Henkel Adhesive Technologies has introduced a new generation of its Darex COV sealants, free from phthalate-based plasticizers and said to reduce energy consumption and carbon footprint.
The company says the new PVC-based compounds will gradually replace existing products and provide users with a ‘future-proof’ solution that complies with current and future regulations, while offering processing and application advantages. Apparently, this transition is driven by increasingly stringent legal requirements including the European REACH regulation and growing demands for more sustainable packaging solutions throughout the supply chain.
Henkel sought to formulate a one-component sealant system suitable for nozzle application and offering stable viscosity, high resistance to solvents, ketones and oils, and thermal stability. It states that Darex COV 73 also avoids the use of ingredients that are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction (CMR). The phthalate-free formulation is said to enable curing temperature reduction, cutting energy consumption and shrinking the application’s carbon footprint.
Darex COV 73 was developed to market maturity in a pilot project with Swedish metal packaging manufacturer Emballator, which switched several of its facilities to the new formulation in 2024. Henkel adds that another factor in its decision to switch to phthalate-free (NI) formulations is that certain types of phthalates such as DEHP, DBP and BBP have been classified as toxic to reproduction and are banned in various applications including toys and cosmetics, and the European Commission has listed several similar substances in the SVHC (substances of very high concern) category.
Earlier this year Power Adhesives announced a new bulk adhesive range seeking to unlock low-waste, large-scale and efficient sealing for packaging, among other industrial applications. The range includes fast-setting adhesives for carton sealing and product assembly, sprayable adhesives for mattress assembly and foam converters and high-heat-resistant adhesives for demanding industrial applications.
In June, JBT Marel company Proseal unveiled its sealing optimization solution, the XTP Automatic Tray Sealer, designed for medium-sized production facilities. According to Proseal, the new technology utilizes features such as airless sealing operations combined with high throughput capabilities to optimize sealing processes while maintaining flexibility in packaging formats.
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