Ben Wang compiled reports: Market research shows that if vitamin E can be used for active food packaging to reduce the rate of high-fat food rot, it will play a role in packaging.
Ciba Specialty Chemicals is planning to use the Irganox E 201, an extract of vitamin E, in the food packaging market, which can extend the shelf life of high-fat foods such as cheese, butter and some cereals.
Some companies in Europe and the United States have already used Irganox E 201 in the packaging of plastic bottles, and it has been proved that Irganox E 201 can enhance the characteristics of plastics and let the plastic smell transfer to beverages after some time.
Dr. Florian Stricker, director of global polyolefin commercial area at Ciba Specialty Chemicals, said that even if Irganox E 201 can be successfully used in active packaging, it will not be used for commercial purposes in the next two or three years. Stricker explained that although vitamin E has been used as a natural ingredient in food, the review of its use in plastics will take a long time. He said that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration needs to test whether this additive will change the structure of plastic and thus affect food safety.
The advantage of adding vitamin E to a food package is to add it directly to food. The advantage is that the former does not need so much antioxidant because air oxidation only occurs outside the food. Vitamin E has better polymer properties and is cheaper than other natural ingredients (like vitamin C). This natural antioxidant is also more effective than synthetic antioxidants in avoiding affecting human sensory organs.
Irganox E 201 is two to three times more expensive than synthetic antioxidants, but it is more environmentally friendly. Only less ingredients are needed to produce the same or better results.
Irganox E 201 is the only product based on vitamin E that can be used in plastic films and bottles.
Editor's note:
Ciba's refinement, headquartered in Switzerland, is one of the world's finest chemical industry leaders and is committed to providing high value-added performance for customers' products. Ciba's fine chemical products, with only a small amount added, will enable the final product to deliver superior performance, beauty and durability. The success of the company's business depends on innovation and continuous improvement of long-term strategies. The company's business network covers more than 120 countries around the world, creating innovative new ideas for customers' production processes and products. Ciba Specialty Chemicals reported sales of 7.4 billion Swiss francs in 2001, of which more than 276 million Swiss francs were spent on research and development to encourage innovation.
Ciba Specialty Chemicals has five business units, including the Plastics Additives Division, the Coating Applications Division, the Textiles Dyeing Division, the Water Quality and Paper Processing Division, and the Home and Personal Care Division. It has been dedicated to serving various industries including plastics, inks, and coatings for many years. , textiles, imaging and printing, paper and packaging, automobiles, household and personal products, pollution control, and industrial and municipal government waste disposal, among others.
Ciba Specialty Chemicals produces a wide range of fine chemical products that can meet the needs of different industries and applications, allowing customers to fully display their four major products: Colors add color to plastics, paper, fabrics, metals, etc. Strong protection, strengthen product UV protection, fire prevention, anti-bacterial effect, protect people's lives; extraordinary features, improve process efficiency, enhance product performance; durable, help products to play heat, corrosion, wear and other functions.
Ciba's business expansion in the China region dates back to the end of the 19th century. In 1935, the company registered and established its first representative office in Shanghai. Based on the foundation laid for more than a hundred years, Ciba has become increasingly sophisticated and has established long-term relationships with customers. In 1997, the establishment of Ciba Specialty Chemicals (China) Co., Ltd. and Ciba Specialty Chemicals (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd. marked the determination of Ciba Specialty Chemicals to expand its business in China. Entering the second millennium, the company focused on expanding its business in Shanghai and moved the operating headquarters in China to Shanghai. This move allows Ciba to refine its products closer to the customer market and maintain close ties with customers, thus further consolidating the company's development in China.
The company has more than 860 employees in China, and offices and joint venture production plants are located in Beijing, Shanghai, Qingdao, Guangzhou, Panyu, Shenzhen and Xiangtan. Ciba Specialty Chemicals is committed to expanding its business in the China region, and through major technology transfer and capital investment, it will provide customers with better services. These investments are part of the company's overall investment, and in accordance with global standards of excellence, China's production facilities are developed to serve this growing market.