Traditionally packaging wax has been made from mineral oil based products, but significant developments have been made in recent years using vegetable sources as a viable alternative, especially when combined with choices of sustainable produced paper.
Clondalkin Flexible Packaging Rotterdam is one of the manufacturers at the forefront of this development, which is being largely driven by demand for ‘greener’ packaging from retailers and consumers.
Clondalkin’s Ecowax is the result of two years of extensive research and development. Made from vegetable sources such as maize, rapeseed and other high oil content plants, it is between 80 and 100 percent renewable, depending on the characteristics needed from the wax .
Not only is it more environmentally friendly, but it offers a higher gloss finish, excellent sealability and easier opening/release properties. It’s more efficient on the packaging line as well. There’s less wax build-up in the packaging machines and they can run as fast as 2000 pieces a minute. And all of this for no extra cost.
We’re seeing a steep increase in demand for our Ecowax products particularly in the confectionary market. It’s a very popular choice for soft chews or hard candy because the vegetable oils are often used as ingredients in the foods themselves, so this removes any concerns about the possible effect of the migration of the packaging wax into the food.
More than 60 percent of all packaging wax produced at Clondalkin Rotterdam is now Ecowax. We’ve developed a range of wax products in conjunction with our suppliers including plain coating waxes, non-blooming waxes, waxes with sealability. We are continuously working with customers and suppliers to improve the performance of our waxes and developing bespoke solutions to meet specific requirements.