Pursuing a ‘Circular Economy’ with Cortec® Recyclable Barrier Papers

February 21, 2023

In today’s world of abundance and exploding e-commerce, there seems to be more packaging waste than ever. At the same time, there is a greater concern about how human activities are impacting the environment. Recycling is mainstream, but when it comes to recyclable barrier paper, the options are more limited. Historically, barrier papers have used wax or poly coatings that could not be recycled through normal streams. It is only more recently that companies like Cortec® have done extensive R&D to produce recyclable barrier papers that meet an important need while giving users a responsible disposal channel.

Cortec® Recyclable Barrier Paper
Cortec
® offers two kinds of barrier paper. Both are USDA Certified Biobased Products, opening the door to a “circular economy” process of harnessing renewable resources that can be used and eventually recycled into other products. EcoShield® Barrier Paper offers basic barrier protection with a coating that resists water vapor, grease, and oil. Its Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) makes EcoShield® Barrier Paper a competitive alternative to polycoated paper and much superior to waxed paper. EcoShield® Barrier Paper contains 65% USDA certified biobased content and passes the U.S. FBA’s repulpability testing and E.U. recyclability testing. Potential uses include, but are not limited to:

• Barrier packaging
• Surface protection on workbenches
• Moisture resistant bands and tags

A Barrier for Metals Protection
Cortec
® goes one step farther with EcoShield® VpCI®- 144, a barrier paper designed specifically for metals protection. In addition to its barrier coating, EcoShield® VpCI®-144 is coated with Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors that form a protective molecular layer on surfaces of metal components wrapped inside the paper. This presents dual protection against corrosion: first by inhibiting the ingress of corrosive moisture and vapors; secondly by interfering with the natural corrosion reaction of any moisture and oxygen that does find its way into the parcel. Such protection is ideal for situations where metal parts will be shipped or stored in a humid environment. It is also a potential solution for components covered with grease or process oils that must be left in place for one reason or another. The barrier coating discourages the moisture or grease from breaking through the paper, thus allowing the Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors to continue doing their job in an enclosed environment. EcoShield® VpCI®- 144 contains 69% USDA certified biobased content and also passes the U.S. FBA’s repulpability testing and E.U. recyclability testing.

Responsible Packaging in an Era of Waste
Packaging is everywhere in today’s society. However much we might shake our heads and wish that it would go away, the fact is that productivity naturally leaves us with packaging waste. The balancing message is that we can do our best to dispose of it responsibly by choosing packaging materials with a lower environmental impact and greater likelihood to be used in a circular economy fashion. When that involves barrier papers, Cortec’s EcoShield
® papers offer great environmentally responsible options that allow you to start biobased and end recyclable. Contact Cortec® to discuss your specific barrier paper needs: https://www.cortecpackaging.com/contact-us/

Keywords: circular economy, recyclable barrier paper, Cortec, packaging waste, how human activities are impacting the environment, recycling, USDA Certified Biobased Products, EcoShield, metals protection, corrosion inhibitors

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