Post-consumer-recycled content barrier film earns AIMCAL Sustainability Award
Charlotte, North Carolina, USA – The Association of International Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators (AIMCAL) presented its 2019 Sustainability Award last night at an Awards Ceremony on the opening day of its Annual Meeting (February 26-28, 2019, Miramonte Indian Wells Resort & Spa, Palm Springs, CA).
The winner is a 90 percent post-consumer-recycled (PCR) content biaxially oriented polyester (BOPET) barrier film from Flex Films (USA) Inc. (Elizabethtown, KY), a subsidiary of Uflex Limited’s Films Business (Noida, India). Available in metallized (F-PCR/M) or clear aluminum-oxide-coated (F-PCR/A structures, the film represents a 75 percent reduction in carbon footprint versus virgin BOPET grades. Associated technology is both patented and patent-pending.
The judges believe the use of PCR content improves the sustainability profile of flexible packaging and described the F-PCR/M and F-PCR/A films as “a real recycling success.” In effect, noted one judge, “It takes waste and makes a first-tier product.”
The judging teleconference was moderated by AIMCAL Executive Director Craig Sheppard. The panel consisted of well-known experts in the converting field: Dr. Charles A. Bishop of C.A. Bishop Consulting (Loughborough, U.K.); Dr. Edward D. Cohen of Edward D. Cohen Consulting, Inc. (Fountain Hills, AZ); and Dr. Eldridge M. Mount of EMMOUNT Technologies, LLC (Canandaigua, NY).
Dr. Bishop established C.A. Bishop Consulting Ltd. in December 1998 after earning several degrees and working for Imperial Chemical Industries. He specializes in all aspects of vacuum deposition including system design; process development, scale-up and troubleshooting; process control; and plasma surface treatments and coatings. He has published more than 60 technical papers, been granted five patents and conducted training courses around the world. He is the author Vacuum Deposition onto Webs, Films & Foils (2007) and Roll-to-Roll Vacuum Deposition of Barrier Coatings (2010).
A veteran of DuPont and an expert in web coating, Dr. Cohen’s expertise encompasses coating and drying of thin films, coating process development and scale-up, polyester base development, film defect mechanisms, defect characterization techniques, litigation support and professional development activities for scientists. He served as founding president of the International Society of Coating Science and Technology and is the recipient of the John Tallmadge Award for Contributions to Coating Technology and the AIMCAL President’s Award.
Dr. Mount has worked for more than 35 years as a polymer engineer in the field of biaxial film orientation including stints at ExxonMobil and ICI Americas Film Division. An expert in oriented films and metallized films for packaging and barrier film technologies, he also is well-versed in plastic extrusion, screw design, rheological measurements, coextrusion troubleshooting and system specification. A popular presenter of converting-related courses, other capabilities include new product design, process design and expert witness testimony.
The AIMCAL Sustainability Award is part of the AIMCAL Awards program, which also includes Product of the Year and Technology of the Year competitions.
About AIMCAL, Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
AIMCAL, the Association of International Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators, represents converters of metallized, coated, and laminated flexible substrates and their suppliers. Founded in 1970, membership stands at nearly 300. A global group, AIMCAL promotes the growth and prosperity of the converting industry and member companies via an array of technical and marketing services. Membership information is available on-line at www.aimcal.org.
Source: AIMCAL
