Page 48 - Plastics News October 2023
P. 48

BUSINESS NEWS






         Sabic Partnership Yields In-Mold Labeling Milestone

                                             aging  with  no compromise  on shelf  As part of the present collaboration,
                                             visibility and consumer appeal in the  the final BOPP label film is supplied to
                                             retail space. At the same time, it can  Karydakis, a leading specialist in opti-
                                             help manufacturers and brand owners  mized printing techniques, ink formu-
                                             reduce  their  environmental  impact  lations and conversion technologies
                                             and carbon footprint while addressing  tailored to PP-based in-mold labels.
                                             the need for preventing valuable used  The company’s sophisticated process
                                             plastic from ending up as waste.”   delivers high-quality labels pre-print-
              ollaboration  with Taghleef                                        ed with captivating designs and brand-
          Cand two other companies de-       The IML label substrate is biaxially ori-  ing elements to match end customer
          buts first in-mold labeling solution   ented PP (BOPP).                specifications  and  ensure  the  effort-
          with certified renewable polymers   The label material for the IML contain-  less  integration with  the  containers
          for food packaging containers.     ers is a biaxially oriented polyethylene   throughout the molding process.
          Sabic along with three companies   (BOPP) film produced by Taghleef, a   Bio-based materials available for IML
          specializing  in in-mold labeling  (IML)   leading  global  supplier  of  films  solu-  container sizes from 50 mL to 50 Lit-
          introduce the use of certified renew-  tions to customers worldwide, us-  ers.
          able polypropylene (PP) resins in high   ing a Sabic certified renewable resin
          quality  mono-PP thin-wall  container   tailored to the BOPP process. BOPP  Giorgos Karydakis, General Manager
          packaging. And that’s without com-  films are widely used for in-mold la-  at Karydakis IML S.A., states:  “With
          promising quality, processability, safe-  beled  injection  molding  applications  this collaborative initiative,  we are
          ty or convenience.                 in food, dairy and beverages, home,  demonstrating the feasibility of  bio-
                                             beauty, and personal care packaging.  based materials in the production of
          The single-step  IML technology    Taghleef  offers transparent, white,  high-quality IML labels. We offer our
          achieves  a seamless  part decoration   and  metalized  PP  label  films,  all  of  customers a wide range of attractive
          right in the injection mold, where the   which can produced using polymers  printing options for cups, tubs, jars,
          label becomes an integral component   with bio-based feedstock.        shakers, and pails in sizes from 50
          of the packaging itself. Dedicated label                               mL  to  50  Liters,  including  additional
          film types and high-definition printing   Furthermore, they can easily be cus-  digital  watermarking with material
          technology result in a very attractive   tomized  to  meet  specific  needs  of   information in line with the European
          and cost-effective  decorative  solu-  gravure or offset printing for desired   HolyGrail 2.0 initiative for smart auto-
          tion.  Besides  using  certified  renew-  haptic textures and visual appearance,   mated mechanical recycling.”
                                             from glossy, matt, orange peel or vel-
          able  PP  resins  for both  the  molded
          parts and the label film, the resulting   vet feel to an entirely non-label look.  Augustinos  Kotronis,  General Man-
          packaging can be recycled in existing   “Our  BOPP  film  range  for  in-mold-  ager at Kotronis Packaging, explains:
          rigid PP recycling streams.        labeling  gives  brand owners  a wide   “In-mold labeling  offers substantial
                                                                                 productivity  benefits,  since  it  elimi-
           Abdullah Al-Otaibi, General Manager,   choice of premium packaging finishes   nates the need for separately applied
          ETP & Market Solutions at Sabic, says:   to enhance brand differentiation and   adhesive labels on the finished packag-
                                             shelf visibility with a low environmen-
          “The demand for  in-mold labeled                                       ing product by forming a permanent,
          packaging is constantly growing across   tal impact,” explains Monica Battis-  tamper proof bond with the contain-
          various different consumer market   tella, sustainability manager, Taghleef.   er right in the mold. In addition, the
          segments, as it provides major oppor-  “In combination with the sustainable   renewable  container material from
          tunities  for cost  effective  and highly   nature of Sabic’s mass balance certi-  Sabic complies with all relevant inter-
                                             fied renewable polymer from second-
          sustainable solutions. Together  with                                  national standards for food-contact
          the responsibly sourced and certified   generation feedstock, the exceptional   applications, while showing excellent
          renewable polymers from our TruCir-  printability, die-cutting, anti-static and   processability  on our machines, in-
          cle  portfolio,  this  flexible  decoration   non-stick properties of these films de-  cluding  high  flowability  for  reduced
          technology has enormous potential in   liver maximum value throughout the   wall thicknesses.
                                             entire life cycle of the labeled prod-
          fully  recyclable  mono-material  pack-
                                             ucts, including end-of-life recycling.”

          48   PLASTICS NEWSASTICS NEWS                                                               October 2023
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