Barrier Pack
Discover the secret to prolonging the freshness of pet food with Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol (EVOH)
This innovative copolymer, derived from ethylene and vinyl alcohol, is not just a game-changer in food packaging but a sustainability champion as well.
EVOH is an effective solution against oxygen penetration, especially for perishable foods. Its enhanced oxygen barrier properties keep your food fresh, preventing premature decomposition. This technology isn’t confined to just food; it’s a key player in medical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic packaging, too.
The integration of EVOH into packaging involves a sophisticated “sandwiching” technique, strategically placing it between the inner and outer plastic walls of bottles, jars, or tubes. Held together by a thin layer of adhesive, EVOH creates a formidable multilayer barrier, ensuring optimal protection against oxygen intrusion.
"Ideal for ambient on shelf packaging and long shelf life packaging"
The EVOH Layer Configuration:
1. HDPE or PP (outer wall)
2. Adhesive resin (polyamide)
3. EVOH (barrier)
4. Adhesive resin (polyamide)
5. HDPE or PP (inner wall)
In designing wet dog food trays, EVOH optimises the retort cooking process – a high-temperature cooking method in a pressurised vessel, ensuring safe and tasty food for our furry friends.
The tray material, predominantly polypropylene (PP), endures the high-temperature cooking in the pressurised retort vessel, but without an oxygen barrier, a PP-only structure would allow oxygen transmission through its walls, reducing shelf life at ambient temperatures.
"Waddington® Europe’s barrier material is a PP laminate with a less than 5% addition of barrier layer"
Two strategies are employed for creating a functional barrier:
1. Multi-layer PP EVOH tray structure
2. Addition of an oxygen scavenger to the centre layer of Co-Ex PP products.
Both of these plastic structures are classified as recyclable, aligning with the OPRL guidelines for kerbside collection in UK homes. An EVOH tray structure can significantly extend the shelf life of the food, even without refrigeration, for up to 18 months.
Barrier Material Specifications: Our chosen barrier material is a PP laminate, with less than a 5% addition of the EVOH layer. This intentional design choice not only preserves freshness but also aligns with sustainability goals. The packaging, with its barrier content below 5%, meets recycling guidelines for kerbside collection in UK households.