High performance barrier for packaging recyclability
Melodea - an Israeli producer of sustainable barrier coatings - has introduced a high-performance barrier product specifically engineered to allow for the recyclability of plastic food packaging.
In addition to its excellent eco-profile, the new barrier has proven superior in its key role of maintaining food freshness and substantially reducing plastic waste.
MelOx NGen is a water-based, plant-sourced coating designed to line the inside surface of numerous forms of plastic food packaging such as films, pouches, bags, lidding and blister packs used to house CPG products and is currently being rolled out to the global plastic industry.
Approved by FDA and BfR as compatible for food contact, the coating helps protect and extend the shelf-life of foods such as snacks, confectionary, nutrition bars, meats and dairy products.
Melox NGen is a new iteration of Melodea’s award-winning bio-based and renewable material MelOx for paper packaging but designed specifically for use on plastic. MelOx NGen can empower food packagers to fulfil their sustainability goals and align themselves with government regulations aimed at reducing the utilisation of single-use plastics.
The EU, for example, has implemented the Plastic Waste Directive, which establishes a minimum recycling target of 50% for plastic packaging by 2025, increasing to 55% by 2030. Moreover, in 2021, the EU approved a tax of €800 per tonne of non-recycled plastic containers and packaging produced in member states’ markets. The tax aims to incentivise the adoption of recycling practices and discourage the use of non-recyclable materials.
“The global collective effort to drastically curb plastic use is a long and complex process,” said Shaul Lapidot, CEO and co-founder of Melodea.
“Our holistic solution can help ease the pressure by boosting the integration of plastic packaging into the circular economy, immediately.”
Added Cee Azerraf, VP of Sales and Marketing, “The majority of plastic packaging available today cannot be recycled due to its multi-structure composition.
“MelOx NGen presents an eco-friendly and cost-effective solution by being applicable to various forms of plastics, including monostructure plastics that possess exceptional performance properties and are recyclable. Our solution will also relieve the current bottleneck in the supply of EVOH.”
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, there has been a global surge in demand for EVOH, resulting in a significant spike in prices. These prices climbed from $5.5 per kg in 2019 to $11-$14 per kilo at the end of 2022 and are expected to rise further.
“Melox NGen can be effortlessly applied as a thin layer directly to the plastic without the need for primers,” said Azerraf.