Water-soluble packaging: only soluble in water, insoluble in oil

A dual-format, water-soluble film is packaged individually and packaged together with dry powder and oil.
This product quickly and completely dissolves in the dishwasher. Consumers not only appreciate the performance of the product, but also feel that the process is simple and interesting.

Water-soluble pouches are often used to package powdered or dried products, and products and packages are fully soluble in water or other liquids for ease of use. However, Cincinnati's Procter & Gamble Company has successfully found a water-soluble package that can both contain concentrated dry cleaners and liquid degreasers. The Cascade brand ActionPacs 2-in-1 package is an example of an application.

This two-in-one bag, launched in August 2003, is a double lattice pouch that is currently used to package automatic dishwasher detergents. The raw material of the packaging bag is a water-soluble rolled film produced by MonoSol LLC (). The film wrap is soluble in cold water and is equipped with a powdered Cascade automatic dishwasher detergent and a blue liquid Dawn degreasing agent in two separate bags. The single-use, individual package allows consumers to conveniently Use a variety of products.

The product's outer packaging is a green stand-up pouch made of polyethylene/linear low-density laminated polyethylene with 20 individual packages. The upright bag is equipped with a substrate, a zipper-type re-seal at the opening, and a transparent window at the front, which can well display the inner bag, making the product stand out on the shelf. Procter & Gamble says that replacing large, bulky cans or boxes with small, lightweight, upright soft bags can help maximize shelf space.

The inner film bag of the automatic dishwasher detergent is soluble in cold water, and the powder detergent and the liquid degreasing agent are separately packaged in a single use dose, which is easy to use and can simultaneously reflect the benefits of both. The existing water soluble film technology has taken another step towards packaging powder and liquid together.

MonoSol offers roll-to-roll film for packaging. This is a custom-made film based on a copolymer of DuPont's Elvanol® ant (PVOH) and MonoSol M-8630, which was improved to achieve Procter & Gamble and Kosher Certification. The request.

Specifically, water-soluble biodegradable packaging can hold powders and liquids at the same time without being dissolved by the interior products, which is the main reason for the award of ActionPac product packaging. Procter & Gamble only disclosed that the ActionPac dual-mode product was produced in an undisclosed US factory and used MonoSol water-soluble film for production on a horizontal molding/filling/sealing machine using standard sealing technology. The specific process is still a mystery.

MonoSol Corporation called its process for producing ActionPacs two-in-one film materials as a solution-casting process. The package is completely transparent and white powder cleaners and bright blue liquid degreasing agents can be seen, increasing the appeal of the product in sales. As soon as the dishwasher starts the cleaning process, the detergent and degreasing agent begin to dissolve.

In this product, the technology has gone one step further in terms of the application of the film in such packaging. Christian Rath, MonoSol's new business development manager, revealed that the company was invited several years ago to study the packaging of water-soluble films that can contain liquids. Now, a number of products have been successfully used for the packaging of liquids such as homes, dishes, and laundry detergents. Products that are packaged in water-soluble films include agrochemicals and some industrial chemicals, but those products are packaged in a single form. He said: "The ActionPacs 2-in-1 package can be used in both powder and liquid form. Our Ariel Liquitabs product sold in Europe provides us with MonoSol water-soluble film experience. We use this experience to develop the water-soluble film of this product. ”

Rath said that the main problems to be solved during R&D include ensuring the chemical compatibility of the product and the use value of the packaging. In addition, it is necessary to solve the problems that may occur due to changes in temperature and humidity during the storage and transportation of film packaging. stability.

Procter & Gamble also stated that the biggest challenge in this application is to ensure the compatibility of the water-soluble film and the interior of the two products because the composition of the powder and liquid products is quite different. Denise Savas, deputy director of research and development at Procter & Gamble, said: “MonoSol has the ability to meet this challenge. For us, every factor in the film, such as solubility, compatibility, machinability, mechanical properties and cost, is important. MonoSol Corporation The film meets our standards and meets the commercial and technical needs of our ActionPacs products.”

Savas said Cascade's two-in-one ActionPacs product has achieved significant success in the market, and now there is a great demand for this product. She said: “With ActionPacs, there is no need to unpack and the product dissolves quickly and thoroughly in the dishwasher. Customers not only appreciate the performance of the product, but also say it is easy to use and interesting. We have the #1 brand of automatic dishwashing detergent in the North American market. It is also continuously innovating to provide products with new advantages like ActionPacs. If products can arouse consumers' interest, they are willing to give it a try - this is the reason why such products need continuous innovation."

MonoSol's customers can use the company's internal product compatibility testing services and work with thin-film processing companies to be confident that they will be able to obtain film pouches that dissolve completely without leaving any residue.