Sezersan, a subsidiary of the ASC Group, said the bio-based packaging would be targeted mainly at the confectionery industry but could also have applications across other sectors.
“Our product has widespread potential for applications for candy wraps and chocolate bars but also for the ice-cream sector,” Sezersan general manager Refik Ulukan told FoodProductionDaily.com. “Most of these applications need high sealing temperatures but our product can be sealed at low temperatures.”
Processability
The bio-twist film will be manufactured using Cereplast Compostable 7003 bio resin which has been designed to provide high strength and processability, said the US company.
Sezersan said securing the processability and toughness of the film had been a major goal of the partnership.
“From the beginning the processability was an issue we had in mind,” said Ulukan. “But we are very experienced in extrusion products and pooled ideas with Cereplast to produce a film that is very good. There are no question marks for us in this respect anymore.”
The new bio twist film has substantial form memory capability (dead-fold behaviour) and is heat sealable.
“The film has no memory in that when you twist it, it stays that way”, added the Sezersan manager. “If it is twisted 360°, it will only twist back by between 10° or 20°. Other films twisted by 540° can twist back by as much as 110°.”
The film is thinner than other twistable product and may be made into opaque or semi-transparent, film-like material, said Cereplast. The Turkish firm added it also has very good metalizing properties which means no inner layer or lining is required to protect the food product. Laminating and printing directly onto the metalized side does not present any problems.
Tonnage
Under the terms of the multi-million dollar agreement, Cereplast will begin monthly shipments of 100 to 150 metric tons of bio resin in December 2010. But Ulukan forecast this could increase to around 300 tonnes per month by May 2011 and up to 1,000 tonnes beyond that.
He said that two major confectionery companies – one US and one European – were currently testing the product.
"Cereplast bio resins will help us cater to consumer demand for an environmentally sound substitute for petroleum-based plastic packaging," said Mehmet Asc, President and CEO of Asc Group. "We are excited to be the very first to offer this solution in our robust industry."