Innovative Packaging Solutions and Their Usage: Flexible Laminates Mr. Amit Ray Executive Director-Packaging Division Uflex Pvt. Ltd. Email: Amit.Ray@uflexltd.com
EVOLUTION OF FLEXIBLE LAMINATES PAST OPTIONS IN PACKAGING SUBSTRATES Paper Cardboard Metal Glass Natural Fibre Sacks Use Of Plastics Were Limited To Army PRESENT FLEXIBLE FILM AND LAMINATE OPTIONS Multi-layered Films E.G. PE, PP, PVC, EVOH, PET And Their Co-polymers. Multi-layered Laminate With High Barrier. Small Sachet To Jumbo Bag. Bio-Degradable Plastics. Flexible films and laminates now virtually outperformed all conventional materials
Flexible Films And Its Laminates Are Today s Choice The phenomenal growth in flexible laminates are quite nascent. Speed to market from concept to consumer. Unique features to stand apart and shelf appeal makes its overwhelming presence in supermarket. Several polymer grades have been developed to suit various applications. Significant growth in machineries to handle multiple processing steps and high throughput. Wide acceptance because it is safe, light in weight, appealing design and easy to handle. The energy consumed in each conversion steps are lower than other packaging substrates.
Virtually it is possible to pack any material in any form e.g. Powder, liquid, solid having different chemistry and sizes. Low or no migration makes it suitable for food and pharmaceutical packaging. High temperature tolerance made it suitable for retort and hot filling applications. Sub-zero refrigeration, shelf life extension in flexible packaging gives an added advantage. Bio-degradable polymers are commercially available for flexible packaging. Wide application of Nano-technology in films to get mechanical strength and barrier. Flexible packaging plays a major role for food security and food safety. Myth: Plastics Are Bad For Health And Not Safe For Food Packaging Truth: Plastics Are Safe And Sustainable For Food And Pharmaceutical Packaging
How Can We Make Safe Flexible Packaging! Careful selection of materials. Reduction in residual solvent by using Laser engraved printing cylinders. Use of water based ink/adhesive, extrusion lamination makes the laminate VOC free. Collaboration between RM supplier, packaging manufacturer and end user. High level of GMP at each stage of RM production, its conversion and product packing. Proper understanding of the product to be packed and its attributes to be retained. Designing and conducting the systematic tests for ensuring product safety.
Stability Studies To Establish The Absence Of Byproduct And Ensure Product Shelf Life. Risk Analysis. Keeping A Watch On National And International Regulations On Food Safety. Safe Disposal After Its Intended Use. Stricter Legislation On Each Of Packaging Components E.G. Film, Foil, Ink, Adhesive Etc. Educating People And Agencies The Mode Of Reuse And Recycling. Active Participation Of All Stake Holders To Establish Sustainability Of Flexible Packaging.
Value Addition Through Flexible Packaging: Almost 70% Of Flexible Packaging Goes Into Food Packaging. Conversion Process Is Energy Efficient. RadiationCuringOfInkEliminatesUseOfSolventAndIts Discharge In Environment. Easy To Handle, Easy To Open, Easy To Identify, Easy To Dispose. SachetForFewGramsToBulkBag. Food Security Through Long Distance Transportation Of Fresh Food Products Without Refrigeration. Different Shapes And Dispensing Features Of Pouches Replaced Glass And Metal Jars.
Shelf life extension through Modified Atmospheric Packaging and Vacuum Skin Packaging. Activeandintelligentpackaging. Protecting brand through various Overt andcovertanti-counterfeitmeasures. Reduction in packaging material weight butincreasingitsmechanicalstrength. Possibletorecycleorrecoverenergy.
CONCLUDING REMARK Flexible packaging is the largest packaging formatparticularlyinfoodpackaging. It is impossible to visualize our daily life withoutflexiblepackaging. Flexible laminate is the most effective mode toensurefoodsafetyandfoodsecurity. The packaging fraternity and law enforcing authority should come together to make it sustainable.
Amit Ray