Henkel Adhesive Technologies has revealed an ambitious extension of its functional paper coatings line, unveiling an innovative series of water-based barrier and heat seal solutions aimed at hastening the global shift from plastic to paper-based packaging formats.
This initiative arrives at a time when brand owners and manufacturers are under increasing pressure from the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which necessitates a transformation towards materials that seamlessly integrate with circular economy frameworks.
Historically, plastic has dominated the packaging sector, particularly for items requiring secure thermal seals, including bags, sachets, and pouches. Henkel’s newly developed heat seal coatings are set to disrupt this norm by offering high-performance adhesion directly on paper formats.
These coatings guarantee dependable sealing even under low temperatures and high-speed production conditions, making them particularly suitable for both food and non-food uses, ranging from snack bags to e-commerce shipping containers for small industrial products like screws and toys. Importantly, these solutions are repulpable and comply with FDA and EU food contact regulations, ensuring that the final products can be disposed of through regular paper recycling channels.
In addition to sealing capability, the expanded portfolio tackles the barriers that often hinder paper’s application in food categories. Henkel’s water-based barrier coatings provide fiber-based packaging with vital protection against:
– Water and humidity: safeguarding against structural degradation in damp conditions.
– Oils and fats: preserving visual appeal by preventing unsightly grease marks.
– Aroma retention: ensuring food products maintain their quality throughout the supply chain.
By substituting conventional plastic or multi-layer composite laminates with these recycling-friendly coatings, manufacturers can develop mono-material paper structures that do not compromise on shelf life.
Understanding that manufacturers are wary of sacrificing productivity for sustainability, Henkel has designed these coatings to be press-ready. They are compatible with existing coating and packaging machinery, minimizing the need for costly equipment upgrades.
To further enhance reliability in the manufacturing process, Henkel has launched a UV tracer version of the coatings. This innovation allows real-time monitoring of application consistency within quality management systems, ensuring that each sachet is uniformly coated and sealed.
“With our extended paper coatings portfolio, we are prepared to meet the evolving demands of the market,” said Dr. Arianna Savini, market strategy manager at Henkel. “By providing essential barrier and sealing attributes, we support the move toward recyclable packaging while enabling our clients to meet their sustainability objectives as outlined in the PPWR.”
This advancement follows the earlier release of Loctite Liofol CS 7106 RE, Henkel’s inaugural cold-seal adhesive tailored for barrier-coated paper, further solidifying the company’s leadership role in the paperisation movement.
