BioMatNet Item: FAIR-CT96-3255 - Biodegradable packaging film materials for high barrier applications

FAIR-CT96-3255
Biodegradable packaging film materials for high barrier applications

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Biopolymers/Gums : FAIR Area 2.1 - Chemical and Physical Processes : Packaging

	Type of Project	Shared Cost
	Contract No	FAIR-CT96-3255
	Total Cost	1,626,000 ECU
	EC Contribution	800,000 ECU
	Start Date	01/10/1997
	Duration	30 Months

Biodegradable packaging film materials for high barrier applications: research into film forming, coating and lamination technology

Objectives

Technical Approach

The overall aim of the project is to provide biodegradable polymer films - on the basis of short term renewable resources - for medium and for high barrier flexible packaging applications which in comparison to the conventional polymers presently used are:

competitive in terms of functionality
comparable in integral costs for materials, processing, use and waste management
compatible with biological waste management strategies
allow improvements in terms of environmental impacts over the whole product life cycle

For these purposes, Cellulose films offer good perspectives and have, therefore, been selected for this project. As Cellulose alone neither shows sealing properties nor has sufficient water barrier, further conversion steps - compatible with the main targets of biodegradability and renewable sources of the materials - will be needed to achieve the functionality profile essential for packaging.

Expected Results

Development of two groups ("medium barrier properties", "high barrier properties") of transparent biodegradable packaging film laminates on basis of:

cellulose films with plasticisers from renewable sources
additional polymeric barrier / sealing layers, also from renewable sources, and thin inorganic barrier films showing sufficient gas and water vapour barrier properties, also in humid conditions and the applicability on typical packaging equipment.

Applications

Applicability of basic substrate films from cellulose as a technically and economically promising material, providing good basic mechanical and gas barrier properties, in combination with specific biodegradable plasticisers from renewable resources, to finally obtain transparent, machinable films.

Good performance in packaging experiments of those products for which biodegradable packaging appear to be most appropriate: Food products in small packaging and hygiene products with their known problems in all kinds of recovery - other than energy recovery - and in littering.

Demonstration of the compatibility of the packaging with aerobic and anaerobic biological waste management schemes including waste water treatment and of the complete biodegradability of basic materials and packaging films according to the newest draft standards.

Quantification of the environmental impacts - generated by the use of the biodegradable films in defined applications - by means of a Life Cycle Assessment study according to ISO Draft International Standard 14040.

Results To Date

First samples tested of:

Biodegradable plasticisers for cellulose
Adhesives from natural sources
Lacquers from natural sources

Successful vacuum coating of different cellulose types as real materials

Contacts

Coordinator

Hans-Christian LANGOWSKI / Fraunhofer Institute Process Engineering and Packaging GERMANY

Participant