German chemicals giant BASF (Ludwigshafen; www.basf.com) and Swedish packaging manufacturer BillerudKorsnäs (Solna; www.billerudkorsnas.com) have announced the development of a home-compostable paper laminate for flexible packaging. The multilayer film consists of three components, with the Swedish firm contributing the paper layer of “ConFlex Silk” (weight 60g / m²) and BASF providing a sealing layer made of its “Ecovio” certified compostable and partially bio-based biopolymer, as well as the water-based adhesive “Epotal Eco 3675 X” for connecting film to paper.

The new solution is said to show the same performance characteristics as multi-layer standard plastic packaging. According to BASF, the film is puncture-proof and offers good printability and heat-sealing properties, is suitable for mono- and co-extrusion, approved for direct food contact, and can be processed on conventional packaging machines. Furthermore, BASF said the product can be used as a packaging material for cookies, ice cream, muesli bars and dairy items, but also for wrapping fish, meat and cheese at the supermarket service counters. All components are home-compostable according to official European certification systems.

“There is a great trend in society to switch from plastics to paper packaging, which is also supported by legislation in some countries,” said Amir Pourirani, head of global marketing for biopolymers at BASF. “In addition, the flexible multilayer films currently available are difficult to recycle.”