Co-extruded blown films for vacuum packaging uses 50% less plastic

Japan-based Gunze Limited announced two additions to its ultra-thin and tough blown film, Purewrap, specifically designed for food products requiring transportation in frozen environments.

The two new types, FS35NB and FS40NB, are designed for boiling applications. Both retain the ultra-thin and tough characteristics that have defined the series to date, making them more convenient for use in central kitchens and other food processing facilities. They also contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing the use of plastic by approximately 50%.

Such designs are important as the movement toward a plastic-free society gains momentum around the world. With the implementation of the "Plastic Resource Circulation Act" in Japan in April 2022, all stakeholders are now required to reduce plastic use and promote resource recycling throughout the entire lifecycle of plastic products, from design to waste disposal.

In particular, perishable seafood, livestock products, and their processed forms are often transported in freezing environments, where reducing plastic use is challenging due to concerns about strength loss from volume reduction.

In January 2022, Gunze introduced Purewrap FS35N and FS40N, which offer more than twice the puncture strength of conventional non-oriented nylon-polyethylene 70 µm films while reducing plastic use by approximately 50%. This film type has been widely adopted by customers. It has now been renewed as a boilable type, expanding its applicability to a wider range of foods processed in central kitchens for commercial prepared foods and restaurants.

Purewrap is a coextruded blown film with simultaneous biaxial orientation that provides exceptional puncture resistance for contents and impact resistance for external surfaces. Our unique raw material compounding, multilayer construction and orientation technologies have made this nylon-polyethylene film highly flexible with superior puncture resistance, ideal for refrigerated transport.

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