Citation
(2009), "Eastman Plastolyn™ gains EU approval for food-contact applications", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 38 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/prt.2009.12938aad.012
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Eastman Plastolyn™ gains EU approval for food-contact applications
Article Type: New products From: Pigment & Resin Technology, Volume 38, Issue 1
Eastman Chemical B.V., a European subsidiary of Eastman Chemical Company, is pleased to announce that its market-leading Plastolyn™ R1140hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin complies with a listing for petroleum hydrocarbon resin (hydrogenated) in the 5th amendment to the Plastics Directive 2002/72/EC to support food-contact use in the European Union.
Plastolyn™ R1140 is specified by polypropylene film manufacturers seeking to produce a stiffer, thinner, visually clear film with enhanced moisture-vapor barrier properties. Plastolyn™ R1140 lowers melt-viscosity during plastic film production.
The 5th amendment listing follows a positive opinion from the European Food Safety Authority, the EU regulatory body responsible for safety evaluation and approval of food contact materials including plastic materials. In addition to Plastolyn™ R1140, the 5th Amendment approval also covers Regalite™ resins R1100 and R1125, and Regalrez™ resins 1126 and 1139.
“This Amendment maximizes the potential applications for Plastolyn™ while reducing the testing requirements associated with their use,” says Richard Lane, global market segment manager, packaging solutions – label & film modification for Eastman. “Food-industry film producers, converters, and brand owners seeking to enhance appearance, boost performance, streamline conversion, and improve production stand to reap significant benefits.”
Several major film producers are already planning to incorporate Plastoyn™ R1140. Easily formulated across a wide range of styrenic and polyolefinic polymers, Plastolyn™ R1140 resins offer diverse film modification benefits extending across the product lifecycle of plastic films.
Manufacturers benefit from the lower melt viscosity provided by Plastolyn™ R1140. Film converters can greatly reduce waste and production downtime by combining food and non-food applications on the same lines. Brand owners will discover that Regalite™ – enabled plastic wrap is thinner, clearer, stiffer, and offers at least 20 percent more moisture resistance than traditional films, ensuring not only prominent product display but reduced spoilage and longer shelf life.
Ideal food packaging applications include coffee and tea, candy and chocolates, biscuits and bakery, and pasta and noodles.
“Regalite™ resins provide a safe and reliable solution when unencumbered viewing of an attractive product or packaging is required. This is certainly a key point-of-sale differentiator in today’s crowded store-shelf marketplace,” says Lane.