Siegwerk, a leading global provider of printing inks and coatings for packaging applications and labels, is further strengthening its strategic focus on coatings. Recently, the company has bundled all circular coating solutions into its new CIRKIT product portfolio. Siegwerk already offers a wide range of functional coatings and is constantly developing new customized solutions that comply with the existing and upcoming regulations of European legislation and pave the way for a circular future of packaging. A new uniform naming concept for Siegwerk’s expanding portfolio of functional coatings ensures recognition of value and transparency to stakeholders.
With the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), the European Union (EU) is clearly defining the future of packaging towards circularity. From 2030, no packaging may be sold in the EU anymore that is not recyclable. It is therefore essential to rethink packaging structures towards recyclability. Functional coatings are an important building block in this process.
The company plans to use its vantage point in the packaging supply chain to develop solutions that meet the current and future needs of manufacturers of paper and paperboard as well as films and foils, converters, and brand owners. “Especially in light of the increasing importance of sustainability, functional coatings offer a high potential for the future of packaging. Specific functional properties are crucial for the performance and durability of packaging, they play a key role in realizing packaging solutions in the sense of a circular economy. That is why we will strengthen our focus on the development of innovative coating technologies going forward,” says Gilles Le Moigne, head business unit of CE coatings at Siegwerk.
Next to an improved production efficiency, functional coatings can help to replace extra material layers, and thereby reduce packaging complexity, or equip renewable materials like paper with functional properties enabling their use for a wider range of packaging applications. Functional coatings are therefore particularly important for the switch from plastic to paper (paperization), one of the most discussed trends given the growing consumer awareness for sustainable packaging.
A broad range of functional coatings
Siegwerk’s portfolio of functional coatings covers several water-based and solvent-based technologies for different applications, substrates, coating processes, and performances. From barrier coatings against liquids, oil and grease, water vapor, oxygen, and UV light through heat seal coatings to protection coatings. As the company continues to expand its portfolio in this field, it has now introduced its uniform naming concept for its CIRKIT products.
“We want our customers or potential customers to find what they are looking for directly. With our new brand for functional coatings and a standardized name that includes an indication of the product’s function, we make our portfolio recognizable and transparent,” explains Le Moigne.
The portfolio includes CIRKIT OXYBAR, an oxygen barrier coating guaranteeing an extended shelf life, particularly for dry food packaging. Further solutions offered are CIRKIT GREASEBAR, an oil and grease-resistant barrier coating, CIRKIT UVBAR, a barrier coating protecting against UV light and CIRKIT CLEARPRIME allowing smooth deinking of hardly deinkable surface printed structures and laminates. Siegwerk is currently in the process of registering the CIRKIT brand as a trademark.
Experienced partner for holistic coatings solutions
Siegwerk has always been active in the field of coatings. With the production of printing solutions like silk or soft-touch varnishes, resistant overprint-varnishes, primers, or special relief lacquers, the ink expert has always been supporting its customers with complementing products to its variety of high-quality inks. Next to the wide range of functional coatings, customers can also choose from effective primer solutions amongst others for delamination and deinking as well as decorative coatings for extraordinary visual or tactile effects. All coatings are produced worldwide and always tailored to individual customer requirements, including specific regional regulations and local market needs.
“As an ink and coating expert for packaging, Siegwerk is very familiar with packaging design and the latest regulations, including food safety and packaging sustainability,” says Le Moigne, “We know what it takes to create packaging structures for circularity that are conform with all relevant regulations.” Based on its expertise across the entire packaging process – from raw material selection to packaging recycling – Siegwerk bundles knowledge across all disciplines in the packaging lifecycle.
Joining forces for packaging circularity
Siegwerk is convinced that packaging circularity can only be achieved through collaboration across the entire packaging value chain. Today, the company can already look back on several successful development projects with customers and industry partners along the entire supply chain that has resulted in advanced packaging solutions with improved performance and recyclability. Together with Henkel, Siegwerk for example created an innovative oxygen barrier coating that enables mono-material packaging solutions with better recyclability and better barrier properties.
