FEATURE Packaging
IDTechEx explores the intersection of sustainable packaging and PFAS
C
reating a circular economy is an essential sustainability target for the supply chain – governments, brands, suppliers
and consumers. A key element of this is reducing plastic waste. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimates that over 350 million metric tonnes of plastic waste
was generated globally in 2019. Addressing plastic waste generation
requires solutions from every sector, especially the plastics packaging sector, which is the source of a third of the annual plastics production. Single-use plastic bags and take-out containers, is generated in huge volumes yet quickly ends up in municipal waste streams. The issues that single-use plastic packaging presents are forcing legislative and regulatory bodies worldwide to pass mandates and guidelines, aimed at European Commission recently passed the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which mandates that all packaging be recyclable and contains a minimum recycled content percentage for packaging, amongst other provisions. Prior to PPWR, the European Union (EU)passed the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD), which banned some single-use plastic items for which non-plastic alternatives are available, in items like cutlery, plates, containers. In the US, where 47% of plastic waste comes from single-use products municipalities are introducing bans on certain plastic items, like bags and straws. Thanks to these regulations, many companies are switching to paper and switch presents some issues, given the historic usage of PFAS (per- and poly- applications, particularly in paper and PFAS has been historically used since
38 July/August 2024 | Automation
the 1950s in packaging food, particularly in coatings that impart oil and grease repellence on paper and compostable fries and microwave popcorn packaging, fast-food paper wrappers, and a lot more. The primary function of PFAS is as
a barrier or repellent against grease, stains and water, that aims to limit the migration of grease and water from the food to the packaging during the food’s transport, storage and consumption. Previously, it was long-chain PFAS like food-contact applications. With growing concerns over long-chain PFAS, many manufacturers of PFAS for food-contact applications switched to short-chain PFAS,
Regulatory actions Until recently, PFAS in food-contact applications was allowed in many major markets, including the US and the EU. PFAS in food-contact applications. Most of these regulations were passed in the Food and Drug Administration announced food packaging applications by 2023. Denmark banned PFAS coatings products for paper- and cardboard-based food packaging the same year. And in 2024, the EU’s PPWR banned all food-contact packaging containing PFAS above certain concentration.
More sustainable alternatives The concurrent trends of phasing out both single-use plastic packaging and PFAS coatings for packaging is creating challenges and opportunities. Packaging
Image: Kevin Lehtla for Unsplash
and coating companies alike are now developing non-plastic packaging solutions without PFAS. Some manufacturers of PFAS for food packaging, such as Daikin America, have already developed polymeric non-PFAS polymeric coatings in food packaging applications is their impact on recyclability. Another issue with PFAS-based they negatively impact the recyclability of packaging containing them; polymer- coated paper and laminates are frequently This all calls for alternatives that
both replace PFAS in coatings whilst maintaining recyclability. “Per- that higlights the emerging nanocellulose coatings for barrier property improvements, and additives that increase the performance of paper for food packaging applications. As more regions and countries pass
regulations impacting both single-use plastic and PFAS in food packaging, we to sustainable food packaging and more companies looking to address this key space.
automationmagazine.co.uk
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