Sarah Eckersley, global research and development director, performance packaging, for the company tells Rod Addy, editor of FoodProductionDaily.com at trade show Pack Expo 2012 in Chicago: "One of the things that we see is a move into flexible packaging and this is on a global basis.
"People are beginning to deselect glass and metal packaging ... This is true in North America, but even more in other parts of the globe."
Flexible packaging, such as food pouches, was "more environmentally sustainable, but also more cost effective", she says.
In the same interview, Scott Collick, director, North America performance packaging, technical service and development department, shares the new launches Dow was promoting at Pack Expo.
Adcote L 76-185/CR 811B is a new solvent-based adhesive specifically designed for high-temperature laminate use, including retort applications. It has been created to help improve the performance of various packaging applications including coffee and liquid packaging, as well as cable wraps.
The adhesive has full Food & Drug Administration compositional compliance for laminates used at temperatures of 250°F and above, 120 °F to 250°F and up to 120°F, Dow Chemical says.
Another launch cited by Collick was Agility Processing Accelerators, a family of low density polyethylene resins aimed at improving the processing of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)-rich blends and increasing output on blown and cast film lines.
And Dow Chemical introduced two new additions to its Dowlex LLDPE portfolio offer improved processing and five to 10 percent higher blown film line output.