Plasma coating for more sustainable plastic packaging
At Emballator, we’re always looking for practical ways to improve packaging performance while reducing environmental impact. Plasma coating is one of the technologies helping us move in that direction. It strengthens our products, supports circular material flows and prepares our customers for future recycling requirements.
What is plasma coating?
Plasma coating adds an extremely thin layer on the inside of a plastic container. The layer is measured in nanometres and is created in a vacuum by exposing gas to electrical discharge. This forms a protective surface that improves chemical resistance without changing the properties of the plastic.
This gives the container better durability and helps it withstand substances such as solvents and alkylate gasoline. It also supports longer product life in daily use. It adds durability, enhances product performance and helps extend the container’s useful life.
A simpler path to recyclability
Conventional multi layer packaging can be difficult to recycle because it combines several materials. Plasma coating solves this by creating the same level of barrier protection in a mono layer solution that is fully recyclable.
It also means we can manufacture canisters with recycled plastic, while still meeting recycling requirements. Our plasma coated 5 litre canister already holds UN approval, and more sizes are under development.
Benefits for both production and use
Plasma coating offers several practical advantages:
- Improved durability: The coating protects against wear and corrosion more effectively than traditional methods.
- Smoother production: It can be applied quickly and consistently, supporting stable quality and enabling clean, easy labelling.
- Flexible application: The technology can be adapted to different container sizes and needs. At Emballator Europak in Finland, we use microwave radiation to coat bottles and canisters from 250 ml up to 30 litres.
Ready for future requirements
With the upcoming PPWR regulations setting clearer expectations for plastic recycling, solutions like plasma coating play an important role. We have already integrated the technology into several production lines, ensuring our canisters are tested, reliable and ready for the next generation of sustainability standards.
Plasma coating is one of the ways we combine material knowledge, innovation and long term thinking to support our customers with dependable, future fit packaging.
If you would like to discuss how this technology can support your products, you are welcome to contact us.
