By Natalie Craig, Products Editor

Plastic Suppliers, Inc. (PSI) launched EarthFirst® UL, an ultra-thin, bio-based sealant web used for flexible packaging applications. This game-changing material lowers the cost of sealant films used in flexible packaging, while offering all the environmental advantages of PSI’s EarthFirst family of bio-based plastics. EarthFirst UL is made from lactic acid found in several renewable organic feedstocks like tapioca roots, sugar beets, sugar cane, and corn.

Both brand owners and flexible packaging converters will benefit from improved efficiencies, lower energy usage, reductions in product-to-package ratios, and lower cost per MSI versus traditional LDPE sealant films, according to the company. Through commercial testing and trials, the company has been able to quantify significant improvements to the overall supply chain efficiency with EarthFirst UL in lower freight costs, reducing costly roll change-overs, requiring less storage, and reducing the material volume entering the solid waste stream. At the same time, this can be accomplished with a more environmentally-friendly film.