Water-based adhesives for flexible food packaging
According to an eco-efficiency analysis conducted by BASF and Comexi, supplier of converting solutions for the flexible packaging industry, BASF’s water-based adhesive systems are an environmentally compatible and economically rewarding alternative to conventional technologies when it comes to lamination of flexible food packaging. The BASF Eco-Efficiency methodology was most recently validated by NSF International, and the results of the study were critically reviewed and validated by a panel of independent experts led by TÜV Rheinland. For the study, which started in 2013 and was completed by the end of 2015, four typical adhesive technologies were analysed and compared.
The results of the eco-efficiency analysis show that water-based Epotal lamination systems offer advantages over solvent-based adhesives. Beside a lower carbon footprint, BASF’s water-based systems are also said to enable an increased flexibility and accelerated production procedures due to their unique polymer design.
The analysis states that water-based adhesive systems by BASF have an ecological advantage over solvent-based systems due to the use of water instead of organic solvents – therefore they have a lower environmental impact over the whole life cycle. Water-based Epotal adhesive systems meet the food packaging regulations of the European Union and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As they contain neither organic solvents nor aromatic isocyanates, production risks are reduced to a minimum and health and safety in the workplace is improved.
The study also found that water-based lamination systems are an attractive economical option for converters
