ExxonMobil has collaborated with Kuraray, GAP, and G.Mondini to develop an ionomer-free vacuum skin packaging (VSP) solution aimed at reducing material costs and supply dependency while maintaining critical packaging performance for food applications.
The development forms part of the company’s recently launched ExxonMobil Signature Polymers portfolio, which consolidates ExxonMobil’s polyolefin products under a single brand platform focused on collaboration and portfolio integration across the polymers value chain.
Vacuum skin packaging structures have traditionally depended on ionomer-based materials due to their sealing, toughness, and optical properties. However, converters and packaging manufacturers have increasingly faced challenges linked to cost pressures and supply availability.
To address these concerns, ExxonMobil worked with Kuraray, Italy-based blown film extrusion specialist GAP, and food packaging equipment manufacturer G.Mondini to validate a high-performance alternative structure without ionomers.
The solution combines ExxonMobil’s Exceed™ performance polyethylene resins and ExxonMobil™ EVA with Kuraray’s EVAL™ EVOH barrier material. According to the companies, the structure was successfully processed on GAP’s blown film lines and validated on G.Mondini’s vacuum skin packaging systems, including both semi-automatic and automatic configurations as well as Multivac equipment platforms.
Key materials used in the structure include Exceed™ Flow+ m 0516 metallocene polyethylene for optical and sealing performance, Exceed™ Tough+ m 0512 metallocene polyethylene for forming characteristics, and ExxonMobil™ EVA 06519FL polymer to support tight forming around packaged products.
The companies stated that the resulting structure demonstrated strong puncture and tear resistance alongside enhanced visual presentation, achieving gloss levels of 81 and haze values of 7.5%. The ionomer-free structure is also intended to support efficient production while lowering raw material costs and reducing reliance on constrained specialty materials.