Wax free boxes

Ciba Specialty Chemicals has signed an exclusive agreement with Spectra-Kote of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to market Spectra-Kote’s line of wax-alternative materials.

These wax-alternative materials allow corrugated box makers to produce wax-free boxes that are both functional and environmentally friendly. They can also be used to provide waterproofing characteristics to solid boxboard. And unlike traditional waxed corrugated boxes, boxes produced with the wax-alternative materials can be recycled.

The technology behind the idea is a combination of paper additives and papermaking processes that yield a non-wicking, water-resistant kraft liner. It is this liner or medium that eliminates the need for wax.

'The increasing demand for functional, wax-free boxes is being driven by retailers as they focus on ways to improve the recyclability of packaging materials and further reduce their operating costs,' said Rainer Bersem, Global Head of Business Unit Specialties for Ciba’s Business Line Paper.