ExxonMobil has introduced a vacuum skin packaging material for food applications that does not use ionomer, as manufacturers look for ways to manage costs and reduce exposure to supply shortages.
Developed with Kuraray, GAP and G Mondini, the product aims to deal with material price pressures and supply chain issues that have affected conventional ionomer-based vacuum packaging.
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In a case study, the company said traditional ionomer packaging has been “easily impacted by ionomer material shortage, hence be expensive to produce.”
ExxonMobil said removing ionomer from the structure can lower production costs and reduce reliance on a constrained material.
The development comes alongside the company’s rollout of its ExxonMobil Signature Polymers portfolio brand, which brings its polyolefin products together under one portfolio.
For the new structure, ExxonMobil used Exceed performance polyethylene resins and ExxonMobil EVA while Kuraray supplied EVAL EVOH barrier material.
According to the company, the formulation contains three main resins: Exceed Flow+ m 0516 metallocene polyethylene for “excellent optical and mechanical properties with good sealing performance”, Exceed Tough+ m 0512 metallocene polyethylene for forming performance, and ExxonMobil EVA 06519FL polymer for “forming, ensuring a tight fit around the object”.
Italy-based blown film extrusion company GAP made the blown film, which was then tested on G Mondini’s vacuum skin packaging lines.
The material is said to have performed well on both semi-automatic and automatic systems, including Multivac equipment.
According to ExxonMobil, the ionomer-free material achieved an “outstanding gloss level of 81, and transparency (haze 7.5%)”, supporting product protection during distribution and shelf appearance.
The material retains key characteristics such as seal integrity, tear and puncture resistance, optical clarity and barrier performance.
