The Journey of Plastics from a Linear to a Circular Economy

Plastic in India majorly constitutes 4-7% of the total waste in landfills, and only 1% remains in the system after being picked up and recycled. Still, plastic waste is given more attention due to its visibility in the system when compared to other more pressing issues in need of importance. Plastic, the wonder material has become omnipresent in our modern lifestyle. The strength, durability and malleability of plastics has made it the first choice of manufacturers. It has been able to replace other traditional materials, that too under a very short span of time; one of the causes behind our inexperience with the material and its properties. We’re still discovering and rediscovering information about its uses and management. It can be said that the human race is yet to solve the huge mystery of plastic disposal and its management.

The only solution is to adopt a circular economy, which aims to eliminate waste by its restoration and regeneration. What is actually waste for one, can be food for another? Same is the case with plastic waste. While we may have no use of the plastic package post the consumption of the product inside, but the same packaging can be recycled and made into something useful without being disposed of in landfills.

But human psychology has been following an entirely opposite route of “take, use and dispose” instead of take, use, dispose and recycle which has led to permanent damage to our planet. If everyone starts working according to the norms of Circular Economy, Earth will be a planet free from wastage and trash.

The circular economy offers you both, environmental as well as economic advantages. Let’s take a look at a few of them:

1. Economic Growth-

Circular Economy is the direct accelerator to the economic growth of a nation. It contributes to an increase in GDP and National Income. This is a result of an increase in the number of job opportunities and cheaper production by extracting the maximum use from all the waste. Implementing this directly increases the income and decreases the expenditure of each household.

2. Substantial Resource Saving-

Moving towards sustainable development is one of the most significant features of a Circular Economy model. As mentioned earlier, it proves to be a helping hand in saving resources as the focus remains on manufacturing products that are least acquired from natural resources.

3. Land Productivity and Soil Health-

With the help of the principles of a Circular Economy, we can bring a remarkable difference in productivity and health of the land. Because of a consistent effort to manipulate the uses of waste material disposed, we are making sure that land pollution is minimized at its best.

4. Fewer Emissions-

The aim is to counterattack the overload and exploitation of the ecosystem by reuse and dematerialization of waste materials being produced. Less use of non-renewable energies and fossil fuels promotes fewer emissions of toxic materials and greenhouse gases.

Plastics are also termed as a perfectly imperfect material. Perfect, because of its multiple uses, and Imperfect due to its non-recyclability. Most of the plastics look similar to each other and are difficult to distinguish with the human eye and hand, therefore, they are hard to segregate and recycle. If all the plastics had the same features and characteristics, we probably wouldn’t be having this conversation. But due to different components, types, chemicals, and colors plastic recycling has become extremely challenging for us. Their segregation is laborious, time-consuming as well as expensive. But in recent times, science has come across some miraculous ways to recycle and reuse it. Who would have thought of building roads with plastic or even generating electricity from the same material? HDPE (High Density Polyethylene), a kind of plastic, is recycled to make raised garden beds. Some of the other plastics that are also used in product packaging such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), are used in the construction of roads. They are first segregated and then shredded to mix with bitumen to create the mixture for roads. These plastic types can also contribute in the making of oils or construction of tiles or Plastones. There are many more ways to recycle and manage plastics instead of just dumping it in landpits post-consumption. It totally depends on us whether to plan plastic or to ban it.

One of the ways to recycle plastic is Heat Compression, in which all kinds of plastic polymers are taken together in huge containers, churned and then finally melted. This process does not require segregation of plastics for recycling. Another way to adopt Plastic Recycling is by using Monomer Recycling. This process involves Reverse Polymerization. The polymers are condensed within the same plastic which causes chemical components to reverse, creating a more stable recycled plastic.

The technical challenges have been solved by science and great minds but the major challenge lies in the behavioral change required in the society. The perspective and vision of humankind need to change when we talk of plastic and its reuse. This reckless behavior has triggered an avalanche of waste dumps in open areas. In order for humanity to co-exist with the earth, there is an urgent need to adopt a circular economy model and recycle our plastic waste in an efficient manner. Using plastics in a systematic manner can turn the tables around for the manufacturers as well as consumers. Instead of eliminating plastics from our lives, we can focus on how to implement their uses to get out of the Linear Economy phase. Reusing them smartly will be a revolutionary move for us as responsible human beings. Something to bring under the focus is that Circular Economy is not easy to implement. However, if we are able to put the wings of growth and sustainability on our economic system, then probably after centuries from now people will say that it was the Circular Economic Revolution that inaugurated a brand new era of development and prosperity in the nation.

