BASF, a prominent chemical company, and Turkish extrusion coating specialist Metpack have made a significant advancement in food packaging sustainability with the launch of a certified home-compostable coated paper solution. This innovative product aims to meet the increasing demand for environmentally friendly packaging in the food sector.

The new Ezycompost paper, developed by Metpack and coated with BASF's biopolymer ecovio® 70 PS14H6, has achieved certification as home-compostable according to the stringent DIN EN 13432 and Australian standard AS 5810. This biopolymer not only meets food contact regulations set by the FDA but also exhibits exceptional barrier properties against liquids, fats, grease, and mineral oil, with temperature stability up to 100°C. These characteristics ensure that Ezycompost can be safely used for food packaging without compromising environmental integrity by creating persistent microplastics during home composting.

Ezycompost's versatility allows it to be used in various food-contact applications, including cold and hot cups, pots, and trays that are suitable for deep-freezing or microwave use. The manufacturing process for this coated paper takes advantage of standard forming lines, which enable faster coating speeds. Notably, it features a coating that is 40% thinner than that of conventional polylactic acid (PLA) coatings. Furthermore, the ecovio® 70 PS14H6 allows for processing speeds akin to those of widely used polyethylene (PE), and its formulation can be processed by mono or co-extrusion methods without the need for adhesives.

Sühan Gürer, Vice President of Sales and New Project Development at Metpack, commented, “With Ezycompost, we can offer the food industry the best of both worlds when it comes to coated paper packaging. It has the same strength as PE-coated paper but with the added benefit that it is certified compostable and creates no persistent microplastics in organic or paper waste streams.” The Ezycompost paper solution is certified for use at a grammage of up to 334 gsm in total composition.

In addition, Michael Bernhard Schick from Global Marketing Biopolymers at BASF noted that the ecovio® 70 PS14H6 is also suitable for industrial composting and can perform effectively within paper recycling streams. This biopolymer is distinguished by its bio-based content, which ranges between 70% and 80% of renewable resources, as per ASTM D 6866 standards. Moreover, a certified biomass-balanced (BMB) grade is available, offering a 25% lower carbon footprint compared to standard ecovio® products.

The collaboration between BASF and Metpack presents the food packaging industry with a sustainable alternative that meets both performance standards and environmental goals, marking a noteworthy step towards reducing plastic waste and fostering sustainable practices in food packaging.