The Mitsubishi Chemical Group (the MCG Group) 's BVE8049P, a major grade of Nichigo G-Polymer has been certified as a recyclable material by Institute cyclos-HTP GmbH (cyclos-HTP), an institution for the evaluation and optimization of packaging with regard to its recyclability.
Nichigo G-Polymer is a biodegradable vinyl alcohol-based resin with excellent water solubility, gas barrier properties and melt formability. It is used as a barrier material that can be dissolved in water and coated on films. These properties are put to good use in barrier packaging materials for dry food and biodegradable barrier packaging materials in combination with biodegradable resins, like bio-polyesters etc. The demand of packaging materials is growing, especially in Europe, because it helps to reduce food loss by prolonging the flavor and quality of foods. At the same time, the EU Commission has set the target that all packaging on the EU market should be recyclable in an economically viable way by 2030. Consequently, there is a rising need for barrier materials that do not affect the circular use of resins such as polyethylene, which is widely used as a packaging material.
The evaluation of cyclos-HTP showed that polyethylene-based multilayer packaging materials can be recycled if the content of Nichigo G-Polymer BVE8049P is 5wt% or less. In the general view, PVOH was also classified as an unsuitable material for recycling in multilayer polyethylene packaging materials. The certification demonstrates that Nichigo G-Polymer, also known as BVOH, is a barrier material with excellent recyclability properties, unlike conventional PVOH, and confirms that it is a material that contributes to the reduction of food loss and recycling and hence contributes to promotes resource savings over the whole life cycle of a packaging.
To meet rising demand, the MCG Group plans to commission a new plant for PVOH specialties such brands as Nichigo G-Polymer (BVOH) at its Okayama Plant (Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture) in October 2024 and increase production capacity to around twice the current level.
Through the development of Nichigo G-Polymer, the MCG Group will continue supplying high value-added functional products and contributing to the realization of a sustainable society.
Nichigo G-Polymer product website: https://www.g-polymer.com/eng/
About cyclos HTP GmbH
The cyclos-HTP Institute was founded in 2014 as a company for the classification, assessment and testing of the recyclability of packaging and goods as well as research and development and is the leading institution in Europe for the assessment and optimization of packaging with regard to its recyclability. Based on the profound expert knowledge of the experts and process engineers at HTP and CHI, the first ever recognized, scientifically sound, standard-compliant and practicable standard for certification was developed back in 2011 and has since been perfected in many thousands of applications.
About the Mitsubishi Chemical Group
Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corporation (TSE: 4188) is a specialty materials provider with an unwavering commitment to lead with innovative solutions to achieve KAITEKI, the well-being of people and the planet. We bring deep expertise and material science leadership in core market segments such as mobility, digital, food, and medical. In this way, we enable industry transformation, technology breakthroughs, and longer, more fruitful lives for us all. Together, around 70,000 employees worldwide provide advanced chemistry-based solutions to deliver the core elements of our slogan - 'Science.
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MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL GROUP CORPORATION 
