In the food packaging industry, materials that combine high performance with versatility are essential for protecting food, extending shelf life, and meeting consumer expectations. One such material, EVOH (ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer), is increasingly recognized as a superior barrier material that helps safeguard product quality while allowing for innovative packaging design. Here, we explore the top attributes of EVOH and why it’s become an indispensable component in modern food packaging.
EVOH, or ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, is a high-performance material widely used in food packaging for its exceptional oxygen and gas barrier properties. By creating a protective shield against oxygen, EVOH helps preserve the freshness, flavor, and nutritional quality of packaged foods, which is crucial for extending shelf life and minimizing spoilage. Its unique structure combines the flexibility of traditional plastics with the advanced barrier qualities typically found in more rigid materials. This combination makes EVOH an ideal choice for various packaging formats, including flexible pouches, rigid containers, and vacuum-sealed wraps, allowing it to meet the diverse needs of today’s food industry.
Continue reading to learn more about the benefits of EVOH in food packaging:
- Superior Barrier Properties
EVOH’s standout attribute is its remarkable barrier against gases, especially oxygen, which is critical in maintaining food freshness and quality. Oxygen exposure is one of the main culprits of food spoilage. EVOH’s high resistance to oxygen permeation prevents oxidation, which helps foods retain their original taste, color, and nutritional value for longer periods.
The use of EVOH in food packaging also protects food from external odors, while keeping the food's natural aroma intact. This ensures that flavors are preserved and taste profiles remain unchanged, which is especially important for aromatic products like coffee, spices, and specialty foods.
While EVOH offers an excellent oxygen barrier, one of the primary difficulties with the material is its sensitivity to moisture; when exposed to high humidity, its barrier properties can weaken, reducing its effectiveness in preserving food. This limitation often necessitates the use of multi-layered packaging structures, where EVOH is sandwiched between other moisture-resistant materials, increasing production complexity and costs.
- Enhanced Shelf Life
In today’s global food supply chain, longer shelf life is essential for reducing food waste, enhancing food safety, and supporting logistical demands.
EVOH’s barrier properties make it a perfect choice for packaging perishable foods such as meats, dairy products, and ready-to-eat meals. Use of packaging with EVOH is ideal for products that require long-term storage or transportation across long distances. It maintains its protective properties, preventing spoilage even in challenging storage conditions. By extending shelf life, EVOH helps food manufacturers, retailers, and consumers reduce waste and save costs.
-
Transparency and Clarity
Unlike some other high-barrier materials, EVOH is naturally transparent, which is a major advantage for food packaging that prioritizes product visibility. When used with another clear packaging material, such as PET or a clear polypropylene, EVOH’s transparency allows consumers to see the product inside the packaging, which can build trust and influence buying decisions. Clear packaging is especially valuable in fresh produce, meats, and ready-to-eat meals, where consumers prefer a visible product.
- Versatility Across Packaging Types
EVOH’s adaptability to various types of packaging makes it suitable for a wide range of food products, from flexible to rigid packaging.
EVOH can be used in both rigid containers, such as trays and cups, and flexible formats like pouches, films, and wraps. This versatility enables manufacturers to create innovative packaging solutions tailored to different food types.
Structures containing EVOH, when used with another material with a high heat tolerance such as PP, can also offer compatibility with applications that involve heating processes, such as retort packaging, which involves cooking food in its packaging to achieve sterility. EVOH’s durability and heat resistance make it a preferred material for these high-temperature processes.
Despite the versatility of EVOH in food packaging, one downside is that it can be more costly than some traditional barrier materials, which may impact overall production expenses, especially for manufacturers aiming to balance high-performance packaging with budget constraints.
- Compatibility with Sustainability Initiatives
With growing awareness of environmental issues, EVOH’s offers compatibility with certain recyclable materials, including polypropylene and polyethylene. This means that use of EVOH in multi-layer packaging structures with PE or PP as the base polymer will continue to be recyclable. In comparison, use of EVOH in a PET material structure would render the packaging non-recyclable. Therefore, it is essential to follow design for recyclability guidelines when designing packaging with EVOH to ensure that it is not detrimental to the recyclability of the packaging.
In addition, because EVOH provides such an effective barrier, only a thin layer is required to achieve maximum performance. This efficiency reduces the amount of material used, resulting in lighter packaging that consumes fewer resources and generates less waste.
- Resistance to Chemical and UV Exposure
Another advantage of EVOH in food packaging is its resistance to chemicals and UV light, which contributes to food safety and stability. Exposure to UV light can degrade food products, leading to discoloration, vitamin loss, and off-flavors. EVOH, when combined with UV-blocking layers, helps prevent these effects, ensuring the food remains appealing and nutritious.
In addition, EVOH offers resistance to certain chemicals and solvents, which is valuable for packaging acidic or volatile foods. This resistance prevents chemical reactions between the packaging and the food, protecting the food from contamination.
- Temperature Stability for Diverse Storage Conditions
EVOH’s stability across a range of temperatures makes it suitable for both refrigeration and freezing, which are common in food storage.
- Freezer-Friendly: EVOH’s barrier properties remain effective even in freezing conditions, which is beneficial for products like frozen foods that require long-term storage without sacrificing quality.
- High-Temperature Applications: EVOH is also suited for high-heat processes, such as hot-fill packaging and microwaving. This resilience makes it ideal for a variety of food packaging applications that need to withstand temperature fluctuations.
EVOH’s unique combination of oxygen barrier properties, transparency, recyclability, and versatility across packaging formats make it one of the most effective materials used in food packaging.
As the food packaging industry continues to innovate and global demands on the food supply chain increase, EVOH stands out as a material that not only preserves food quality and extends shelf life but also aligns with sustainable practices and consumer preferences. For manufacturers and brands looking to deliver high-quality products with a longer shelf life and minimal environmental impact, EVOH provides an outstanding solution that’s both efficient and effective.
Ready to elevate your packaging with EVOH? Contact us today to explore sustainable and innovative solutions tailored to your brand’s needs.
