Spicers launches paper barrier alternative to plastics

Spicers is launching a new translucent barrier paper, Sylvicta, manufactured by Arjowiggins, as a new sustainable alternative to plastics in packaging.

Through precision fibre refining, Arjowiggins’ research and development teams have developed the translucent paper with a natural bonding without the need of any harmful chemicals. The result is a paper with a barrier to oxygen, aroma, mineral oils, and fatty foodstuffs.

According to Spicers, when running through conventional converting lines, Sylvicta offers “limitless creative possibilities”. It can be foil-stamped, glued, embossed, printed in offset, gravure, and flexography, metallised, or coated with heat or cold-sealable materials.

Answering the market need for sustainable alternatives to single-use packaging and flexible laminates, Sylvicta offers brands a high-quality barrier packaging solution that enables brands to reduce or even eradicate the use of plastics in their packaging. Arjowiggins said as such, it is the ideal solution for creating a globally sustainable, circular economy – especially as it can integrate into existing recycling schemes.

Sylvicta’s advantage is its high barrier to oxygen – the leading cause of food spoilage. This means it can reduce food waste by prolonging shelf life during the transportation, retail, and consumer phases of the value chain.

Arjowiggins is working with packaging converters to open up what it says is an endless array of applications — from pouches for dry fruits, bags for salads, sachets for solid soap, sacks for pet food and flow-packs for chocolate bars, through to metallised versions of Sylvicta for butter or margarine packaging.

Sylvicta was created as part of the Arjowiggins mission to help create a circular economy society. Spicers is the exclusive merchant for Australia and New Zealand.

Sylvicta is a translucent, functional barrier paper that Arjowiggins says has been proven to preserve the quality of food and cosmetics just as well as conventional plastics – all the while ensuring limited impact on the environment.

In evidence of its sustainable properties, the pioneering paper is fully recyclable, compostable, marine degradable, and made from renewable raw materials.

Ken Booth, general manager – supply chain and product segments at Spicers said: “Despite the ongoing global movement towards more sustainable packaging solutions, plastics still make up a significant proportion of the market, largely for practical reasons. Until now, most of the existing offer, mainly in single-use packaging, use unrecyclable, multi-layered laminates incorporating plastics or aluminium foil.

“With Sylvicta, the majority of current plastic or foil packaging needs can be turned into an environmentally friendly, fully recyclable, compostable and biodegradable paper-based packaging solution.”

Sylvicta benefits from the environmental standards set by Arjowiggins Translucent Papers business. Like all of its products, Sylvicta is FSC and PEFC-certified, produced on a site that is ISO 14001-compliant and is carbon-offset through the World Land Trust’s Carbon Balanced programme.