Leading plastics sector professional Paul Turner joins board of MuCell Extrusion
Following the huge interest generated by the launch of ReZorceTM, a range of recyclable mono-material barrier packaging, advanced cellular materials manufacturer Zotefoams plc has appointed Paul Turner as a Non-Executive Director of its Boston, USA-based MuCell Extrusion LLC business.
Paul has over 25 years’ experience in the chemical Industry, holding senior executive roles with organisations including The Dow Chemical Company, LyondellBasell and Borealis. Between 2014 and 2018 he also served as Chairman of the Polyolefins Product Group of PlasticsEurope.
Zotefoams’ MuCell business is centred on a pioneering technology that injects gas into plastics during the manufacturing process to produce a foamed core that reduces material content typically by up to 20% without impacting performance.
The company harnessed this expertise to produce ReZorce, launched to considerable acclaim at the K 2019 trade show last month. Available for licensing to brand owners and converters, ReZorce is an industry first in recyclable barrier packaging. It is suitable for a wide range of foodstuffs, beverages, household and personal care products requiring oxygen and/or moisture barrier packaging. Trials show excellent functional capability to replace difficult-to-recycle composite materials such as metallised films, laminated paper, pouches and cartons.
The technology involves a multi-layer HDPE film, with foamed layers critical in providing moisture vapour transmission (MVT) and oxygen barrier properties Indeed, tests on ReZorce films show that they have lower oxygen transmission rates (OTR) than most metallised films currently used in food packaging. The foamed layers can also contribute to paper-like feel and fold characteristics, while the surface is compatible with all commonly used printing methods.
“I am delighted to join Zotefoams and in particular the MuCell team at this exciting time,” says Paul. “The opportunity for ReZorce – with its clear benefits for manufacturers, brand owners, consumers and recycling companies – is significant. The pressure on the packaging sector and especially on plastics packaging producers to offer sustainable and circular solutions quickly is immense and ReZorce is an excellent, meaningful and practical response to that pressure.”
“Paul’s strategic and operational leadership expertise will be enormously beneficial as we roll out ReZorce,” says Zotefoams Group CEO David Stirling. “The levels of market interest already expressed are extremely exciting and Paul’s deep understanding of the plastics value chain will be invaluable in determining how we direct our efforts to ensure the widest availability and greatest impact for ReZorce.”