Stories theme: Packaging

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are behind the excellent heat, oil, and water resistance in countless industry and consumer products. However, their enduring nature raises severe concerns about environmental and health hazards. Before industries can transition away from these “forever chemicals”, a collective effort is required to develop safe and sustainable alternatives.

Renewable chemistry innovations hold promise for revolutionizing the packaging landscape, providing innovative alternatives to traditional fossil-based materials. Let’s explore the transformative benefits of one such innovation: PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) as a renewable barrier coating for paper, board, and molded fiber packaging.

This collection of success stories from our global customers showcase how board manufacturers can turn an optimal dry strength program into indisputable value in their production.

Across all industries, leading companies are busy painting a picture of tomorrow’s world. In this picture, our world has transitioned away from depending on fossil-based raw materials and everyday items such as packages and textiles are renewable and recyclable. To realize this picture of a more sustainable and circular future, companies need a vital element: chemistry.

Renewable cellulosic fibers offer solutions to the pressing sustainability challenges in the textile industry. But without chemistry, these alternatives to cotton and polyester are not possible. Chemistry is crucial for the emerging cellulosic textile and nonwoven applications.

The packaging industry is challenged with the transition from traditional single-use plastics to renewable alternatives. With the help of chemistry, molded fiber packaging offers solutions that meet desired properties like water-repellency, durability, recyclability, and safety.

Molded fiber has quickly emerged as the favored packaging choice for brands pursuing renewable and recyclable alternatives to replace single-use plastics. Within this packaging revolution, chemistry plays a pivotal, but often unseen role.

As paper and board makers continue to use more recycled fibers, they will increasingly need stickies control to ensure machine cleanliness and runnability. A new family of quick inversion polymers are shown to be highly effective at removing sticky contaminants.

A one-size-fits-all solution can be a poor fit for most. That’s why Kemira’s dispersion barrier coatings for recyclable and fluorine-free paper and board packaging are based on an open formula.

For the paper and board manufacturers, reaching success with barrier technology requires more than just adding the right coating chemistry to the process.