Rise of high barrier packaging films

The journey of food from farm to plate can be a tricky one, with chances of food spoilage in the course of being picked, packaged, transported, and stored. In handling food products for such a long period of time without compromising the quality, the most important factor is its packaging. It is of utmost importance to provide all relevant barrier properties (Moisture, Gas and Aroma), to keep the products integrity intact. Barrier Films play a major role to extend the shelf-life of the product, also helping to make the structure completely recyclable with all layers belonging to the same family of polymers.

Barrier films have an impermeable co-extruded & flexible structure (single or multiple layers) which is solvent-free, and doesn’t react with the packaged food. It helps prevent contact with oxygen, carbon dioxide or moisture, while restraining migration of mineral oil and UV light. This stringent barrier, crafted using specialized materials, also retains the properties of food such as color, taste, texture, aroma and flavor.

Cosmo Films have engineered BOPP based Barrier Films, which not only extends the shelf-life of food products but also protects them against intrinsic (food itself, nutrients, water activity, pH, redox potential) and extrinsic factors (atmospheric gases, temperature, other microbial flora, relative humidity).

Some of the prime characteristics for Cosmo Films’ range of Barrier Films are-

• It facilitates the reduction of packaging material through laminate rationalization (3 layers lamination to 2 layers lamination structure).  
• It replaces aluminum foil with a BOPP/ CPP based film in a multi-layered structure, which offers equivalent MVTR (Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate) and OTR (Oxygen Transmission Rate). Provides excellent aroma barrier, and are specially designed to provide aroma preservation to FMCG’s products like tea, coffee and rice packs. 
• Provides excellent moisture and gas barrier properties 
• Improves productivity by enabling FFS machines to run at a higher speed due to High Hot Tack and Low SIT properties. 
• Provides excellent dimensional stability and stiffness. 
• Gives amazing machinability with low seal threshold quality. 

Type of Barrier Films 
Cosmo Films’ range of barrier films can be categorized as below:

Metalized Barrier Films:

• High Moisture Barrier Films (HMB): These are metalized BOPP barrier films that are corona treated on both sides and can be used for duplex as well as for sandwich lamination in snack foods, shampoo sachets, dry milk powder and powdered drinks sachets/packs, where loss of moisture is a concern. 
• High Speed Barrier Films with High Hot Tack (HSB): These BOPP metalized moisture and oxygen barrier films have a High Hot Tack and Low SIT which enables FFS machines to run at a higher speed, thus helping improve productivity. 
• High Seal Strength Barrier Films (HSS): These BOPP metalized moisture and oxygen barrier films have been specially designed for packaging applications requiring high seal strengths. 
• Ultra High Barrier Films (UHB): These BOPP metalized moisture and oxygen barrier films can be used to substitute aluminium foil since they offer a MVTR < 0.15 g/m2.day and OTR< 0.1 cc/m2.day 
• High Metal Bond CPP Films (HMBS): These metalized Cast Polypropylene (CPP) films have been specially designed for packaging applications requiring high interlayer bond strength for making multi-layer laminate structures. The film offers high metal bond strength (>400gf/inch). 
• High Barrier CPP Films (HB): These metalized CPP films have been designed for applications requiring OTR <30cc/m2.day, MVTR<0.3g/m2.day, high heat seal and hot tack strength.

Transparent Barrier Films:

• Aroma Barrier Films (AB): These are transparent barrier films typically used for coffee/tea, spices, chewing gum and perfume boxes overwrapping.
• Aroma & Oxygen Barrier Films (AOB): These transparent films have both excellent moisture and gas barrier properties and are used for packaging of cream biscuits, chocolates, chips and snacks with some dose of fatty content.
• Ultra High Barrier Films (UHB): These transparent films have excellent moisture, aroma and gas barrier properties and are used to convert 3 layer laminates to 2 layers for packaging of aromatic and fat content rich products like dry fruits, nuts, spices etc. These films also offer mineral oil resistance.

