Starting January 2020, the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) will no longer be allowed to be used in making thermal paper in the European Union. In response, UPM Raflatac announces its portfolio of thermal label papers and films is now BPA-free. Moreover, the company is providing total phenol-free thermal label paper options.
BPA is an organic synthetic compound used in the manufacture of plastics. It is also used as a colour developer in the thermal layer of thermal paper. In recent years, there have been concerns that BPA could negatively affect people’s health, which prompted the EU to set regulations restricting its use.
Responsibility is taken seriously at UPM Raflatac, the company argues, and their work does not stop at offering BPA-free materials. To follow future trends and shape industry standards, the company also offers total phenol-free thermal label paper options. The developer used in UPM Raflatac’s phenol-free materials is reportedly non-phenolic, making it chemically different from all other colour developers used in thermal papers.
“BPA-free materials are soon to become an industry standard. We will continue to be at the forefront by investing in developing total phenol-free chemistry solutions going forward. By adopting total phenol-free thermal label papers, printers and brands can stay two steps ahead of the competition and protect their market position in the long term for the years to come,” says Ville Pollari, Director, Business Segment VIP & Prime, UPM Raflatac.
