New thin wall polymer more robust and eco-friendly, says Borealis

Borealis has launched a new material for thin wall food packaging that it claims is more robust and eco-friendly than previous generations.

The new product, BorPure RJ377MO, is one of two new high transparency polypropylene (PP) random copolymers that the company has just developed for food containers. The other is BorPure RG466MO which is designed for kitchenware containers.

Eco performance

Borealis said both materials offer a 10 per cent reduction in cycle times and energy, as well as a C02 reduction of up to 4 tonnes a year for packaging convertors. This improvement is due to reduced cooling times achieved thanks to faster crystallisation.

Another feature common to both products is the use of Borealis Nucleation Technology. The company said this gives them a high melt flow rate (MFR) and ensures they meet the market need for materials that do not taint the taste or odour of food.

Resilience

In addition to these sensory properties, Borealis said BorPure RJ377MO, which is designed for thin wall packaging for foods like salads, sauces and ready meals, is particularly robust.

The Austria-based company said the drop impact, top load and denesting performance of the polymer: “allows manufacturers to create thin wall containers and lids that can be stacked easily inside and one top of one another without cracking.”

As for the other product, BorPure RG466MO, Borealis said its stand-out feature is its ability to avoid taste and odour contamination. The company claims the product also offers “a combination of excellent stiffness/impact balance, low warpage, good anti-static behaviour and ease of moulding for complex shapes.”

Both products aim to help convertors satisfy consumer demand for more transparent, convenient and eco-friendly packaging that does not affect the flavour or smell of food.