New ecovio certified for home composting obtained by extrusion coating

2023-06-10

BASF expands its ecovio portfolio for extrusion coating of paper and cardboard by adding a domestic and industrial composting grade for hot and cold food packaging. The new ecovio 70 PS14H6 extrusion grade is approved for food contact and shows excellent barrier properties against liquids, fats and mineral oils, as well as temperature stability at the boiling point of water (up to 100 °C). It is also characterized by its extraordinary adhesion to numerous types of paper and cardboard. It is therefore suitable for paper-based applications, such as cups and jars for dairy products (also frozen), snack wrappers and cereal bars, bowls and trays for sweets and snacks, hot/cold beverage containers and takeaway soups.

After use, food containers made with ecovio 70 PS14H6 coated paper are suitable for home composting for use in gardens or in industrial composting plants in accordance with the legislation of each country. Therefore, this new biopolymer for home composting is suitable for organic recycling and helps to close the nutrient cycle to achieve a circular economy.

BASF ecovio biopolymer is certified for composting according to standards such as DIN EN 13432

Excellent processability in extrusion or coextrusion without adhesives

This new grade for home composting shows a better performance than the biopolymers currently available on the market. It allows the coating of paper and cardboard food containers improving the barrier properties with respect to extrusion or multilayer extrusion without adhesives. The paper coating can be performed at an in-line speed comparable to that of polyethylene (PE). The material shows no adhesion to temperature transfer rollers and stands out for its extraordinary sealing and printing properties. It also allows to obtain a coating weight equivalent to PE depending on the application and the equipment, so it can also be used to manufacture very thin coatings.

“Thanks to its domestic and industrial composting capabilities, our new ecovio grade expands the end-of-life options for paper packaging,” says Michael Bernhard Schick of BASF’s global Biopolymers marketing department. “There is an accentuated tendency in society, in some countries with legislative momentum, to replace pure plastic packaging with paper packaging, which by itself is not suitable for many foods, especially if they contain liquid or fatty ingredients. We offer a packaging solution that is robust and at the same time sustainable and suitable for hot, frozen or cold food, and can withstand temperatures from -40 to +100°C. ecovio 70 PS14H6 therefore combines excellent technical performance and the decisive added advantage of its home composting for paper packaging, as well as allowing the organic recycling of food waste.” The new biopolymer has a bio-based content of 70-80 percent of renewable resources according to ASTM D 6866. This degree complements the ecovio portfolio for paper coating, consisting of industrial composting grades whose properties are adapted to different market needs.

BASF biopolymers enable organic recycling

BASF ecovio biopolymer is certified for composting according to standards such as DIN EN 13432. It is based on a mixture of BASF ecoflex PBAT and renewable raw materials. The main applications of ecovio are organic waste bags, transparent film rolls, bags for fruits and vegetables, agricultural films and food packaging. Studies show the advantages of ecovio for the production, packaging and storage of food, as well as for the collection of food scraps. These advantages are based on the certified biodegradability of the material in industrial and domestic composting, as well as in agricultural soils: food waste is reduced, nutrients are returned to the soil through larger volumes of compost and the accumulation of persistent microplastics in agricultural soils is avoided. This contributes to the circular economy by closing the nutrient cycle through organic recycling.