Each product in the FMCG industry has its own characteristics and property, and Cosmo Films’ range of Barrier Films caters to each one of them. Be it providing barriers from moisture and air or keeping the aroma intact, we have a film to solve all your requirements.

Key Benefits of Flexible Packaging

From the use of aluminum containers to flexible packaging in the form of pouches or films, the packaging industry, especially for perishable products has come a long way. In the present day, the latter has become an essential, almost replacing rigid packaging. Flexible packaging is a non-rigid solution that can easily change its shape and be moulded into different forms like bags or pouches. It has wide applications that may vary from packaging solids to even liquid substances. Here are some key reasons why flexible packaging has proven to be beneficial across multiple industries.

Convenient & Lightweight 

1. Flexible packaging solutions, available in forms like pouches, are easy to carry & store for consumers. 
2. Features like zip locks and spouts add to its usability, making the consumer’s life easier by reducing the necessity of transferring its content into another container post opening. 
3. These are light in weight and take less space. This makes transportation easier, drastically reducing the cost involved in shipping compared to heavier goods. 
4. Since these are lightweight, it makes them less prone to damage. 

Prevents Spoilage 
Spoilage is one of the major concerns, especially in the food industry. According to FAO of the United Nations, food spoilage due to inferior packaging results in almost 1/2 of total food wastage across the world. To prevent this, companies have increasingly started using Barrier Films, a type of flexible packaging. These flexible films facilitate food safety by:

1. Acting as Barrier: Certain types of flexible packaging act as barriers against outside elements like moisture, chemical and gases incl. oxygen which may otherwise become the reason for food degradation. 
2. Preserving Inside Contents: While it does not allow entry of outside elements, it also keeps the inside aromas & food freshness intact. 
3. Improving Shelf-Life: It increases the shelf life of food products by leveraging material that can aid in maintaining appropriate temperature and controlling the transmission of gases & other elements.

Environment-Friendly
All around the world, there have been various myths around this concern. Here’s why flexible packaging is beneficial for the environment as compared to other solutions:

1. Use of flexible packaging reduces greenhouse gas emission as it consumes comparatively less power while being manufactured as opposed to its substitutes. 
2. Both its production as well as transportation (since it’s easy to carry & lightweight) require less energy and make for a cost-effective & environment-friendly solution. 
3. Its production involves less use of resources like fossil fuels and water. 
4. It can be reused and recycled. 

Cost-Efficient 
Not only is it easy-to-handle & environment friendly but it’s a cost-effective solution too making it preferable for the manufacturers.

1. It has a higher product to packaging ratio. This means that fewer resources are required in production of flexible packaging. 
2. Even in the case of multi-layered films where material required for production increases, these eventually save the cost incurred by preventing food spoilage and wastage. 
3. They are highly durable and reduce losses caused by tampering. 

Customizable & Innovative 
Flexible films can be moulded into any shape or form. The commonly used materials for this purpose are polyethylene, chloride and polyolefin. These can be easily converted into stand-up or lay-down pouches, or any other form of packaging.

1. It enhances the look with its glossiness and clarity. 
2. It gives graphic designers & marketers the opportunity to make the most out of the visual presentation, giving the product a competitive edge over the others. The designer can place his imagination & design freely anywhere on the package. 
3. It offers amazing print quality so that the design could be brought to live effectively. 

With multiple producers in the market, it becomes hard to pick one. However, for Cosmo Films, a global brand accredited with prestigious national & international awards, one need not think twice. The company produces a variety of packaging films with versatile applicability & superior features. For more details, head over to the Cosmo Films website.

Labelling: Techniques and their Comparison

Labelling of products has become an essential part for a brand’s marketing. It helps in the identification of the product by the consumer, where there are hundreds of other products in sight. It enhances the physical appearance of the products and also acts as an information source for the consumer. But the labelling industry has a myriad of options to discover and choose, depending on your requirements.

Some of the most commonly used labels are In Mould Labels, Pressure Sensitive Labels, and Wrap Around Labels. Let us take a look at each of these labels in detail, and how are they different from each other.

