Packaging materials

There is a wide range of packaging materials for Modified Atmosphere Packaging. When choosing materials, the following consideration must be taken into account:

Packaging format

• Pouch
• Flowrap (Horizontal or Vertical)
• Tray Lid
• Thermoforming
• Gas transmission rates and barrier properties

The choice of films for MAP is largely determined by their gas and water vapour transmission rates. Materials such as polyester (PET), nylon (PA), polyvinylidene chloride (PVdC) and ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) provide good gas barriers but in many cases poor water vapour barriers.

For more information about packaging materials, register for our Freshline® guide to MAP, or contact us for more information

Typical film structures and their uses

Structure	Applications
APET
APET/PE
APET/EVOH/PE
PC/APET/PC
CPET
APET/PETBlend/APET
PS/PE
PS/EVOH/PE
PS/PETG
PP/PE
PP/EVOH/PE
PP/EVOH/PP
EPP/EVOH/PE
PP/PA/PE
PP/PA/PP
PETBlend
PETBlend/PE
PETBlend/EVOH/PE
EPETBlend/PE
EPETBlend/EVOH/PE
PVC
PVC/PE
PVC/EVOH/PE

Abbreviations of commonly used MAP materials

ABS	Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
Al	Aluminium
APET	Amorphous polyester
AlOX	Aluminum oxide
CPET	Crystalline polyester
EPP	Expanded polypropylene
EPS	Expanded polystyrene
EVA	Ethylene vinyl acetate
EVOH	Ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer
HDPE	High density polyethylene
HIPS	High impact polystyrene
LDPE	Low density polyethylene
LLDPE	Linear low density polyethylene
MOPP	Metallised orientated polypropylene
MP	Microperforated film
MPET	Metallised polyester
MPOR	Microporous film
OPA	Orientated polyamide (nylon)
OPP	Orientated polypropylene
OPS	Orientated polystyrene
PA	Polyamide (nylon)
PC	Polycarbonate
PE	Polyethylene
PET-P	Polythene terephthalate (commonly known as polyester)
PLA	Polylactic acid
PP	Polypropylene
PS	Polystyrene
PSHT	Polystyrene (high temperature)
PVC	Polyvinyl chloride
PVdC	Polyvinylidene chloride
UPVC	Unplasticised polyvinyl chloride