New films are available for green laminates which are based on cellulose diacetate. The properties of these films reflect their cellulosic origins and offer an attractive combination of environmental features.
The major raw material, cellulose, comes predominantly from woodpulp from managed forestry in North America and some cotton linters. All of the pulp suppliers have active replanting programmes and plant more trees than they harvest every year. The secondary raw material is acetic anhydride, a simple derivative of the everyday tabletop chemical, acetic acid.
These laminates are considered ‘green’ because the film is derived mainly from sustainable, non-fossil fuel resources. Its cellulosic origin provides a number of attractive environmental options and gives it a unique versatility for packaging waste recovery.
APG uses these laminates wherever possible.