Sappi Rockwell’s sustainable, Starlid coated lidding films

Heat sealing film to alleviate UK plastic packaging taxes

June 8, 2021

Sappi Rockwell’s sustainable, Starlid coated lidding films — Sappi-Rockwells sustainable lidding films will help to alleviate next year's Plastic Packaging Tax in the UK Photo Sappi-Rockwell

Heat seal coating specialist, Sappi Rockwell Solutions has developed its first sustainable, multi-substrate, heat sealing lidding film. Developed and manufactured in house, Starlid GPE-CL is an extrusion coated lidding film specifically formulated and processed on Sappi Rockwell’s solvent-free coating line. It is designed to outperform all other lidding films.

Importantly, the Starlid GPE-CL coating can be applied onto any film including those with post-consumer recycled (PCR) content. The company currently coats up to 60% PCR film, which is compatible with all tray types, including 100% rPETtrays.

Options for Starlid GPE-CL include Sappi Rockwell’s high-clarity anti-fog for optimized transparency and good oxygen and moisture vapor transmission rate barriers to increase product shelf-life.

Moreover, the Starlid GPE-CL seals to all types of food packaging trays, including PP, paperboard and all PET variants. This enables manufacturers and brand owners to move away from using multiple film types for different product requirements and into a true mono layer lidding material suitable for all tray types.

Starlid GPE-CL supports eco-friendly packaging

Chris Button, head of Sales at Sappi Rockwell Solutions, explained, “We are committed to helping our customers reduce their impact on the environment through the development of innovative and sustainable packaging solutions.

“Starlid GPE-CL will help customers reduce their environmental impact and bring them in line with the UK plastic packaging levy scheduled for April 2022. Using one lidding material for all tray types delivers cost saving opportunities, improves operational efficiencies, and significantly reduces both plastic usage and waste.

“Starlid GPE-CL provides a strong, peelable seal on all types of tray materials, including paperboard trays which is one of the most rapidly expanding sustainability trends in the food industry today,” Chris continued. “As eco-friendly packaging becomes a higher priority with both brands and consumers, Starlid GPE-CL is a significant development for the food packaging industry.”

Starlid Sappi paperboardweb750 — Starlid GPE-CL provides a strong, peelable seal on all types of tray materials, including paperboard trays which is one of the most rapidly expanding sustainability trends in the food industry today Photo Sappi-Rockwell

Suitable for all types of food products including dairy, convenience, meat, fruit and vegetables. Starlid GPE-CL is food contact approved and can be used for freezer, chiller, microwave and ovenable applications.

Sappi Rockwell Solutions is one of Europe’s major manufacturers of peelable, high barrier and anti-fog lidding films. With over 35 years of experience Sappi Rockwell Solutions is a well-established business based in Dundee, Scotland and focused on developing unique and proprietary coating formulations to manufacture highly specialized packaging films. Acquired by Sappi Global in 2017, Sappi Rockwell Solutions is a subsidiary of Sappi Europe.

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