At K 2025 in Düsseldorf (October 8–15), Japanese specialty chemicals company Kuraray will highlight a suite of packaging solutions designed to align with tightening global sustainability regulations and circular economy goals. Of particular interest to businesses in the Middle East and Africa (MEA), these developments offer practical pathways to meet new recycling standards, reduce emissions, and improve material efficiency in food and medical packaging.
One of the key innovations on display will be Kuraray’s collaborative work with Dow and Niederwieser on recyclable vacuum pouches. These pouches use a polyethylene (PE)-rich structure combined with Kuraray’s EVAL™ EVOH to ensure oxygen barrier performance and recyclability. “By combining PE structures with our EVAL™ EVOH barrier technology, we enable full recyclability without compromising food protection,” said a Kuraray spokesperson. The design helps food packaging suppliers comply with the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), a model now influencing many emerging markets, including those in MEA.
Also featured are Kuraray’s ISCC PLUS-certified polyvinyl alcohol products—KURARAY POVAL™, EXCEVAL™, ELVANOL™, and MOWIFLEX™—which support compostable, water-soluble, and recyclable packaging solutions. These materials are used in multilayer packaging for food, medical applications, and cushioning foams. Their availability from certified plants adds traceability and credibility to sustainability claims, a growing requirement in MEA markets seeking to implement Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks.
Another highlight is PLANTIC™, a thermoplastic starch-based biopolymer that offers strong oxygen barrier properties. Available in both film and pellet form, PLANTIC™ enables high-barrier packaging that is also compostable, suitable for dry goods, and dispersible in water for easy repulping when used with paper.
On the medical side, Kuraray will present its elastomers SEPTON™ and HYBRAR™, used in medical films, tubes, and diaper components. These materials meet stringent hygiene standards and, in the case of HYBRAR™, offer a PVC-free alternative that supports recyclability and reduced emissions.
“Manufacturers face increasing expectations due to both regulatory pressure and environmental responsibility,” the spokesperson added. “Our aim is to support these transitions with materials that offer both compliance and functionality.”
With MEA markets actively seeking solutions that meet international export standards and domestic sustainability goals, Kuraray’s offerings at K 2025 underscore the critical role of materials science in shaping the future of packaging.