Specialty papermaker and flexible packaging company Rapids Paper + Packaging announced the commercial expansion of its ECOVA portfolio. The portfolio consists of heat-sealable and functional barrier paper packaging solutions, giving brands new opportunities to reduce plastic across a range of flexible packaging applications.
The new ECOVA Barrier line combines heat sealability with barrier performance tailored to specific applications, enabling paper-based formats to deliver the product production and converting performance required for real-world packaging applications, the company shares.
Heat sealbility allows paper to be used as a flexible packaging material. Functional barrier performance broadens the applications where paper can be used. ECOVA Barrier builds on the existing ECOVA platform with moisture barrier performance designed to protect products that require greater resistance to moisture vapor transmission. With a moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of <0.7g/100 in2/day (<10g/m2/day), Rapids Paper + Packaging says this commercially available structure opens additional opportunities for brands to replace plastic in select food and consumer goods applications.
With patented Paperlock technology, all ECOVA packaging structures are heat-sealable and designed to run on existing flexible packaging equipment without requiring wholesale changes to existing packaging operations. ECOVA paper packaging solutions are compatible with vertical and horizontal form-fill-seal equipment — as well as pouching equipment — and can be purchased as rollstock or in premade pouch form, helping brands transition to paper packaging with minimal operational disruption, the company adds.
“We’re seeing significant interest from brands cross a variety of market segments, all exploring a shift to paper-based packaging,” said John Wilson, director of marketing at Rapids Paper + Packaging, in a statement. “Their sustainability goals, however, can’t come at the expense of product protection. This expansion of the ECOVA platform gives brands a practical path forward, combining heat sealability, compatibility with existing packaging equipment and barrier performance in a commercially ready solution. Together, these capabilities enable brands to reduce plastic use by adopting paper-based packaging and advancing sustainability and EPR objectives.”