Walki has developed a range of safe solutions for mineral oiled packaging materials.
These new products meet the needs of the food industry for a safer and more sustainable mineral oil barrier solution. Walki’s Mineral Oil Safe Technology (MOST) features an extrusion substrate coating that’s effective in keeping mineral oil away from food.
Who Are Walki Packaging?
Walki Group is an international packaging manufacturer that sells sustainable packaging products and solutions. They provide innovative, customer-oriented solutions for a wide range of industries, including the food and beverage market, home, personal care, industrial, and other types. All of the company’s products are made from renewable resources and are designed to be fully recyclable and compostable. The company has over 3,500 employees worldwide and has its headquarters in Finland. The business has production facilities in Europe, Asia, and South America.
Walki Packaging is a division of Walki Group that specialises in the manufacture of flexible packaging materials. Their main products include laminate structures, barrier laminates, sealant laminates, and adhesive laminates.
What is Mineral Oil Safe Technology
Walki’s product has a unique process that uses plant-based ingredients to create an adhesive barrier that is safe for direct contact with food. The technology also provides ultimate moisture protection and low oxygen ingress in direct food contact scenarios.
This technology has been introduced in a range of their products, including food packaging materials, baking paper, and serving disposables. The products have been made available in a variety of sizes, shapes, and weights to meet the needs of the whole industry. In addition to offering a solution to food packaging issues, these products are also fully recyclable and compostable, which makes them environmentally friendly.
According to Mirka Nevala, Walki’s Vice President for Business Development, mineral oil consists of Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbon (MOAH) which is particularly harmful to the human body. Occasionally, they can be found in food packaging items that use printing dyes, with dry foods being the most significant risk. The risk arises from mineral oil pollution originating from reprocessed fibre-based packaging materials. Walki has announced the benefits of its new product to combat this issue and similar ones.
Main Features of MOST Developed by Walki and Expert Views
MOST (Mineral Oil Safe Technology) is a manufactured polymer coating product that provides the most efficient barrier of its kind against mineral oil pollution. The products are heat sealable, glue able, and recyclable with other advantages too. The product is also effective at protecting the contents from both grease and water.
Unwanted substances such as Bisphenol A, Benzophenone, DIPN, and some softeners are blocked by Walki’s new product solution. It also blocks any cross-contamination with another transport packaging when in transit. The EU directive 10/2011 approves Walki Pack MOST for direct food contact suitability.
According to Stefan Erdmann, Technical Service & Development Manager for Walki’s Barrier Board products, MOST will allow the food packaging industry to solve the increasing issues of contaminated food. He added that brand owners and food companies that opt for mineral oil-safe packaging materials are exhibiting their commitment to delivering risk-free food products to the marketplace. Brands that strive to protect their customers from carcinogenic substances and the like should represent most of the food package industry.
The effectiveness of the Walki Pack MOST has been checked and accredited by countless research institutes and professionals in the packaging industry.
A report by the NYU Langone Medical Centre highlighted the risks and dangers associated with chemicals in plastic packaging and the wider sector.
No EU standard regulates MOAH or MOSH, but many governments are looking to introduce legislation to combat the issue soon. Germany is likely to be the first nation to do so with plans to introduce the new laws in 2016, therefore paving the way for an EU-wide mineral oil legislation.
