By Alicja Pres
Sales Manager Intermediates Europe & South America, Envalior
Polyamide films protect food from spoilage, extending shelf life and reducing waste. Envalior and other polymer leaders founded the Advanced Packaging Association (APA) to promote polyamide films in food packaging. The APA advocates for the sustainability benefits of these films, emphasizing their recyclability and technical advantages, such as puncture resistance and moisture barriers.
Envalior and other key polymer players consider food packaging containing polyamide films to be a powerful lever for reducing food and packaging waste. We are therefore a founding member of the new Advanced Packaging Association (APA). The non-profit organization seeks to unite stakeholders along the entire flexible packaging value chain to raise awareness about the utility of multi-layer films containing polyamide, to provide resources and participate in knowledge sharing, and to ensure that the industry as well as legislators fully recognize the sustainability benefits of multi-material packaging.
Approximately a third of the food produced worldwide is not consumed, whether due to losses in the supply chain or being thrown away by consumers, according to the Food Waste Index Report 2024 of the UN Environment Program (UEP). This results in a huge waste of resources in terms of land, water, energy, work and investments. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) estimates that wasted food fuels global warming by emitting around 4.4 billion tons of greenhouse gases every year.
One approach to reducing these losses is food packaging made from high-tech plastic films. Flexible film containing polyamides although thin, effectively protect the food from spoiling and preserve it for a long time.
To raise awareness of polyamide benefits the Advanced Packaging Association (APA) was founded in 2023 by key players in the polymer industry, who believe that polyamide can help shape a better future. The association ensures that polyamide continues to play an important role in the transition to sustainable solutions for the packaging industry by applying research and technology.
The benefits of using polyamide (PA) as a component in advanced flexible packaging are numerous, spanning from sustainability advantages to technical qualities that are of utmost importance to food brands, retailers, packaging manufacturers and consumers. The most important is that it suppresses oxygen to enter from the outside, so that the food does not spoil or its’ aroma and appearance suffers. "The tough polyamide also makes the film composite puncture-resistant,” said Harrold Goertz, Director of Global Marketing & Sales in Envalior's film and extrusion business. “This means that fish bones, sharp edges of cheese or bones cannot damage the packaging, and it remains leak-proof."
Another advantage of the solid polyamide layer is that it can be used to shape the film structure and give the packaging a form. The polyamide intermediate film is usually combined with soft polyethylene films as the outer layers. They provide a barrier against moisture and ensure good weldability of the film composite when packaging and sealing the food.
Polyamide layers are already effective in protecting food in thicknesses of 20-40 microns, depending on the type of food and packaging. The amount of packaging waste generated when disposing of the multilayer films is correspondingly low. Furthermore, in case of such films disposals, they would not deteriorate the quality of the resulting soft polyethylene recyclate. Independent evaluations have repeatedly proven and confirmed their recyclability. For example, the testing institute cyclos-HTP GmbH has certified that polyamide multilayer films do not deteriorate quality of PCR PE.
“By incorporating polyamide into flexible packaging, we are not only minimizing food waste and improving durability, but also actively working towards a more sustainable future,” explained Thorsten Bredeman, Vice President of Global Marketing & Sales Intermediates for Envalior. “We are proud to be a founding member of APA and our mission is to demonstrate the multitude of benefits that polyamide brings to packaging, emphasizing its pivotal role in lessening environmental harm and fostering a more eco-friendly planet.”
In addition to Envalior, the founding members of the APA are BASF, UBE, DOMO Chemicals and GRUPA AZOTY ATT Polymers. When communicating the benefits of polyamide-containing packaging films, the members attach great importance to the greatest possible transparency and a scientifically sound basis for discussion and facts.
The key to any successful initiative aimed at protecting the planet is the active participation of members of the public who care about the environment. Consumers must understand how the use of advanced flexible packaging, which contains polyamide, can help reduce the environmental impact of the industry, which is the APA’s goal.
Consumers can join the APA and become an active participant. Members of the association can access educational content on the website, which they can share with food brands and other entities along the packaging chain, politicians and the media.
"We invite consumers and the entire value chain of polyamide packaging films to support us and are addressing raw material suppliers and film processors as well as machine manufacturers, retailers, large supermarket chains, recyclables dealers and recycling companies," emphasized Goertz. "Our aim is to inform not only the general public, but in particular all decision-makers in politics, legislation and public institutions about how sustainable, climate-friendly and efficient polyamide packaging is’’.
An overview of APA's objectives and strategy can be found at www.advanced-packaging-association.org. Further information on Envalior's products and services for food packaging can be found here.
Sales Manager Intermediates Europe & South America
Alicja Pres is the Sales Manager for Intermediates in Europe and South America at Envalior. She is responsible for sales and new business development for Akulon®, Novamid®, and Durethan® materials in the film, extrusion, and fibers industries. In addition to her main role, Alicja also focuses on sustainability matters related to the product line and leads communication efforts within the Advanced Packaging Association.
23 September 2024
3 Minutes
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