In-Mould Labelling (IML)-
In Mould Labelling is one of the labelling techniques that works byputting the label inside the mould at the time of the moulding of the container only. To put it in simple words, IML unites the decoration process along with the moulding process, resulting in low manufacturing cost in the long run.

Pressure Sensitive Labelling (PSL)-
PSL is a three-tiered labelling technique that includes a facestock, an adhesive, and a release liner. The resultant label is first printed, laminated, die-cut, peeled off and then applied to your product.

Wrap Around Labelling (WAL)-
WAL is a technique that extends the label around the whole object and wraps it. The two ends are glued together through a hot melt adhesive. It is commonly used for labelling bottles and jars.

Shrink Sleeve Labels (SSL)-
Shrink sleeve technology optimizes the printable label area with 360-degree graphics, while accommodating extreme container contour. This flexibility is applicable to virtually any shape or size container on a variety of films.

The above table draws a comparison between all the commonly used labelling techniques. One can see that all the mentioned techniques vary according to their features and functionalities.

To conclude the comparison, it can be said that all the labelling techniques vary according to their functionalities and customer’s requirements. Therefore, it is crucial to understand your needs and then make a decision. IML, PSL, SSL or WAL- all four of them possess different set of features, so choose the one that fit your requirements the best.Cosmo Films carries a vast portfolio of labelling films so that the customers can get an opportunity to choose from a variety of options. Their portfolio of PSL films has Clear, White, Metalized, Matte and Repositionable films; for IML Films they have White and Metalized varieties while for WAL Films they have White, Metalized and Pearlized varieties to offer.

Importance of OPP Lamination Film for Premium Packaging

It is very common to take note of the developing number of applications with lamination that can upgrade a way of life today. Daily Activities, for example, purchasing fresh products from the stores and hypermarkets require picking the best of produce that has been kept new on the rack before purchase. This is the place, where quality Lamination utilizing Oriented polypropylene films is required. Fresh created package in OPP, gives shoppers the affirmation that the best consideration was taken to keep up the freshness of the products from its farms to the shelf.It is very common to take note of the developing number of applications with lamination that can upgrade a way of life today. Daily Activities, for example, purchasing fresh products from the stores and hypermarkets require picking the best of produce that has been kept new on the rack before purchase. This is the place, where quality Lamination utilizing Oriented polypropylene films is required.

Purposes

OPP Lamination Film isn't just applied on new products but also on a heap of things in the home, office, manufacturing plants, schools and ventures. Durable items need insurance from the regular taking care of or misusing by customers and laborers that may bring down the things' quality and worth. This much of the time occurs with show things in stores which should be discounted from the records after the season; this would be accounted as a misfortune for the organization regardless of whether the stock is put on blowout sales.

Favored Choice

Despite the fact that there are numerous sorts of film in the market to take into account the various kinds of uses, the OPP Laminating film is especially engaging in an assortment of uses. Its solid and strong plastic cover offers a more clear visual intrigue with a defensive capacity that can keep out dampness, air and other potential contaminants like residue and animal waste items.

The OPP Lamination film is extremely viable in delivering a great lamination that accompanies an unmistakable sparkle for the strength required on the secured item. This sort of film is astounding on reports that contain significant designs and assortment of textual styles that should be shown plainly. OPP films are uncommonly intended for marked applications in the market to keep up the exclusive requirements and quality that are synonymous with that brand.

OPP Features 

OPP Lamination films are adaptable in their highlights and usefulness. They can be situated in a flat or vertical way relying upon the kind of cover machines they are applied on. This adaptability permits a different scope of business and insdutrial applications to be undertaken with ease.

Get more information about laminating film solution, visit cosmofilms.com .

Why CPP Films Are Becoming Increasingly Popular

Cast Polypropylene Films or CPP films have earned the reputation of being “versatile films” in the industry, and for good reason. CPP films score high on quality and performance, look aesthetically great, and are an ideal choice for flexible packaging, which is why these films are favoured in both traditional flexible packaging and non-packing applications. In this blog, we will take a closer look at what really makes CPP films special.

CPP films are made from polypropylene. Polypropylene is popular as a packaging material because it has low density and weight, is very versatile and cost-effective, and most importantly, is sustainable.

