Cascades Sonoco, a joint venture of Sonoco Products and Cascades, has introduced new water-based FlexShield barrier coating, which allows to create recyclable, repulpable and compostable take out containers.
The new product will replace the standard polyethylene coating used on folding carton grades
FlexShield barrier coating makes the take out box compostable when applied to recycled paperboard, without affecting critical barrier performance.
It is claimed to be the first water-based coating developed to be flexible and withstand cracking when the folding boxboard is cut, scored, bent and folded.
The water-based coating, which is already adopted by natural and organic food supermarket chains in North America, is compostable in industrial composting facilities.
FlexShield provides protection against water, oil grease, sauces, toppings and other liquid or viscous substances.
Folded containers made from paperboard with FlexShield are suitable for a wide range of applications, including food service trays.
The containers can also be used for takeout and bakery products or any non-food product where leakage of the contents could stain, damage, taint or affect goods stored in proximity to the container.
Cascades Sonoco sales and marketing Sandy McArthur said: “Given the increasing demand for paper-based take-out containers, and in light of many cities banning expanded polystyrene containers (the white Styrofoam food containers you see so often), FlexShield offers a unique, functional and viable option for making paperboard take-out containers much more environmentally attractive given their compostability.”
“During the development of this product, we had numerous companies tell us if we could solve the cracking issues with a water-based solution, we would really be on to something the market has been asking about for a very long time.”
