31 TEMA CENTRAL I MAIN TOPIC todos los plásticos actuales por materiales alternativos, el impacto ambiental se multiplicaría por 2,7 veces debido al mayor peso, volumen y consumo de energía en producción y transporte. Además, muchos de estos envases acaban en estructuras multicapa y multimaterial difíciles de reciclar, lo que genera confusión en el consumidor y reduce la eficacia de los sistemas de recogida. Por eso, en AIMPLAS defendemos una visión basada en datos objetivos y análisis de ciclo de vida (ACV). No se trata de eliminar el plástico, sino de usar el material adecuado para cada aplicación, optimizando recursos y facilitando su reciclaje o valorización al final de su vida útil. Soluciones que miran al futuro Los recubrimientos desarrollados por AIMPLAS, formulados específicamente para papel y celulosa moldeada, permiten combinar lo mejor de ambos mundos: la reciclabilidad del papel y la funcionalidad técnica de los polímeros. Estas soluciones se aplican mediante tecnologías de impresión o recubrimiento en continuo, están libres de sustancias controvertidas y están pensadas para facilitar la separación y recuperación del material. Además, contamos con capacidades analíticas y tecnológicas para desarrollar nuevos materiales, caracterizar su comportamiento, verificar su seguridad alimentaria y evaluar su impacto ambiental real mediante ACV. Acompañamos a las empresas en su transición hacia envases más sostenibles con criterios técnicos y rigurosos. Como conclusión, podríamos decir que, en la carrera por la sostenibilidad, el plástico no es el enemigo, sino una herramienta imprescindible si se utiliza de forma inteligente y responsable. Como recubrimiento, permite ampliar el abanico de materiales utilizados en packaging, aportando funcionalidad, seguridad y eficiencia. Desde AIMPLAS seguiremos apostando por la innovación en materiales, el ecodiseño y el análisis de ciclo de vida, para construir un sector del packaging más sostenible, basado en la ciencia, la colaboración y el conocimiento. Porque lo importante no es con qué está hecho un envase, sino cuánto protege, cuánto impacta y cómo puede volver al ciclo. Sustainability is today one of the major drivers of innovation in the packaging industry. Legislation, consumers, and companies are moving toward solutions that minimize the environmental impact of packaging, promoting concepts such as recyclability, the use of renewable or compostable materials, and the reduction of food waste. However, this path is not free from myths and oversimplifications. One of the most common is the assumption that eliminating plastic is always synonymous with sustainability. At AIMPLAS, we work with data, science, and technological innovation. Therefore, we want to highlight the role that plastics play as sustainable materials, not only for their lightness and versatility, but also for their ability to protect and preserve food. Furthermore, plastics are key as technical coatings that allow other materials, such as paper or cardboard, to be functionally enhanced, making them suitable for demanding applications in terms of barrier properties, processability, or resistance. Packaging: More than just a wrapper The main function of packaging is to protect the food it contains. And in this sense, its contribution to sustainability goes beyond its recyclability: packaging that prevents food waste is sustainable packaging. Food requires protection from gases such as oxygen or water vapor, which accelerate its deterioration. For many products, we are talking about extremely low tolerances. For example, instant coffee should not be exposed to more than 1-5 ppm of oxygen to ensure its quality. Materials such as paper, although renewable and recyclable, do not naturally provide sufficient barrier properties for most food products. They are not heat-sealable, do not resist moisture or grease, and degrade rapidly if used without additional protection. Therefore, it is essential to apply coatings that improve their functionality, providing barrier properties, mechanical resistance, heat sealing, or liquid and grease repellency, without compromising their recyclability. Plastics as Functional Coatings The use of thin layers of polymers, such as polyethylene (PE), has been a widely used solution to provide paper with barrier properties, mechanical strength, and heat-sealability, essential for ensuring food protection and packaging functionality. Thanks to these coatings, it has been possible to expand the use of paper in applications where, on its own, it would not meet the required technical requirements. However, these PE-based structures can make recycling difficult, which has driven the search for more sustainable alternatives. At AIMPLAS, we are working on the development of polymer coatings that, in addition to complying with food contact regulations, are aligned with the principles of the circular economy. These include formulations based on biopolymers such as PLA or PHA, as well as Sarai Pradas, Lead Researcher for Coatings, Adhesives and Converting at AIMPLAS Plastic and sustainability in packaging: an invisible ally in the circular economy
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