delfort and Camm Solutions have unveiled transparent paper bags and air pillows made from recycled paper – utilizing the ‘microplastic-free’ CAMM coating material in a bid to enable fibre-based alternatives to conventional plastic solutions.
Five trillion plastic bags are expected to be used this year, with ‘hundreds of billions’ of polybags attributed to the fashion industry. The partners cite statistics from The World Counts that the recycling rate of plastic bags is currently 1% – leaving 99% to enter an incinerator or the environment.
On the other hand, paper-based alternatives often require additional layers, necessitating the application of conventional plastic coatings; these contain microplastics that leach into the environment, and are considered almost impossible to recycle.
Camm Solutions and delfort have thus applied CAMM – a patented, reportedly toxin- and microplastic-free material that blends natural fibres with advanced PVOH formulations – as a coating to the two new paper solutions.
The transparent bags combine CAMM with delfort’s high-transparency thinwrap paper and are designed to offer full visibility of the product inside the pack. Said to be scratch-resistant, sealable, and robust, it is suggested as a solution to package clothing, toys, and screws, among other products.
Meanwhile, the air pillows utilize delfort’s thinbase lamination alongside CAMM, which is said to make it both inflatable and sealable. It is intended for use as cushioning in shipping boxes and can withstand loads of up to 50kg in weight, while also keeping its shape and light weight.
Both delfort papers are claimed to be made with fibres from FSC- and/or PEFC-certified sources and recyclable in line with the CEPI method.
delfort also partners with Canopy, a non-profit environmental organization with its sights set on responsible fibre sourcing to protect ancient and endangered forests, as well as the habitats of threatened and/or endangered species.
“This new combination enables microplastic-free packaging solutions whose fibers can be recycled in the paper stream,” says Nanda Bergstein, managing director at Camm Solutions. “A pioneering class of packaging is being created here and we are delighted to have found a partner in delfort who, like us, is interested in transforming the packaging industry. And that is through solutions that are easy to integrate into the packaging production process.”
“We want to support our customers with fiber-based packaging that follows the principle of circularity,” adds Christoph Steger, CSO of delfort. “Our solutions fulfill essential functions: They offer high functionality, can be recycled in the paper stream, are particularly lightweight and save material.”
FACHPACK attendees are invited to visit the DELSI stand – Pavilion Alternative Packaging Solutions, Hall 3, Stand 3-166 – to view the new developments in person.
In a similar solution, Ahlstrom, adapa, and Maped joined forces last summer to package erasers in flowpacks made from fibre-based, transparent packaging papers. Made from natural cellulose fibres, Ahlstrom’s Cristal paper claims to be both renewable and biodegradable, and aims to serve as an alternative to traditional plastic or film substrates.
Flöter Verpackungs-Service also unveiled its FSC-certified PaperWave Bio paper air cushions, which are reportedly made from 100% recycled paper. The cushions are certified as recyclable by the Paper Technology Foundation, and their compostable sealing layer is claimed to be thin enough that it does not contaminate the pack’s recyclability.
More recently, Amazon and Mondi have manufactured a paper-padded envelope lined with a shock-absorbent, paper-based lining; this is set to help the e-commerce giant eliminate plastic bubble wrap while still keeping products safe in transit.
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