www.vtt.fi

VTT - your innovation partner in

packaging• Technology and • Strategic • Product and service • IPR and • Assessments, testing, market foresight research development licensing inspection, certification

Technology and market foresight • Strategic research • Product and service development • IPR and licensing • Assessments, testing, inspection, certification • Technology and innovation management • Technology partnership

VTT TECHNICAL RESEARCH CENTRE OF FINLANDwww.vtt.fi

Additional information

Tuomas MustonenCustomer ManagerTel. +358 20 722 7466tuomas.mustonen@vtt.fi

Eero HurmeCustomer ManagerTel. +358 20 722 6191 eero.hurme@vtt.fi

Packaging performance services at VTT VTT has world-class pilot environments for upscaling and piloting of

packaging materials, ranging from biopolymer synthesis to biobarrier coat-

ing, and pilot manufacture of printed intelligence components, mod-

ules and functionalities.

VTT also provides a wide array of packaging performance testing servic-

es, ranging from testing of mechanical properties of materials to barrier per-

formance in end use application and to testing of transportation conditions.

The services are available as a part of a research projects and also as inde-

pendent analysis services.

Packaging performance testing services:

• Mechanical properties of board, corrugated and plastic packaging

• Sorption properties

• Coating testing and surface properties

• Barrier properties and sealability

• Printing and print quality

• Climatic testing and transportation conditions

• Product safety of packaging materials

• Risk assessment of process hygiene and product safety aspects in the

paper and packaging industry

• Biodegradability and ecotoxicity

• Sustainability, LCA, carbon footprints

VTT packaging in briefVTT’s solid expertise covers surface treatment, printing, material development

and packaging technologies. Expertise in materials and processes, as well as

applying new technology in innovative products and applications, enhances

the competitive edge for our customers, while the integration of competencies

enables new product concepts. Understanding of end-user benefits and re-

quirements of the packaging value chain are the basis for successful develop-

ments. Application areas include fiber-based or (bio)plastic consumer packed

goods for the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries.

Why partner with VTT?

10 reasons for technology partnering with VTT

1. We are a key factor in Finland’s success

story and have the track record to prove it.

2. Licensing and co-venturing opportunities

3. Portfolio of more than 1000 patents and

inventions

4. New business and product concepts

based on strong IP and world class

research

5. Combined experience of more than 2000

career research scientists in eight focused

areas of technology

6. Active member in hundreds of scientific

and business communities

7. Excellent track record as coordinator and

partner in EU projects

8. TOP 50 R&D investors in Finland and

10 percent of global Fortune 500 as trusted

partners

9. Market driven multi-disciplinary solutions

10. 65 years experience in R&D

The application areas of VTT’s

packaging research include

fiber-based or (bio) plastic

consumer packed goods

for the food, cosmetics and

pharmaceutical industries.

BiopolymersBio-degradable polymers, e.g. PLA, provide

answers in waste problems related to the

synthetic plastics, but lack of performance in

the applications has prevented wide utiliza-

tion of the materials. VTT is developing high

performing biopolymers based on bio-based

monomers. Novel biochemical tools and

chemical synthetic routes are studied for the

conversion of precursors such as sugars and

hydroxy acids into further synthesis of modi-

fied and bio-based polymers.

Biolatex, bioglues and bio­adhesivesThere is only very limited selection of bio-

based latexes on the market. Advanced po-

lymerization of bio-monomers and modi-

fication of biopolymers into novel latexes,

adhesives and coating formulations using

solvent free technologies and high solid con-

tents is a key competence at VTT. The biola-

tex formulations can be utilized as binders for

coatings, paints and adhesives.

Biobarriers Biobarriers based on renewable natural poly-

mers have marked potential in new packag-

ing product innovation and can enable good

oxygen barrier in various applications. VTT

has proprietary technologies in fraction, in-

situ modification and cross-linking of natural

polymers, such as hemicelluloses, starch and

pectic. These competences are used to im-

prove the water resistance, thermoplasticity

and processability of the coatings. VTT aims

to replace extruded polyolefins with dispersion

based biobarriers in food service applications.

Thin films Many of the existing packaging materials uti-

lize a combination of different polymers and

aluminium foil, which makes both material re-

cycling and energy recovery challenging. VTT

is successfully utilizing Atomic Layer Deposi-

tion (ALD) technology to facilitate the man-

ufacture of packaging materials which are

thinner, lighter and have excellent gas per-

meation resistance compared to traditional

barrier materials. VTT target is to replace alu-

minum films in packaging materials by ALD.

BiofoamsBoth hard and flexible foams can be made

for various products, like low-density flexible

foam used in today in disposable cups and

plates. Polyurethanes are also widely used in

durable packaging, such as crates for deep

freeze products. VTT has developed promis-

ing technologies to produce new bio-based

foams though combining biopolymers (such

as PLA) and fibers. In future, biofoams can

also be imagined to be used in e.g. corru-

gated board.

Bio­based nanocompositesNanofibres can be used to modify materi-

al properties and thus, create products that

better correspond to future market needs.

VTT studies new applications for combina-

tion of nanocellulose with selected polymers

and plastics which offers exciting new oppor-

tunities for developing high performing bio-

composite products.

Eco­efficient packaging materials

In VTT’s packaging research, we under-

stand the packaging has an important

role in a complex ecosystem fast moving

consumer goods. Therefore the target to

develop Eco-efficient packaging materi-

als is a key priority to VTT. Advanced fib-

er based materials and new biopolymers

offer innovative possibilities to enhance

the overall sustainability of packaging

materials, e.g . by providing easily recy-

clable, biobased solutions for packag-

ing. In order to boost the sustainability of

the entire packaging value chain, special

attention has to be paid to ecodesign,

light-weight materials, end-use perform-

ance and recyclability.

Added package functionality and value

We can upgrade package with tailored intelligent functionalities that address the

needs of end users. Printed intelligence in packaging provides high added value

but low total added cost to the product. Intelligent (electrical, chemical or bio-

chemical) functionalities are utilized e.g. for freshness indicator, package tamper-

ing, anti-counterfeit and brand enhancement applications. VTT is in the forefront

of research in these technologies and solutions for consumer packages, the focus

being on the combination of biotechnologies, electronics, printing , and informa-

tion (especially mobile phone) technologies. One application field include intelli-

gent paper or packaging products like bioactive papers. Bioactive papers can be

utilized in simple applications of diagnostics, personal health care, or even in de-

tection of the origin of fibre-based materials.

Printed functionalityPrinted functionality means superimposing dif-

ferent large area roll-to-roll (R2R) manufactur-

ing techniques (for example, different printing

techniques, hot embossing, laser processing,

evaporation, etching, etc.) to fabricate different

functional components and modules for Print-

ed Intelligence applications. These applica-

tions can be passive and active electronic, op-

tic and optoelectronic components, different

indicators, sensors and diagnostic products.

New material solutions and roll-to-roll

(R2R) large-area manufacturing processes

enable the fabrication of these functionalities

on different flexible substrates (plastic, paper,

fabrics, metal foils, etc.). The aim is to develop

cost efficient R2R manufacturing techniques,

material solutions and completely new prod-

ucts, for example lighting and signage ele-

ments based on organic light-emitting diodes

(OLED), light detectors, printed batteries and

low-cost healthcare diagnostic tools.

Competence VTT transfers laboratory-scale device man-

ufacturing know-how to the pilot level and

demonstrates pilot-level manufacturing of the

above mentioned components, modules and

functionalities. This goal is strongly supported

by wide material know-how in organic and in-

organic materials and a world-class pilot man-

ufacturing environment.

VTT - your innovation partner in packaging

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