Coordinated by the company QUIMOVIL, the AQUAFLEX project will allow the development of a new generation of more sustainable water-based inks for the food packaging sector. The new flexographic inks will allow a reduction of VOC emissions by 90-95 % to a competitive cost. The company QUIMOVIL and AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre, have begun a project funded by the Ministry of Economics through the programme Retos Colaboración to allow the development of new printing water-based laminable flexographic inks for the flexible packaging industry that will allow a reduction of VOC emissions. Currently, a high percentage of flexible food packaging is manufactured by using solvent-based inks, due to the high quality and productivity needs in the printing and lamination processes. This kind of components have a number of drawbacks, such as the VOC emission into the atmosphere, security risks due to the flammability of inks and varnishes, as well as the high investment and maintenance costs to recover solvents during printing. Through the development of the AQUAFLEX project, coordinated by QUIMOVIL, it is expected to get a new formulation of laminable water-based flexographic inks with the same printing and laminating quality properties as solvent-based inks. The new product will allow a reduction of VOC emissions by 90-95 % at a competitive cost. For that purpose, some of the challenges of this project involve improving the print speeds of water-based inks and reducing their energy consumption in the drying process. AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre, is located in Valencia, Spain and recorded at the Register of Technological Centres of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. The institute is member of FEDIT (Spanish Federation of Innovation and Technology Entities) and REDIT (Network of Technological Institutes of the Valencia Region). AIMPLAS is a non-profit research association with the objective of operating as a technological partner for enterprises from the plastics industry and thus offering them integral and customized solutions by coordinating research, development and innovation projects as well as technological services (analysis and testing, technical assistance, training as well as competitive and strategic intelligence).

www.aimplas.net

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FDF, in partnership with the UK Flavour Association, is launching new a UK guidance on pictorial representation relating to flavourings and ingredients that deliver flavour.
The free resource provides food businesses with advice on what to consider when declaring a pictorial representation of a food ingredient on the label of a pre-packed product. The guidance addresses the different components of a product that can deliver flavour, be it flavourings or ingredients, and how, being used in combination or individually, companies can substantiate the use of a pictorial of a certain food ingredient. Three comprehensive worked examples of how the principles apply to different foodstuffs are also included in the guidance.
The aim of the guidance is to maintain industry labelling practices relating to the concept of ‘wholly and mainly’ for the substantiation of a food ingredient depiction. Such practices were based on the UK Food Labelling Regulation 1996, which were superseded by the EU Food Information to Consumers Regulation (No. 1169/2011).
Sarah Church, Director, Food and Farming, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said:
“The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs commends the Food and Drink Federation and its supporting partner the UK Flavour Association for their work to provide industry guidance about pictorial representations on food labels. It is important that the approach is consistent to maintain current industry practices where these are in accordance with the law. This approach enables consumers to be fully informed and to prevent them being misled about the composition of the food they buy.”
Helen Munday, Chief Scientific Officer, Food and Drink Federation, said:
“Flavour is an incredibly important attribute of food and drink, but it is essential that manufacturers represent this very consumer-relevant aspect of their food in the right way. This practical, but at the same time detailed and technical guide will help manufacturers graphically describe flavours to agreed guidelines.”
Madeleine Jones, Head of Regulatory, Allied Technical Centre and Deputy Chair of FDF Food Law & Labelling Committee, said:
“This guidance was born out of a need to defend the current approved labelling practices that ensure consumers are not misled when ingredients are illustrated on a product. European guidance on depiction was being discussed and some Member States wanted to impose practices that are considered misleading in the UK such as allowing ‘stylized’ depiction when an ingredient is not present. The principles within the guidance have been successfully defended by Defra as the UK position. The worked examples were added to guide businesses stepwise through the points that need to be considered before an ingredient is depicted and should be particularly helpful to smaller businesses.”
Julie Young, Secretariat, UK Flavour Association, said:
“The UK Flavour Association is pleased to see the publication of this document which we hope will provide best practice guidance to our customers in the food industry with regard to correct product labelling. UK Flavour Association members are happy to provide further clarification to their customers on such matters. Our members can be viewed on our website”

Food and Drink Federationhttp://tinyurl.com/lwykpft