Mitsubishi Plastics, Inc. (head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President Hiroshi Yoshida) has started sales of its new product “DIAMIRONTM MF P-TYPE” since mid-February. The Company has been offering the DIAMIRONTM series, co-extruded multilayer films used for food packaging such as hams and sausages as well as for other various use. “DIAMIRONTM MF P-TYPE” is a newly developed eco-friendly product, using bio-based plastics made from polylactic acid (PLA1) as part of its composition. This type of co-extruded multilayer film for the use of deep-drawing vacuum packaging2, using plant-based plastics as its raw material, is the industry’s first, and has already been employed by Prima Meat Packers, Ltd., a leading meat processing company such as hams and sausages, for packaging of its product “Kitchen Life Series”.

 

 In these times of increasing environmental awareness, foodstuffs companies are seeking a greener packaging, for example, by reducing overall packaging material usage. Under such circumstances, Mitsubishi Plastics has developed and launched a new line of its DIAMIRONTM series, the top-quality co-extruded multilayer film in the industry. This new “DIAMIRONTM MF P-TYPE” contains more than 25% plant-based plastic PLA. Since the PLA layer may be relatively weak, the Company adopted a film structure design and special material composition that enable almost the same durability standards as the conventional ones. As it uses plant-based plastics as part of its raw material, the film is construed as an eco-friendly product that can contribute to reducing the use of fossil materials (finite natural resource) and the emission of greenhouse gases. It is also worth noting that, the film has acquired the “BiomassPla” certification from the Japan BioPlastics Association (JBPA).
“DIAMIRONTM MF P-TYPE” has already been decided to be employed by Prima Meat Packers. for its two new products “Kitchen Life Series: Good-quality Processed Ham” and “Kitchen Life Series: Bacon,” which are to be launched on March 1, 2012.

 

 Mitsubishi Plastics strives to realize the vision of “KAITEKI3” advocated by Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings, by proactively developing and commercializing innovative eco-friendly packaging materials that can meet its customers’ needs.

 

1 PLA: Biomass polymer made synthetically from L-lactic acid, which is produced from vegetable starch (e.g. corn starch). Since PLA is a plant-based plastic, it can contribute to saving fossil resources and reducing CO2　emissions.
2 Deep-drawing vacuum packaging: Packaging format with a combination of flat (top side) and concave (bottom side) shapes produced by thermoforming. “DIAMIRONTM MF P-TYPE” is used for the bottom side.
3 KAITEKI: A challenge to attain the state of sustainability, materializing comfort for people, comfort for society and comfort for the Earth.

[Comparison between conventional products and the new product]

Conventional products            New product　“DIAMIRONTM MF P-TYPE”

[BiomassPla logo]

 

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Public Relations Section, General Administration Dept., Mitsubishi Plastics Inc.
TEL: +81-3-3279-3800