Michelman has developed recyclable and water-based coating solution as an alternative to nylon or ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) for edible oil packaging.
The organized brand owners in India are using coextruded flexible pouches in edible oil packaging, making them to expand into rural markets with smaller SKUs and refillable pouch packaging.
The pouches feature five to seven layered coextruded film, which is a combination of PE, tie-layer, nylon or EVOH.
Nylon’s integration in the structure offers puncture resistance and moderate oxygen barrier. The structure with nylon or EVOH cannot be easily recycled.
Michelman has developed a solution, which eliminates the requirement for nylon or EVOH and continues to provide oxygen barrier for freshness.
Oxygen barrier plays a significant role in preventing the oil from going rancid and in extending the shelf life of the oil.
To improve product shelf life and reduce chances of rancidity, the new coating can be optimized to meet or exceed existing oxygen barrier values.
Avoiding the use of nylon or EVOH will help to create a mono-material structure, which can be easily recycled and meets the impending plastic waste management rules.
In India, the edible oil sector registered a growth rate of 25% through crossing $20bn mark in the last year.
The sector turned as the largest packaged food segment with more than 30% share of the $65bn packaged foods market in India.
According to the company, the Indian consumers are shifting from traditional loose oil sold at local grocery stores to packaged oils due to increased awareness of food safety and healthy lifestyle practices.
Michelman is collaborating with major Indian edible oil brands for carrying out trials and tests at its recently opened advanced packaging incubator Michelman Innovation Centre for Coatings (MICC).
The center features a packaging incubator with advanced pilot line for optimizing packaging structures.