In the movement to create more eco-friendly packaging, brand owners are seeking additional assurances their suppliers are providing safe and sustainable solutions that meet both packaging and consumer demands. To exceed these expectations, Ahlstrom has announced that Cristal transparent packaging papers have met ChemFORWARD’s rigorous evaluation of human and environmental criteria for safer alternatives through the organisation’s SAFER programme.

Cristal transparent papers are ideal alternatives to non-renewable materials, from replacing a plastic or film in a package to creating a fully fibre-based end-use structure.

“The use of transparent paper in packaging enables the food and ecommerce industries to effectively convey a value of trust in customers’ minds,” explained Guillaume Latourrette, global vice president of food packaging for Ahlstrom. “The strong sustainable attributes Cristal® already addressed as a natural, compostable, and recyclable packaging solution are now amplified by achieving SAFER status.”

To be designated as SAFER, all chemicals intentionally added and present at or above 100 ppm have been disclosed and assessed by a qualified toxicology firm against ChemFORWARD’s comprehensive hazard methodology. The purpose of the program is to ensure human and environmental safety, to build trust throughout the supply chain with third-party verified transparency, and to help suppliers demonstrate leadership in chemical management.

This innovative technology has continued to evolve, and Cristal products, including both transparent papers and PurposeSeal heat seal packaging products, are certified recyclable passing the Western Michigan University SBS Equivalency (WMU SBS-E) testing protocol and have received 3^rd party certification from Centre technique du papier certifying Cristal’s heat-seal coating is recyclable to the European Union’s EN13430 standards.

“Recyclable packaging for the ecommerce and industrial packaging industries is absolutely necessary in order to create less waste-to-landfill and reduce our impact to the planet,” said Eva Thunholm, vice president of Ahlstrom’s protective materials business. “Achieving recyclability and compostability certification, in addition to this endorsement from ChemFORWARD’s SAFER programme, offers our customers and the marketplace yet another fibre-based solution to reduce traditional non-renewable substrates in packaging engineering.”

Cristal products offer replacement solutions for window packaging, sachets, bags, and more when a brand owner or packaging designer wishes to have their products in full view.