Antiviral Technology cleans up packaging hygiene concerns
Richard Bracewell, marketing director at James Cropper, explains in the wake of COVID-19, consumers are looking for confidence that the packaging they come into contact with is as safe as it can be, and according to recent research we commissioned hygiene is now a number one concern for people when it comes to packaging.
More than three quarters of Britons now consider the hygiene of the products and packaging they interact with and almost half believe those concerns for safety and hygiene will remain after the pandemic.
With these concerns in play, we extended testing on the anti-viral effectiveness of our packaging papers that contain PaperGard antiviral and antibacterial technology.
The results of recent tests clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of the product on the surface of paper against SARS-CoV-2, the enveloped virus that is responsible for Covid-19. PaperGard protected papers reduced the viability of the viral strain by over 95% in only 15 minutes, and by 99.9% within 2 hours.
The increasing need to offer consumers more reassurance means brands are looking for ways to reimagine their products and their packaging, and the latest test results demonstrate that there need not be a compromise of hygiene over beauty in the packaging solutions available to brands.
Consumers’ attitudes towards products and packaging have changed and, as a supplier of specialist papers to the packaging sector, we have to adapt our solutions accordingly. PaperGard has been part of our range since 2006 but since the pandemic the demand for this kind of protected paper packaging has increased.
PaperGard incorporates Biomaster® antimicrobial technology from the UK’s leading additive specialist, Addmaster. Biomaster is highly effective against the growth and proliferation of bacteria and enveloped viruses on porous surfaces such as textiles and paper.
This innovation addresses the increased demand for hygienic surfaces. The silver ions present within the paper continually work to prevent the growth of the micro-organisms, effectively controlling surface contamination for the lifetime of the product and maintaining the integrity of the paper.
This technology can be applied across the portfolio of paper products we manufacture, including papers and boards for premium packaging or greetings cards that are subject to a lot of handling.
