Today metal cans, glass jars and rigid plastic containers dominate instant coffee packaging, all of which are recyclable but none are made from renewable resources or offer compostability.the move to conventional flexible packaging began some time ago for many premium gourmet makers of ground coffee and coffee beans with some every day instant coffee brands mirroring this trend.
Many of these lightweight packs are standup bags or pouches with some using vacuum packed blocks.innovia films, a leading innovator in filmic solutions for packaging, has developed a range of cellulosebased films that when laminated together with other bio materials, can provide a fully renewable filmic structure suitable for coffee pouches natureflex&trade.coffee producers are moving towards packaging which weighs less to save on transportation costs in the supply chain and to lower the product&rsquos carbon footprint,&rdquo expressed innovia films neil banerjee, market developer & ndash cello.he continued &ldquonatureflex&trade films offer a viable alternative to coffee producers who want a complete packaging structure that is lightweight and able to not only protect their product but at the same time is also compostable and made from renewable resources.
This is the real point of differentiation for natureflex&trade as existing laminate structures for lightweight coffee packaging can be difficult to dispose of except through landfill, whereas natureflex&trade can be composted.&rdquotypical comparison of conventional versus natureflex&trade film structuresexisting structureflexible packaging for the roast and ground coffee and coffee bean market typically consists of a laminate structure made up of three layers1. A reverse printed outer layer 20&mum bopp or 12&mum pet2. A high barrier middle layer 610&mum aluminium foil or 12&mum metallised pet3. An inner sealant layer 5090&mum polyethylenethe natureflex&trade solutioninnovia&rsquos natureflex&trade films can be combined with other biopolymers by a converter, to produce a renewable alternative to the above structure.natureflex&trade films comply with standards for compostable packaging, including en13432, as4736 and astm d6400.
Depending on the individual films selected, the finished laminate structure could be certified compostable to the same standards subject to appropriate ink, print design and adhesive choices. If required, the pouches can be vented or a fully compostable zip closure could be added.neil banerjee explained &ldquowe are happy to work with coffee manufacturers to ensure that they get the right laminate structure to protect their product all they need to do is contact us.&rdquo
