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Substitution of plastic materials with paper in modified atmosphere packagings (Stretchpaper)
Project
Project code: 281A701X20
Contract period: 15.07.2022
- 14.10.2023
Budget: 499,655 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Keywords: food technology, food engineering, packaging
The "Stretchpaper" project is designed to replace most of the plastic in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) with paper. MAP packaging is used in the packaging of all types of food and consists of 100% multilayer plastic, which can only be recycled thermally. The core objective of the project is to enable the substitution of a high proportion of the plastics (approx. 80 - 85 %) by paper, which can be peeled off the barrier layer of thin plastic film still required in direct contact with foodstuffs for recycling by type. The usability of paper for packaging requires the deep-drawing ability and thus an increased stretching capacity of paper. Mechanical processes for shrink insertion can produce paper with the required high elongation capabilities of 20% in the longitudinal and transverse directions. Research on this fundamental technology is to be transferred into a semi-technical demonstrator in the R&D project. With the help of further research and development, several goals are to be achieved for a system for producing a new type of stretchable paper. These are a symmetrical uniform elongation of 20% in the transverse and longitudinal directions at paper basis weights of 200 g/m^2, paper widths of 800 mm and process speeds of 800 m/min. The aim is to give paper, as a renewable raw material, the necessary properties to reduce plastics in food packaging to a minimum and make a fundamental contribution to conserving resources. The current lack of an alternative for food packaging can be remedied by the innovative idea of the project. The far-reaching substitution of plastics through the use of paper will for the first time enable the reuse of resources in the sense of a circular economy along the food chain.
Section overview
Subjects
- Resource management
- Process engineering
