Varinia Lück
Head of Technical Center
Multi-Layer Technology in EBM
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Session 2B - PFAs Solutions
10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
(see full conference schedule)
Presentation Description:
PFAS are extremely durable and spread rapidly across the globe, especially in water. Livestock food origin are carriers of PFAS because animals ingested the substances. PFAS can also be found in other foods through the water they contain and their packaging. From February 2023 on, the placing on the market, production, and the use of perfluorinated carboxylic acids with nine to fourteen carbon is restricted in the EU. More restrictions are planned both in the USA and the EU. Many coatings for plastic hollow bodies on the market contain fluorine and with it the risk of PFAS being formed and migrating into the product.
The Multi-Layer technology allows the production of EBM packaging with EVOH or PA barrier layers. The resulting barrier layer is PFAS-free. During this presentation, the Multi-Layer Technologies CoEx4 to CoEx6, advantages, disadvantages, and their field of use will be explained. Test results from oxygen barrier and chemical resistance for 1-Layer, CoEx4, and CoEx6 will be presented and compared to the results of 1-Layer bottles with a barrier coating. Also, available information regarding energy consumption for the multi-layer bottles will be described. Finally, the recyclability in theory and praxis of multi-layer containers will be discussed.
Speaker Biography:
Varinia is a dedicated and accomplished professional in the field of chemical engineering and product development. With a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from the prestigious Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, and a Master's in Product Development from the University of Oulu in Finland, our speaker has a strong academic background in the field.
During her academic career, she participated in exchange programs at Tennessee Technological University and RWTH Aachen University in Germany, which gave her a broader perspective on international research and development.
Her active career in packaging began with an internship at Colgate-Palmolive, where she developed a keen interest in packaging technology. Her Master's thesis, which focused on the use of silicone rubbers for making hollow bodies using extrusion blow molding, demonstrated her expertise in the field.
After completing her studies, she continued to hone her skills in the packaging industry by doing an internship in process engineering for A. Schulman (now Lyondellbasell). Her experience at A. Schulman allowed her to gain invaluable insights into the industry's inner workings and how packaging materials are processed.
Varinia then joined W. Müller GmbH, a leading manufacturer of packaging machinery, where she currently serves as the head of the technology center. She is responsible for research and development, with a particular focus on circularity (using recycled materials and biomaterials), barrier technologies, color change, and foaming.
Throughout her career, she has been committed to advancing the packaging industry's sustainability and efficiency. She has been an advocate for environmentally friendly practices and has worked on numerous projects aimed at reducing the environmental impact of packaging.
Her extensive experience and knowledge in the packaging industry make her a valuable addition to any discussion related to packaging technology and development. She is an engaging and knowledgeable speaker who is passionate about the industry and the role it plays in shaping the future of sustainable packaging.
