WHEYLAYER: Die Barriere-Beschichtung der Zukunft

Researchers have developed a new biomaterial made of whey protein, called Wheylayer, to replace expensive polymers such as ethyl vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), and used as barrier coatings in the food packaging sector. The whey protein-coating is biodegradable thus the resulting multilayer films offer a greatly improved recyclability. The whey coating has the potential to extend the shelf life of food either by the addition of active substances or due to its intrinsic antioxidant and antimicrobials compounds. Whey is a by-product of cheese manufacture that is available in abundance. Wheylayer solution deliver huge benefits and added value across the food packaging supply and value chains such as dairy producers will be able to tap into a new application for discarded whey. Plastic and packaging industries will have access to more sustainable and recyclable packaging materials to substitute petroleum-based plastics without compromising on performance. The material is ex pected to be available in the market in the near future.