Features and Benefits of Aluminium
Net Saver of Resources
Aluminium foil in food and drink packaging applications saves more resources than are needed in its production. Various Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) show that alufoil packaging and household foil contribute less than 10% of the environmental impact in a product's lifecycle – production, preparation and consumption.
Barrier Protection
Alufoil's total barrier to light, gases and moisture is the principal reason for its use in flexible laminates for food, drink and technical applications. Even when very thin, it provides perfect protection and preservation of aroma and product characteristics. It can help to extend the viable life of sensitive products for many months, even years, fully retaining valuable aromas. By enabling products to be preserved for long periods without the need for refrigeration, alufoil packaging helps to prevent spoilage and can provide large energy savings.
Mechanical Properties
Light yet strong, alufoil has unique deadfold characteristics which make it ideal for wrapping and re-wrapping many different products and product shapes, while minimising the need for sealants. Because it is very malleable it can be easily deformed without losing its barrier integrity, making it an ideal material for use in combination with other flexible substrates to create very thin laminates for a variety of markets, and consequently once again saving resources.
Formability and Strength
When pressed into a shaped dish, the aluminium foil memorises its shape, particularly where the folds and rims occur. Shape, thickness, alloy and temper can be selected to create exactly the performance characteristics required.
Lightweight and Space Efficient
Economies in both transport and storage result from lightness, flat or reeled format of empty packs and, in the case of alufoil containers, their nesting shapes which are particularly suited to filling-machine magazines. Alufoil helps saving resources during packaging, product and waste transportation. By enabling products to be preserved for long periods without the need for refrigeration, alufoil packaging provides large energy savings – their shape can make them very 'space efficient' in storage and display, enabling further energy and cost savings. Alufoil is weight saving, effective and minimises the amount of packaging material needed.
Recycling
Aluminium is 100% recyclable, endlessly, without any loss of quality. The recycling process for aluminium requires 95% less energy compared to the primary production, which corresponds to enormous emission savings. Modern separation techniques allow aluminium foil in household waste to be extracted and recycled at a fraction of its original energy cost.
Recovery
If aluminium foil is not collected for recycling but processed in incinerators mostly the thin, laminated foil material is oxidised and releases energy, which can be recovered. What's more, the remaining non-oxidised aluminium can be extracted from the bottom ashes of the incinerator and subsequently used for recycling purposes.
Heat Performance
Alufoil is very conductive to heat. It stands up to all temperature variations encountered in the processing and use of packaging – from well below blast-freezing to the extremes of baking and grilling without distorting, melting or the risk of sudden cracking. Alufoil also dissipates heat quickly – ideal for autoclaving and heat-sealing processes. It can help minimise sealing times and evens out the temperature gradient, both within containers and flexible packaging, helping to protect product quality and energy economy. Its heat conductivity can help minimise processing, chilling and reheating times.
Multi-mode Heating or Cooking
Food in alufoil dishes can be cooked, re-heated or heated by convection, microwave or fan oven or in 'bain-marie' systems. Alufoil packaging helps to save time and resources during preparation.
Hygiene
Once produced, alufoil is completely sterile thanks to the high temperature annealing process. It is safe for use in contact with foodstuffs and it doesn't harbour or promote the growth of bacteria.
Safety and Product Security
Alufoil is safe for use in contact with foodstuffs. Uncoated aluminium foil will not react with the vast majority of foods. In many applications, alufoil is not in contact with the product as it is used in association with other materials within a laminate. In addition it is an ideal protection against product tampering and can support anti-counterfeiting features.
Decorative Potential
Alufoil's bright or matt metallic finish plus its compatibility with all printing technologies provides designers with enormous scope to create packs with stunning graphic design, shelf presence and brand identity.
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