In food packaging, coatings and tactile varnishes play a big role in how products look, feel, and perform. But some varnishes still rely on chemical crosslinkers like aziridines, isocyanates, or certain carbodiimides to achieve durability. While these additives can improve performance, they also raise serious health, safety, and environmental concerns especially when used on materials that could come into contact with food.
Aziridines:
- Carcinogenic & Mutagenic: Many aziridine compounds are classified as potential carcinogens and DNA mutagens.
- Migration Risks: These small, reactive molecules can leach into food, especially fatty or oily products, posing serious health risks to consumers.
- Regulatory Hurdles: Strict migration limits from global regulators make aziridines a risky choice in any food contact application.
Isocyanates:
- Highly Toxic: Diisocyanates are respiratory sensitizers and are considered asthmagens.
- Reactive: Can form toxic residues during curing or degradation.
- Environmental Impact: Their use often generates hazardous waste during production and cleanup.
Polycarbodiimides:
- Sometimes presented as a “safer” alternative, but still carry toxicity concerns
- Can break down over time, creating unknown or undesirable byproducts.
Waste and Processing Issues
Hazardous crosslinkers also complicate production:
- Multi-component systems have a limited pot life, meaning leftover material often goes to waste.
- Cleaning lines and equipment can require aggressive solvents, generating more chemical waste.
- Handling these chemicals means stricter safety measures for workers.
A Safer Solution: Single Component Tactile Varnishes
At ACC Coatings, we’ve engineered ready-to-use tactile varnishes that eliminate the need for aziridine or any other reactive crosslinker without compromising performance.
- No hazardous crosslinkers: Formulated entirely without aziridines, isocyanates, or carbodiimides.
- No pot life: Use only what you need. Less waste and faster cleaning/changeovers.
- No VOC: Use in strict regulatory sites
- Food-packaging safe: Designed for indirect food contact with ingredients that meet or exceed regulatory expectations.
- Tactile appeal: Create soft-touch, matte, or any textured finishes with lasting visual and tactile quality.
- Safety: Safer for workers and the environment
Whether you’re coating flexible films, paperboard, or rigid containers, ACC’s varnishes are ready to meet your performance and regulatory needs without the risks of traditional crosslinked systems.