South Plastic Industry Partners with Milliken

South Plastic Industry Co. Ltd., one of Asia's leading thermoform plastic food packaging manufacturers, has spent years developing a transparent, non-fogging polypropylene (PP) lid suitable for microwave-safe food packaging. The objective was to replace oriented polystyrene (OPS) in this important application, but until now, it has not been easy to find a way to obtain high levels of recyclable PP that meets all required performance specifications while also preserving the clarity and non-yellowing aesthetics vital to appeal to consumers on market shelves. [caption id="attachment_132619" align="aligncenter"] Photo © 2021 South Plastic, all rights reserved.[/caption] South Plastic Industry (or SPI), based in New Taipei City, Taiwan, ultimately leveraged a five-year close working relationship with additive supplier Milliken & Company to reach its goals. Using Milliken's Millad® NX® 8000 clarifier, the two parties produced an UltraClear™ PP resin that fulfills all performance promises for ready-meal packaging while also offering additional processing advantages. SPI has also recently begun using Milliken's Hyperform® HPN® performance additives in PP formulations. SPI President Tosho Wang stated, "By using Milliken's additives, we are able to thermoform our products at a lower processing temperature, which allows us to reduce our energy consumption. At the same time, these additives enable SPI to produce a thinner PP lid without affecting rigidity, which helps increase output while reducing plastic usage." The energy savings achieved during processing are highly positive for SPI, which operates dozens of thermoform machines at its Taiwan facility. [caption id="attachment_132620" align="aligncenter"] Photo © 2021 South Plastic, all rights reserved.[/caption] Milliken Taiwan Sales Manager Kua Cheng Huat added, "Milliken's additives produce an UltraClear PP that prevents yellowing, reduces oxidation reactions, and extends the shelf life of packaged products." However, crystal clarity is one of the most important features. Many suppliers use oriented PS resin for ready-meal packaging lids, but these can only withstand temperatures of 85°C and are not suitable for microwave-safe products. With UltraClear PP, such packaged foods can go directly from refrigerator to microwave while maintaining the required clarity and aesthetics. Currently using Milliken clarifiers in all UltraClear PP packaging products, SPI says it plans to explore using this material to expand PP usage in more food applications in the future, including those currently using PET. When it comes to thermoformed polypropylene food packaging for South Plastic Industry, the path forward is clear and will require closer collaboration with Milliken. Source