Mid America Paper Recycling is investigating various recycling solutions with our new partners at Cascades Sonoco. A joint venture between Cascades Inc. and Sonoco Products Co., Cascades Sonoco is an industry leader in innovative packaging solutions. And their Dry-Tech™ roll wrap and roll headers are a big reason why. Used widely by paper mills, Dry-Tech’s roll packaging moisture barrier system protects products in transit and storage and ensures customer satisfaction throughout the paper, printing, and converting supply chain. The Dry-TECH™ system has been tested and proven in extreme field trials and in years of real-world use.

Cascades Sonoco says rolls have emerged undamaged after spraying with water, as well as being submerged for 24 hours. In addition, customer data has shown year-over-year water damage claim reductions of more than 80 percent. The protective product can be easily implemented within an existing wrap line, with minimal downtime and disruption. Best of all, Dry-Tech is recyclable as OCC (Old Corrugated Containers).

Dry-Tech paper roll wrap and headers feature a unique barrier that protects paper rolls in transit and storage, handling, and distribution.

Cascades Sonoco’s FlexSHIELD® barrier paperboard coating is the first fully compostable product that provides polyethylene-like protection at an economical price point. Adopted by the leading natural and organic food supermarket chains in North America, the aqueous-based treatment is designed for use in paper roll, cup, and folding carton applications where scoring and folding often present major challenges. Products treated with FlexSHIELD are FDA-, CFIA- and EUR-compliant for direct food contact. Thus, it can be used to help prevent the leakage of liquid in to-go containers. From hot liquids to freezing temperatures, and everything in between, FlexSHIELD PRO also guards against grease and oil and is microwave safe. It runs at your desired speeds on your preferred converting processes.

In mill trials guided by Cascades Sonoco’s technical experts, rolls have emerged undamaged after being sprayed with water, as well as being submerged for 24 hours. Compostable, recyclable, and repulpable, FlexSHIELD can be applied on various paper substrates, including liners, cardboard, chipboard, and SBS. 

“Given the increasing demand for paper-based take-out containers, and in light of many cities banning expanded polystyrene containers (the white polystyrene foam food containers you see so often), FlexSHIELD offers a unique, functional and viable option for making paperboard take-out containers much more environmentally attractive given their compostability,” said Sandy McArthur, director of sales and marketing, Cascades Sonoco. “During the development of this product, we had numerous companies tell us if we could solve the cracking issues with a water-based solution, we would really be on to something the market has been asking about for a very long time. Many companies have been attempting to solve this complex technical challenge for years, and we are extremely gratified to have reached this milestone. We are excited to make FlexSHIELD Barrier Coating available to the entire market.”

“You never know when you’re going to be able to help businesses, suppliers, or partners,” says Mid America Paper Recycling’s President Paul Pirkle. “This was a case where networking with Cascades Sonoco at a recent conference allowed me to provide some great information about their product to one of our suppliers about FlexSHIELD’s recyclability. We try to visit and exhibit at tradeshows and attend industry conferences to learn about new products like this. It’s a great way to meet new contacts and refer what we’ve learned to our staff, our clients, and our supplier-partners.”

For more information about Cascades Sonoco’s products, visit https://www.cascades-sonoco.com/. To evaluate your recycling operation and help streamline your waste material processing, take our free, quick waste audit at bit.ly/30Egszs.