Smart Planet Technologies™ is an innovative materials engineering and intellectual property company that focuses on developing composite materials for a broad range of paper-based packaging applications. These include rigid, flexible, corrugated, and label packaging.
Our EarthCoating® technology is commercially available and outperforms traditional plastic coatings in terms of cost, performance, and environmental sustainability.
Unlike 100% plastic-coated paper and other paperboard barrier packaging, which poses challenges for recyclers when processed through their equipment, EarthCoating® packaging is engineered to use 40-51% less plastic and be more easily pulped into recycled paper using conventional paper recycling equipment.
EarthCoating® technology relies on a unique combination of natural minerals and resins that provides superior barrier, heat seal, and printing properties when compared to traditional plastic coatings. Furthermore, EarthCoating® offers cost advantages over PLA and other bio-resin-based alternatives.
EarthCoating® is a highly-mineralized polyolefin/ CaC03 (Calcium Carbonate) barrier coating that offers significant benefits compared to traditional plastic coatings in terms of environmental sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and performance. It is an ideal solution for various types of paperboard barrier and high-quality print packaging applications.
Compared to 100% plastic coatings, some of the benefits of EarthCoating® include:
Traditional plastic coatings on mixed grade paper packaging can make it difficult to recycle, while EarthCoating® enables easy recycling with conventional equipment.
EarthCoating® is designed to fragment into small particles that can be easily removed during recycling, making it a more sustainable alternative to traditional plastic coatings.
By using EarthCoating®, mixed grade paper packaging can be recycled more efficiently, reducing waste and promoting a circular economy.
Recycling paperboards saves energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Recovering 700,000 tons of paper from recycling the 58 billion paper cups buried in US landfills would yield energy savings equivalent to removing almost 250,000 cars from our roads.
Every ton of paper recycled can save the energy equivalent of 165 gallons of gasoline, resulting in significant energy savings when paper is diverted from landfills and recycled.
EarthCoating® offers superior barrier performance compared to traditional plastic coatings. This allows for a reduction in coat weights, resulting in source reduction and potential cost savings.
By switching from traditional plastic coatings to EarthCoating®, a plastic reduction of 40-51% can be achieved immediately. In addition, the use of mineralized resin coating provides exceptional barrier performance at even lower coat weights, which can result in further source reduction.
Overall, EarthCoating® provides a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional plastic coatings.
EarthCoating® offers superior performance in multiple areas. Its minerals create a tortuous path for moisture, resulting in better moisture vapor transmission rates. Additionally, mineralized resins provide better heat seal performance and fiber tear.
EarthCoating® also offers a high-quality print surface, complete with a post-corona dyne level of 46, making it ideal for high-quality graphics using various printing techniques.
Furthermore, its high surface energy provides enhanced adhesion capabilities, making it a versatile and efficient coating option for a range of application
Calcium Carbonate, a common mineral compound found in rocks, and polyolefin resin, predominantly Polyethylene, are blended together to create a compound called EarthCoating®. This innovative blend allows for extrusion coating onto a variety of papers and paperboards at high commercial line speeds using conventional equipment, without requiring additional capital investment.
EC-40: 40% Calcium Carbonate / 60% LDPE – ideal for coffee cups, folding cartons, food trays, etc.
EC-51: 51% Calcium Carbonate / 49% LDPE – ideal for coffee cups, folding cartons, food trays, etc.
EC-PP: 40% Calcium Carbonate / 60% Polypropylene – ideal for microwave conditions
EC-Hyper: Custom blend of HDPE, LDPE & Calcium Carbonate
EC-COEX-EU: 43% Calcium Carbonate / 57% LDPE – ideal for coffee cups, folding cartons, food trays, etc. to be used throughout Europe.
EC-WHITE: Various blends of pigmented EarthCoating® are available upon request
Paper cups made with EarthCoating® have been awarded a AAA (>95% rating) rating for recyclability by Der Grune Punkt (Green Dot), indicating that they are highly recyclable and demonstrating that they are an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional poly-coated paper cups.
Unlike typical poly-coated paper cups, which are classified as waste stream Path 11 (laminated papers) and often end up in landfills, cups made with EarthCoating® can be recycled and qualify for waste stream Path 13 (cardboard, paper). This means that they can be more easily and efficiently processed by recycling facilities, reducing the environmental impact of paper cup waste.
Certificate # (2062-2018-000293)
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