Technical session makes ‘sustainable’ attainable

Nordmeccanica, manufacturer of coating and laminating machinery, partnered with major material suppliers leading their own ecofriendly flexible packaging efforts to host a Sustainable Packaging Demonstration at its Edgewood, N.Y., plant on April 22. Live presentations highlighted the environmental benefits of various products but just as importantly, Nordmeccanica’s Super Simplex SL laminator served as the stage on which the products proved they could perform.

“One big benefit of [the live] event is showing packaging converters all this technology on an operating production line,” says John Norder, business manager at Dow Chemical’s Advanced Materials Div., a business group representing former Rohm and Haas product lines. Dow Chemical, cohost of the Earth Day event, demonstrated Mor-Free L 75-168, a general purpose solventless adhesive. This formulation uses 55% biocontent and can be further processed in 24 hours.

Innovia Films demonstrated NatureFlex 75NKR, a biodegradable film made from wood pulp sourced from managed plantations that either have or are actively working toward Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. Innovia officials say NatureFlex films typically compost in six weeks and meet all three keys to sustainability, including sustainable source, carbon-zero and biodegradable/compostable disposal.

Other technical partners included Plastic Suppliers Inc., Sun Chemical, Siegwerk and Environmental Inks and Coatings.

Dow Chemical, Advanced Materials Div.
877-288-5881;www.rohmhaas.com

Environmental Inks and Coatings
800-368-4657;www.envinks.com

Innovia Films
877-822-3456;www.innoviafilms.com

Nordmeccanica
631-242-9898;www.nordmeccanica.com

Plastic Suppliers Inc.
800-722-5577;www.plasticsuppliers.com

Siegwerk
515-471 2100;www.siegwerk.com

Sun Chemical
866-786-7276;www.sunchemical.com