FOODBOARD™ The Next Generation of Cartonboard – Ready for the Market at the End of 2014!

The protection of customer health is the foremost responsibility of the food packaging supply chain. Mayr-Melnhof Karton is aware of this responsibility and has developed a new type of cartonboard which ensures the highest possible safety for foodstuff. The new cartonboard grade FOODBOARD™ of Mayr-Melnhof Karton is a protected internal development representing a quantum leap in the protection of cartonboard packed foodstuff. The core component is an innovative, ecologically sensitive and consumer friendly barrier concept. Thereby packaged food is perfectly shielded against unintended substances from the packaging environment. 

• FOODBOARD™ is a new, high quality coated recycling cartonboard with a unique functional barrier on the food contact side of the board. 
• FOODBOARD™ is a pure cartonboard quality, not an extruded or laminated compound. 
• FOODBOARD™ is fully recyclable, bio-degradable and will also be available FSC^® & PEFC certified. 
• FOODBOARD™ shields packed food against defined unintended substances such as mineral oils. 
• FOODBOARD™ provides protection against “cross-contamination” from outer- & transportation packaging, printing inks and the environment.

This is achieved by a new board structure and the application of carefully selected migration barriers. Comprehensive long-term series tests with leading multinational food producers over the last 2 years prove the effectiveness of our migration barriers. Moreover, more than 2 million boxes have confirmed highest converting standards and fastest packing line performance. FOODBOARD™ fulfils all European direct and indirect food contact regulations; the relevant certificates have been issued by independent European institutes. 

FOODBOARD™ provides additional benefits such as an extended shelf-life for packed food, a barrier for greasy products and an outstanding organoleptic performance. This means there is an increased possibility to package also sensory critical products, such as chocolate or tea, directly in sustainable recycling cartonboard. 

Furthermore, FOODBOARD™ is in full compliance with the provisions of the discussed ‘mineral oil regulation’ of the BMELV in Germany. However, the market also demands a migration barrier independently from a mineral oil ordinance for protection against unintended substances, to guarantee the highest product safety for foodstuff packaging.This is why the Austrian parent mill of MM Karton in Frohnleiten will be supplying FOODBOARD™ after an investment in a mid-double-digit million Euro amount at the end of 2014. This important step will strengthen customer relations as well as the competitive technological position of MM Karton.