Packaging
New Chlorine-Free Eco-Tite Shrink Bags from Curwood Help Processors Meet Sustainability Goals While Improving Package Performance
Monday 29. December 2008 - Groundbreaking Eco-Tite shrink bags for meats and cheeses contain no PVdC and use 25%-33% less material than traditional shrink bags, yet deliver superior sealability, barrier, abrasion resistance and aesthetics.
Meat and cheese processors can now get top grades on environmental scorecards and improve package performance with new Eco-Tite shrink bags from Curwood. Eco-Tite bags eliminate PVdC (polyvinylidene chloride) and use 25% to 33% less material than traditional shrink bags, helping processors meet aggressive sustainability goals. Eco-Tite bags are ideal for most applications where traditional shrink bags are used.
Performance benefits of Eco-Tite bags include superior sealability, barrier, abrasion resistance and aesthetics compared to traditional bags. The multilayer Eco-Tite structure includes a durable outer layer to resist puncture and abrasion; an EVOH layer for superior oxygen barrier without PVdC; and a high-flow sealant layer for excellent caulking and sealing under a wider range of sealing conditions. Eco-Tite bags also feature excellent shrink for a tight fit with minimal dog ears, plus brilliant clarity and gloss for an outstanding product presentation.
Eco-Tite bags are thinner and stronger than conventional bags, which allows for significant downgauging. The downgauged material improves the product-to-package ratio so more bags fit in a carton and on a pallet, reducing warehousing and shipping costs.
Because Eco-Tite bags feature a high-flow sealant, they seal better through wrinkles and folds to reduce leakers, reworks and waste. This is an especially significant benefit for high-profile products that tend to create more folds in the seal area of the bag. And since Eco-Tite bags seal at lower temperatures, processors can save energy and/or accelerate machine speeds. Eco-Tite bags heat-resistant outer layer keeps bags from sealing to themselves if they are overlapped in the sealing chamber.
Eco-Tite bags were first developed to meet the stringent need for chlorine-free packaging in Europe. PVdC, a common material used in barrier packaging, can contaminate recycling streams and release carcinogens when incinerated. Eco-Tite bags EVOH barrier layer eliminates this concern.