PRESS RELEASE, MUNKSJÖ OYJ, 23 February 2017 at 09.45 AM CET
Helsinki, Finland
Munksjö launches Gerstar Mo, a barrier paper to prevent mineral oil migration into food
Munksjö, a world-leading manufacturer of advanced papers products, launches Gerstar[TM] Mo, a specialty paper developed for packaging applications to protect food from potential contamination by mineral oils. This barrier paper will enable converters and brand owners to develop sustainable packaging made of renewable materials offering maximum consumer food safety.
Made from virgin fibres and suitable for direct food contact, Gerstar[TM] Mo provides primary packaging with an excellent mineral oil (MOSH-MOAH*) barrier. It also prevents cross contamination coming from secondary packaging. Gerstar[TM] Mo is available in 50 g/m[2] and over. Printable in helio and flexo, this barrier paper delivers top quality printing results and perfectly supports any brand messages. Suitable for lamination, extrusion/coating, varnishing and hot & cold seal, Gerstar[TM] Mo is recommended for bags, sachets, pouches and wrappers. Its primary use is for dry food flexible packaging such as biscuits, crisp bread or dehydrated foods. Gerstar[TM] Mo is a one-side coated paper manufactured at the Munksjö Stenay site in France.
“The food packaging industry is particularly attentive to consumer safety and direct food contact. The market has to meet the increasing health and safety expectations while maintaining high standards of performance. Advances in paper innovation, such as this new mineral oil barrier paper, will help the market move forward sustainably,” says Alexandra Venot, Vice President, Flexible Packaging Business Unit.
“When developing food packaging, brand owners must find the right balance between functionality, shelf-appeal and sustainability. At Munksjö, we develop paper-based solutions that offer the required physical protection and converting abilities. Depending on the end-use, paper should also provide the appropriate barrier or combination of barriers for perfect shelf-life, such as grease, moisture, aromas or oxygen to name a few. Munksjö is continuously working on pushing the technical limits of natural fibres to meet these challenges,” explains Alexandra Venot.
The site in Stenay has approximately 220 employees and is part of the Graphics and Packaging Business Area. This production site manufactures one-side coated papers for food and non-food flexible packaging, wet-glue or self-adhesive labels, metallizing, release liners and other industrial applications. The site is certified according to ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004, OHSAS 18001:2007, FSC® and PEFC™ Chain-of-Custody.
* MOSH-MOAH: Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons - Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Munksjö Oyj
Alexandra Venot, Vice President, Flexible Packaging, tel. +33 (0)1 4974 4963 alexandra.venot@munksjo.com
Made by Munksjö – Intelligent paper technology
Munksjö is a world-leading manufacturer of advanced paper products developed with intelligent paper technology. Munksjö offers customer-specific innovative design and functionality in areas ranging from flooring, kitchens and furnishings to release papers, consumer-friendly packaging and energy transmission. The transition to a sustainable society is a natural driving force for Munksjö's growth as the products can replace non-renewable materials. This is what "Made by Munksjö" stands for. Given Munksjö's global presence and way of integrating with the customers, the company forms a worldwide service organisation with approximately 2,900 employees and 15 facilities located in France, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil and China. Munksjö's share is listed on Nasdaq in Helsinki and Stockholm. Read more at www.munksjo.com.