Label can cover is biodegradable

US-based Advercan said their new cellulose cover will work for beverage can top labeling with certain proprietary film combinations. Can covers are used to protect the drinking top of a can from contamination and water.

The biodegradable and waterproof can cover provides beverage makers with a way of meeting recycling regulations. Over the past five years packaging suppliers have been introducing various forms of biodegradable plastics made from a variety of plants, in the main corn, based on projections that consumers and recycling regulations will drive demand for environmentally-friendly packaging . Some companies are predicting that the market will grow by about 20 per cent a year.

The biodegradable can cover has been through pressure sensitive labeling and induction and conduction sealing. A biodegradable sealing material for the cover can be applied to both aluminum beverage cans, and yogurt cups, said Kenny McClintock, Advercan's inventor and team leader.

"I noticed certain films reacted well after bonding them with a basic sheet laminator," he said. "Only this one material combination worked as a commercially feasible option when tested on the world's first working prototype conduction sealer machine."

Beverage makers can apply printing to the can cover. Advercan said it is in talks with Innovia, 3M, and Alcan to work out how to mass produce the covers.

IWKA PT, and Krones claim they can reach line speeds with can top labeling.

"This new label could deliver RFID, charity messaging, gaming, co-promotions, POS, impulse buying, coupons, scratch off, scent, taste, and retailer branding, all whilst introducing a hygienic seal for beverage cans for their customer's clean can top concerns," the company stated.

As part of a bid to introduce the new cover Advercan is offering to pay for the first couple machines installed on beverage lines. Packaging Technologies plans to adapt its existing high speed system by the third quarter of 2007.

This month Clean Mean Energy said it introduced an energy drink with Advercan's new Clean Cap can-top-label. The 16oz can is also wrapped with ITW's method of sleeving aluminum containers.