Stora Enso to evaluate cellulose pulp as an additive in plastics

By Jenny Eagle

- Last updated on GMT

Pic: Stora Enso
Pic: Stora Enso

Related tags Stora enso Cellulose

Stora Enso has written to EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) to evaluate cellulose pulp as an additive in plastics.

The request by Keller and Heckman legal consultants on behalf of Stora Enso is for the evaluation of the substance as a food contact material. Application number FIP-2017-0054.

Sustainable packaging

The request to EFSA is to register cellulose pulp as an additive in plastics​,” a spokesman for Stora Enso told BakeryandSnacks.

This can be used in composites for sustainable packaging components that have food contact, e.g. caps and closures. Keller and Heckman is our legal consultant in the matter and per ordinary procedures they have made the registration​.

At this stage, it is too early to anticipate when this will be available on the market​.”

In the letter, dated November 22, Benjamin Nketiah, transaction officer, Food Standards Agency, UK, confirms with Dr Karen Lheureux, EFSA, that the substance is bleached cellulose pulp and consists of mainly a-cellulose 70%-92% and hemicellulose 8%-30%. 

CEF Scientific Panel

The request is to evaluate the substance as a new additive.

It has also been considered by the CEF Scientific Panel – EFSA’s Scientific Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF).

In response, Lheureux says, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No.1935/2004, EFSA acknowledges receipt of the application but it is not yet considered valid following the provisions of the regulation.

The application has been registered under the reference EFSA Q 2017 00740. Currently under consideration.

According to Stora Enso; pulp bleaching is the process where wood pulp fibres are chemically treated before papermaking to remove lignin and resins. Bleaching of the pulp results in white and clean paper products. It also sterilizes the pulp and eliminates taste and odor for use in demanding applications, such as food packaging.

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