Let’s look at some of the major benefits of CPP:

Excellent Resistance To Tear – CPP films are very robust. Hence they have a high resistance to any kind of puncture and/or tear.

High Seal Strength and Hot Tack Strength - Both these values are exceptionally high making CPP films very robust and durable.

Multi-Material Structures - All the component properties of multi-material structures come together to optimize the performance, functionality, and total costs.

Offers Good Moisture Barrier - To extend the shelf life of the product, it is crucial that the film successfully protects the product from humidity, temperature and gases. CPP films provide a good moisture barrier and preserve product quality.

High Transparency - CPP films are completely transparent and attractive. Not only do they lend to the aesthetics of the product packaging, but also make it possible to see the product inside.

Good Optical Property - Great optical properties determine the shelf appeal of the product and CPP films with its versatility ensures that the look and feel of the product are not compromised.

Excellent Machinability - These films are easy to process and also offer great printability.

CPP films come in various varieties, but the general CPP and metalized CPP film are the most popular ones. General CPP films find widespread usage in the fields of food, agriculture and  architecture because of its transparency and sealing properties. In fact, the wrappers you see for confectionery and bakery products, or even fresh food are CPP films. From food packaging to  lamination and stationary, there is hardly a place where CPP films are not used. CPP films are used in the health care and pharmaceutical industries as well because these films provide a great  barrier against contamination.  

It is evident that CPP films dominate the Indian market. There are a couple of challenges posed by low-cost material but the advantages of CPP films supersede all of them.

Mr Pankaj Poddar, CEO Cosmo Films says, “We see more and more CPP being used globally as  well as in India as a choice material for packaging applications in food and agriculture owing to  its high transparency vis-a-vis polyethene and excellent sealing performance. Cosmo Films, with  years of experience in the polypropylene space, has worked hard to come up with an extensive  range of CPP films that it offers today both from functionality as well as mono-materialization standpoint.”

Effects and solutions of using plastic in food packaging

The food packaging industry is large and growing. Plastic packaging is widely employed. We explore the reasons why plastic is favored as a packaging material.

• Plastic bags offer ease of recyclability. They need relatively lesser energy to manufactured compared to other packaging materials. Compared to paper plastic bags need 40% less energy to be manufactured and output 80% less solid waste. 
• Plastic packaging is very inexpensive and can be employed by industries regardless of their size. The low-cost model is particularly attractive to smaller players as it enables access to quality packaging options on a low budget. 
• Plastic packaging is durable. This quality lets manufacturers print aesthetic, high quality, unique designs thus ramping up product visibility in a retail environment. 
• It is possible to easily reuse and recycle plastic. Thus, there is lesser wastage of resources and minimum adverse impact on the environment. 
• Plastic packaging can withstand extreme environments. They are resistant to degradation in hot and cold temperatures keeping intact their contents. Plastic offers protection from odours, light, dust, oxygen as well as moisture. 
• Plastic packaging ensures that their contents are well preserved at all times. So, there is no wastage of inventory and reliability in product delivery which boosts brand value. 
• Plastic packaging is a highly adaptable as well as flexible form of packaging. So, manufacturers can tweak its style, size and shape as per the market trends. 
• Plastic packaging is very light weight. It doesn’t take up lot of storage space. Thus, they are very easy to transport minimizing the carbon footprint in the transportation process. 

There are rising concerns manifesting as a result of climate change. They include waste as well as breakdown of plastics in the natural environment. Hence the development and use of biodegradable plastics. The latter is employed in food packaging and disintegrate naturally into organic agents from contact to natural environment elements such as heat as well as moisture. Traditional plastics are produced employing petroleum. However biodegradable plastics are generally manufactured employing plant sources such as corn.

The process involved in producing Biodegradable plastic consumes 65% less energy compared to generate traditional petroleum-based plastics. This talks a lot about this new plastic version’s energy efficiency. Also, this type of plastic makes use of renewable sources such as potato starch, corn as well as sugar cane.

Presently efforts are on to develop plastic eating bacteria to consume plastic waste already accumulated on our planet. The plastic waste is a hazard to both domestic animals as well as wildlife. Many animals, birds and fish have died or suffered by consuming plastic waste.

Biodegradable plastic is the future. Hopefully increased awareness will lead to its widespread adoption.