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Kuraray Poval™ Anwendungen Verpackungen Sustainable Packaging
KURARAY POVAL™
Kuraray offers various solutions to the packaging industry to enable a path to sustainable packaging materials by utilizing polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH, PVA, or Poval). One of these supports the transition from traditional foamed packaging as a cushioning material for shipping of goods, such as expanded polystyrene (EPS), to more sustainable biodegradable options. By this microplastic generation from cushioning materials can be minimized.
As environmental awareness has grown in recent years, the packaging industry has steadily shifted toward more sustainable materials. Loose fill materials made with the support of PVOH are seen as a next-generation solution for sustainable cushioning materials.
KURARAY POVAL™ is known as one of the few resins that is inherently biodegradable in aqueous solution, making it suitable to be used as an ingredient in compostable materials, which is also supported by BPI certification of a broad range of grades.
Our selected grades of KURARAY POVAL™ have received BPI certification in North America. BPI certifies compostable products and packaging, proving that these KURARAY POVAL™ grades are suitable materials for use in compostable products.
Although it's difficult to create a usable foam using only biodegradable starch, adding 30 % KURARAY POVAL™ results in a more stable and effective foamed material. This process results in a foam with excellent cushioning properties, ensuring the safety of products during shipping. Addition of KURARAY POVAL™ results in a much more regular foam structure and a significantly enhanced foaming ratio compared to pure starch, as can be seen in Figure 1. Moreover, adding PVOH enhances production efficiency and the overall quality of the foam, allowing for the production of reliable packaging materials.
The cushioning material made with addition of KURARAY POVAL™ is remarkably lightweight, weighing only 25% as much as traditional starch-based foam, yet it provides exceptional strength and durability. This unique combination of lightness and strength reduces shipping costs while ensuring excellent product protection. Its lightweight nature also makes it easy to handle, improving work efficiency. Furthermore, its durable structure ensures long-lasting performance.
Adding 30% KURARAY POVAL™ significantly increases the foam's flexibility and resilience, making it twice as resilient as foam made solely from starch (Figure 2). This increased flexibility allows the material to absorb and cushion repeated impacts, providing superior protection for the packaged product. The material's high resilience also safeguards the product against vibrations and impacts during shipping, significantly reducing the risk of damage.
Starch-based cushioning materials containing KURARAY POVAL™ exhibit excellent insulating capability, comparable to that of polystyrene. This effectively protects products from temperature fluctuations, making them ideal for transporting temperature-sensitive goods. A high level of insulation is crucial for maintaining product quality by minimizing the effects of outside temperature changes. Packaging materials with superior insulating capabilities are particularly effective for transporting products requiring strict temperature control, such as food and medicine.
The unique properties of KURARAY POVAL™ in starch-based cushioning materials – including its strength, flexibility, and static reduction – make it ideal for safeguarding various items. It's perfect for protecting fragile items like electronics, glassware, and precision equipment, ensuring they reach their destination safely.
In accordance with Commission Regulation [EU] 2023/2055 [Restriction of microplastics intentionally added to products] partially hydrolyzed KURARAY POVAL™ grades, that are most commonly used for manufacturing of starch based cushioning materials are exempted from the definition of synthetic polymer particles [microplastics]. It was confirmed by water solubility tests according to OECD 120 test method [as specified in EU 2023/2055 Appendix 16] that these KURARAY POVAL™ grades fulfill the solubility criteria of > 2 g/L to be exempted from the definition of synthetic polymer particles.
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