MELODEA, a barrier coatings producer for packaging, has launched its newest innovation, which has been engineered to allow for the recyclability of plastic food packaging.
MelOx NGen is described as a high-performance barrier product with an ‘excellent’ eco-profile.
The solution is a water-based, plant-sourced coating designed to line the inside surface of numerous forms of plastic food packaging including films, pouches, bags, lidding, and blister packs that are used to house CPG products.
Approved by FDA and BfR as compatible for food contact, Melodea explained that the coating helps protect and extend the shelf-life of foods such as snacks, confectionary, nutrition bars, meats, and dairy products as well as pharmaceuticals.
Melox NGen is a new iteration of Melodea’s award-winning bio-based and renewable material MelOx for paper packaging but designed specifically for use on plastic. Used to line packaging as a transparent layer, it offers an alternative to petroleum-based Ethyl Vinyl Alcohol copolymers (EVOH).
“The global collective effort to drastically curb plastic use is a long and complex process,” said Shaul Lapidot, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of Melodea. “Our holistic solution can help ease the pressure by boosting the integration of plastic packaging into the circular economy, immediately.”
Cee Azerraf PhD, VP of sales & marketing at Melodea, added, “The majority of plastic packaging available today cannot be recycled due to its multi-structure composition. EVOH, which is typically infused into the thin plastic films of the food packaging to serve as an oxygen barrier, is non-recyclable preventing the entire package from being recyclable.
“MelOx NGen presents an eco-friendly and cost-effective solution by being applicable to various forms of plastics, including mono-structure plastics that possess exceptional performance properties and are recyclable. Our solution will also relieve the current bottleneck in the supply of EVOH.”
