Kuraray is the world’s largest producer of EVOH (ethylene vinyl-alcohol copolymers) sold under the trade name EVAL™. EVAL™ has oxygen gas barrier properties 10,000x those of LDPE (thus 1mm EVOH = a 10m thick wall of LDPE).
Normally our product is used in transparent multilayer plastic packaging, in layers of just a few microns. EVAL™ provides barrier performance to the entire package (including those made from renewably sourced materials) with only tiny amounts of material. The result is unbreakable optimised packaging and reduced packaging waste. EVAL™ is recyclable, safely recoverable and halogen-free, offering good energy recovery and emitting only small amounts of water vapour and CO2.
70% of our sales is for food packaging, mainly to protect food from oxygen and outside contamination, or to maintain MAP gas mixtures inside packaging. The result is protection of vitamins and food quality, and an extension of shelf life and reduction in food waste. EVAL™ is also used increasingly for food safety issues, such as protection against MOSH/MOAH mineral oil migration from recycled carton packaging into food.
As of 2015, in addition to EVAL™ EVOH, Kuraray is also promoting PLANTIC™ for food trays and skin packs. PLANTIC™ is made from up to 80% renewable resources that do not compete with food streams and do not contain GMO plant sources. They provide a transparent barrier packaging option where the entire package offers a reduced environmental footprint.
