Paper board and corrugated
•EMA Pharma: Al seals for injectables
•Haemotronics: IV Bags
•Haselmeier Gmbh: Self-injecting pens
•Linhardt: Al collapsible and laminated tubes
•Plas-tech: Plastics PFS
•Polycine : Films for IV bags
•Roechling Medical: Rigid pharma packaging
•Sanok Rubber: Rubber stoppers
•Schreiner MediPharm : Functional labels and security solutions
•Yukon Medical: Transfer devices

In addition, there were also discussions about consulting and content marketing services. You will know a lot through recordings. You can also ask for the presentation copy, please email info@packagingconnections.com 

Hello Friends of Packaging,
 

The year 2020 has been a year full of new opportunities with its share of challenges. Packaging has played a great role during the pandemic to survive and we learned a lot and successfully implemented several new projects. All that is done remotely using the digital way of working and modern logistics support. In the process, we had also revisited our services and offerings: and did a lot of cleaning to focus.

So we would like to update you on where we are today (present) and what we would be doing in the days to come (near future). We will talk about our services like 

• Consulting
• Packaging Design
• Foreign packaging Partners
• How PackagingConnections can help you in your day to day packaging work..

So let us meet up digitally and discuss further what we can do together for mutual success,
 

CLICK TO REGISTER NOW : Packaging Connections 2021- A New Start

Sandeep Kumar Goyal,
Founder & CEO
PackagingConnections Group

Here are 7 facts about India and its packaging industry that you would enjoy reading.

1. According to the Packaging Industry Association of India (PIAI), the packaging sector is currently the FIFTH largest economic sector of India and is growing at 22% to 25% per year.

2. Packaged food is the fastest-growing segment in the Indian packaging industry. According to the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), the expenditure on packaged foods is increasing (at inflection point), due to an overall increase in per capita income, urbanization, and an increase in the number of working women. This is a positive reflection of Indian economy, but can also indicate an increase in single-use plastic waste.

3. In the Indian beverage packaging market, materials such as rigid plastics and glass account for 70% of the total packaging sector. PET is the material most used to package water, accounting for around 55% of India’s packaged water market.

4. According to a report by the Indian Packaging Institute in 2018, Paper is the fastest-growing segment within the Indian packaging industry, experiencing a demand of 6 million tons each year. About 40% of the paper which is consumed in India goes through the packaging industry.

5. The Indian Brand Equity Foundation says the flexible packaging industry in India is a segment valued at nearly $1 billion. It has been growing at an average rate of 20% since 2010.

6. According to FICCI in 2018, plastics comprise about 40% of the packaging produced in the Indian packaging industry, combining flexible and rigid plastics into the same category. Cardboard products make up another 31% of the industry.

7. The Indian packaging industry provides about 4% of the total value available within the global packaging industry, according to FICCI.

Proteus is a light, strong and non-cuttable material that turns back the force of a cutting tool upon itself. The development of this new material was led by an international research team from Durham University, UK, and Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU in Chemnitz in Germany. The researchers got inspiration for this invention from the tough skin cellular skin of grapefruit and the fracture-resistant shells of mollusks.

Named after the shape-changing mythical god — Proteus is made of ceramic spheres encased in a cellular aluminum structure that could not be cut by angle grinders, drills, or high-pressure water jets during any testing stage.

When cut with an angle grinder or drill, the vibrations created by the ceramic spheres inside the casing dull the cutting disc or drill bit.

The interaction between the cutting apparatus and ceramic sphere creates an interlocking, vibrational connection that resists the cutting tool indefinitely.

Upon continuous applied force, the blade is gradually eroded, and eventually rendered ineffective as the force and energy of the drill is turned back on itself, and it is weakened and destroyed by its own attack.

Additionally, on the application of external force, the ceramics fragment into fine particles, which fill the cellular structure of the material and further harden as the speed of the cutting tool is increased due to interatomic forces between the ceramic grains. Hence, the adaptive nature of the material causes it to strengthen rather than wear down.

Most of the internal structure design and dynamic response of the material to external stimulus are inspired from living structures. To resist against the most violent forcible entry tools, organic materials such as aragonite tiles, which are found in mollusk shells, were replaced in the new material with industrial, alumina ceramics, and an aluminum, metallic foam matrix.

The researchers intend for the material to be used in bike locks, lightweight armor, and in protective equipment for people who work with cutting tools. However, there are many other applications that can be considered for this material.

The complete details of the invention and results of testing can be found in the Scientific Reports.

SOURCE:

https://scitechdaily.com/proteus-technology-new-material-is-strong-light-and-non-cuttable/

What is EVOH?

Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol, commonly abbreviated EVOH, is a formal copolymer of Ethylene & Vinyl Alcohol.

The production of EVOH contains of a two-step process of Polymerization and Saponification. First, ethylene and vinyl acetate are polymerized using an initiator/activator complex. Second, the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVAC) is saponified to ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer.

EVOH is used in packaging for its barrier properties against gases (O2, CO2), solvents, hydrocarbons and odours. It is also abuse, oil and dust resistant. EVOH is easily extrudable, has a glossy finish and high printability and is recyclable.

According to patent US 20020022096A1,  EVOH barrier layers blended with an amorphous polyamide are highly suggested for semi-rigid packaging containers such as juice packaging.

This technology and layering of an EVOH blend with paperboard and LDPE is preferred due to its lower cost of transportation, easier disposal and lower breakage or damage probability as compared to glass containers. This packaging is also lighter in weight.

Blow moulded containers serving the same purpose are unable to prevent the loss of Vitamin C from its contents.

The trend focused on in the mentioned patent is known as “gable top”. This packaging is usually made of recyclable virgin paperboards with layered barrier laminate and is designed to look like the gable end of a house.

The patent mentions that the addition of an outer polyolefin coating provides a heat seal bond. A nylon layer coated on the paperboard helps retain Vitamin C and flavour. Flame treatment of the paperboard also helps prevent loss of oils and flavours.

Many different arrangement and treatments of LDPE, Paperboard and EVOH blends have been experimented for different liquid contents which can be further read about in the patent.

PATENT LINK: https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/14/26/3a/be6344760ad7f7/US20020022096A1.pdf