Kuraray America receives APR design recognition for EVOH barrier resin

Kuraray America Inc. (KAI), a Houston-based subsidiary of Japan’s Kuraray Group, has received official Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) design recognition for its Eval ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) high-barrier resin.

KAI says the recognition from Washington-based APR means the product meets the organization’s criteria for compatibility within polyethylene (PE) film recycling streams.

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“Receiving APR Design for Recyclability recognition demonstrates our ongoing commitment to developing innovative materials that support a circular economy,” says KAI President Hans Vandommele. “This recognition confirms that our customers can specify Eval resin for its exceptional barrier properties while meeting their sustainability and recyclability goals.”

APR’s recognition program is an engineering assessment that evaluates whether packaging materials are compatible with current plastics recycling processes. KAI says its Eval resin achieved its recognition through the critical guidance pathway—considered APR’s most rigorous evaluation method—which examines how design features affect recyclability.

KAI says Eval resin is used in food packaging, where its barrier properties can help extend product shelf life and reduce food waste. The company says the APR recognition supports the development of packaging that protects products while contributing to sustainability.

The company claims Eval resin provides an oxygen barrier up to 10,000 times greater than PE while passing the recycling test protocol when used within established limits.

“Kuraray is committed to achieving the sustainability goals outlined in its strategic plan by expanding its product lineup to support and enhance both natural and living environments,” the company says. “This effort aligns with the company’s long-term vision, which aims to establish Kuraray as a specialty chemical company that grows sustainably by integrating new foundational platforms into its technologies while contributing to customers, society and the planet.”