Uflex develops reprocessable barrier packaging for edible oil

The development involves a specialized formulation that renders barrier packaging for edible oil reprocessable despite the presence of nylon and/or EVOH.

Citing data from market research firm Euromonitor International, Uflex identified the edible oil category as having overtaken dairy to become the largest packaged food segment in India a few years ago. The market continues to grow at a double-digit percentage rate. Edible oil accounted for over 30 percent of the Rs 4.34 trillion packaged foods market in India in 2017.

Jeevaraj Pillai, joint president of packaging and new product development at Uflex, said: ‘Edible oil needs to be carefully protected from oxygen that makes it rancid. Barrier properties in a coextruded film for edible oil packaging are imparted by nylon and/or EVOH. However, it is the presence of these two elements that makes the packaging of edible oil non-reprocessable.

‘Now edible oil manufacturers need not worry and can easily fulfill their recyclability commitments by using barrier packaging having our formulation.

Uflex identified the development as a big boost to its commitment towards sustainability and circular economy.

‘The potential is huge and we are fully braced up to cater to the flexible packaging requirements of all edible-oil players in the country and overseas in a sustainable manner,’ said Pillai.

Ashok Chaturvedi, chairman and managing director at Uflex, added: ‘Considering that the edible oil category is the largest packaged food segment in our country, one can well imagine the massive global boost India as a nation will get in terms of sustainability and promotion of circular economy if it is able to reprocess all the barrier packaging for edible oil. This is a great victory for sustainability. This is a great victory for India.’