AUSTRALIA – German developer of specialty paper for the packaging, Koehler Paper has provided its NexPlus packaging solution to support Australian tea brand Madura Tea’s efforts to transition to more sustainable packaging.

The new packaging has been developed in collaboration with Germany-based Gundlach Packaging Group.

As part of this latest effort, the tea producer has replaced all its metalized oriented polypropylene-made packaging with flexible packaging paper. The company selected Koehler NexPlus Seal Pure MOB 72 gsm, which has a mineral oil barrier and offers protection against MOSH/MOAH.

Having undergone several tests, the products are now available on the Australian market. The NexPlus range, according to Koehler, comprises 100% certified virgin fiber pulp.

It is also heat-sealable and comes with various strength properties, which makes the range an ideal solution for any further processing requirements across all the market’s commercially available packaging machines.

Koehler’s sales manager for Flexible Packaging Papers Yevgen Zolotkovski said: “Koehler NexPlus Seal Pure MOB, which is made from 100% virgin fiber pulp and is, therefore, suitable for contact with food, impressed everyone involved thanks to its outstanding barrier properties.”

The NexPlus range features a mineral oil barrier, which ensures that the products inside are protected from chemical compounds such as mineral oil-saturated hydrocarbons and mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons.

Gundlach’s senior sales manager Rüdiger Brinkmann said: “Although it’s an uncoated paper, the printing results are excellent and highlight the new environmentally friendly concept.”

The NexFlex product family also includes papers coated on one side with “good dimensional stability” and “high smoothness” (Koehler NexCoat), as well as uncoated paper with a natural appearance (Koehler Nex-Pure).

The company points out that various flexible packaging papers from Koehler Paper were awarded a score of 19 out of a possible 20 points by the environmental service provider Interseroh, along with the “Made for Recycling” seal.

Madura’s engineering/technology lead Carsten Loemker added: “Madura Tea has made the right decision in demonstrating its environmental responsibility by using recyclable materials from sustainable sources.”

Meanwhile, in May this year, the German company launched its NexPure OGR paper packaging with low grammage and high oil and grease resistance for fries, sandwiches, wraps, burritos, and other fast foods.

Koehler NextPure OGR has a grammage of 38 gsm and reportedly utilizes natural raw materials for its barrier functions; its grease resistance is said to reach KIT Level 7.

The fiber material is sourced exclusively from certified sustainable forestry and controlled sources, and the resultant paper is free of fluorochemicals.

Said to offer product protection and ‘excellent’ processing properties, the paper was designed to meet consumer demand for more sustainable packaging in the fast-food sector.

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