Dispersion technology for easy recycling

With dispersion technology you get the needed barrier properties but the packaging can still be recycled as fibre. Walki is working on a wide portfolio.

The demand for food packaging is projected to have an annual growth rate of nearly 6 % in the coming years. But that does not necessarily have to translate into more waste if attention is paid to recyclability.

Walki is working on a wide range of 2nd generation dispersion-coated solutions, called Walki®EVO, to make sure the packaging we use does not add to more waste but rather is put to good use through recycling.
“Our Walki®EVO dispersion coating portfolio is one of our main development programmes and focus areas. We are innovating a full portfolio providing barrier levels ranging from medium to very high for rigid as well as flexible fibre-based packaging”, says Annika Sundell, EVP Innovation and Business Development.

Traditionally, the fibre-based layer has been coated by PE, but separating the plastics from the fibre content is not always possible due to differing recycling infrastructure.
With dispersion technology the barrier coatings can more easily be removed from the base paper or board with shorter repulping cycles.

“We apply water-based barrier dispersion onto the paper to avoid fatty components from migrating into the packaging, causing visible staining. We are now using dispersion components that has been historically used in paper manufacturing in a novel way, and this significantly increases the recyclability of the packaging as we do not have to separate the whole polymer structure as you have to do with a PE film”, explains Andreas Rothschink, responsible for Business and Product Development at Walki.

The Walki®EVO range comes with heat sealability properties, water vapour barriers and longer shelf-lives. The EVO range is perfect for so called secondary packaging such as pouches containing already packed chocolate bars.

The Walki®Jazz solution has excellent grease barriers and is ideal for take away and fast food that you eat shortly after purchase.

The consumer can throw both materials in the bin for recycled paper.

“The amount of paper material in the packaging suitable for the recycling process is very high: the fibre content is typically more than 90%”, says Andreas Rothschink.