Cellulose-Based Food Packaging Materials

VTT is currently testing cellulose-based thermocell plastic film for the production of food packaging materials. This film also consists of fatty acids.

Consisting of renewable components, this plastic material is used in similar packaging applications as those of fossil-based plastic products. The advanced development work has ensured this material meeting several industrial food packaging requirements. That is why multiple companies have cooperated for industrial production testing of this plastic material.

Both consumers and packers pay particular attention to the renewability and recyclability of packaging materials. Bio-based options are being utilized during the production of fossil-based plastics to enhance their recyclability. Cellulose is an emerging solution in this regard since it is a structural ingredient in plants. Like plastic, this component consists of polymer molecules. The best thing about cellulose is that it doesn’t compete with food production after being extracted from wood. Other biomaterials, however, do compete. Additionally, the production of cellulose also includes efficient production methods. Nonetheless, cellulose lacks thermoplasticity, which is an essential feature of packaging plastics.

Developed for the requirements of the food industry

The thermocell plastic production, which is a method developed by VTT, uses cellulose and bio-based fatty acids to produce a packaging material that is more suitable for applications such as coating of paper, injection molding, and 3D printing.

According to Jarmo Ropponen, the research team leader at VTT, the process of development has moved from laboratory to bigger machinery. They have also improved the quality of the film quite a bit. The goal of the advancement in this development is to show that thermocell film can now be produced on an industrial scale without having to change traditional machinery used in the production of traditional plastic. The focus of this development is on recyclability. This bio-plastic consists of renewable, bio-based materials that help support long-term sustainability goals. Nonetheless, there is still a lot of work to be done on thermocell to make sure that it can be used with machinery and has a longer shelf-life.

The requirement of a thin, durable, protective, safe film

Food packaging requires films that are thin and durable. And at the same time, this film has to ensure product safety. Thermocell has proved to be quite effective in protecting food items from water vapors. The components of this film do not migrate into the food. Another positive aspect of using thermocell film is that it can be heat-sealed using standard equipment.

Smaller thickness of the film is one of the significant achievements in the development of thermocell films. The advancements in production machinery have meant a reduced thickness down to 100 micrometers. If the material has to compete with other thin films in the industry, its thickness will need to be reduced further. The challenge, however, in achieving this requirement is to ensure sustained strength and protective qualities of the film.

The recyclability of thermocell is the same as that of the most common thermoplastics. Experts have found that this material can be melted down and extruded five times without causing any deterioration to its features.