Latin America. Kemira and Jain Chem, a manufacturing provider of custom chemical solutions, announce their ongoing partnership to develop and commercialize aqueous barrier coatings for recyclable paper and board products in the Americas region.
The partnership focuses on barrier solutions that create resistance to moisture, oil and grease primarily for foodservice packaging.
The solutions help replace polyethylene (PE) and harmful perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) commonly used in paper and cardboard end-use applications such as cup paper, gift paper and folding carton packages that are microwave safe, oven and frozen food safe.
Jain Chem's barrier technology is based on recycled raw materials and enables recyclable and repulpable end products.
By partnering, the companies leverage Kemira's significant expertise in the pulp and paper industry and Jain Chem's broad portfolio of chemical solutions to develop next-generation barrier coatings for changing customer needs.
The aqueous barrier coatings market is expected to grow rapidly in the Americas, as brand owners and consumers increasingly demand more sustainable packaging applications.
Working together with Jain Chem, Kemira expands its barrier offering in the region and builds capacity to meet the need to improve the recycling properties of existing paper and board packaging and develop new fiber-based products as alternatives to single-use plastics.
"By further developing this partnership, we are able to supply our existing customers, paper and board manufacturers, as well as converters in the packaging value chain, with a variety of innovative barrier solutions," said Jim Rettinger, interim senior vice president commercial for Kemira's Pulp and Paper division for the Americas.
"Together we can provide the technical resources and product technology that enable our customers to develop and launch new products for their customers, while supporting their sustainability goals," added Rettinger.
Manoj Jain, CEO of Jain Chem, said: "Jain Chem is pleased to partner with Kemira to achieve our mutual goals of enhancing value for our customers and their customers, while making a dramatic and positive impact on packaging circularity and sustainability."
