Comparison of EVOH & PETMET Films

1. Comparison of EVOH & PETMET Films Smurfit Bag-in-Box Barrier Films : Co-extruded EVOH film and Polyester-Metallised film for Bag-In-Box application

2. Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) Poly Ethylene (PE) Extrudability Gas Barrier ( CH2 CH2 )m ( )n CH2 CH OH ( CH2 CH2 )m ( CH2 CH )n OH : C Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer (EVOH) : O : H Smurfit Bag-in-Box Comparison of EVOH & PETMET Films Structure of EVOH

3. Comparison of EVOH & PETMET Films Smurfit Bag-in-Box Coextruded EVOH Film Manufacture Reels of coextruded film Binding (PE based) agent Polyethylene Bubble EVOH Polyethylene Blowing Heating EVOH Polyethylene Binding agent (PE)

4. Comparison of EVOH & PETMET Films Smurfit Bag-in-Box Structure & Manufacture of Metallised Polyester (METPET) - First Part: Metallization - Reel of Polyester/polyethylene (Co-extruded film) Reel of Polyethylene Metallised polyester Cooling cylinder Aluminium vaporization under vacuum

5. Comparison EVOH & METPET Smurfit Bag-in-Box Structure & Manufacture of Metallised Polyester (METPET) -2nd Part: lamination Reel of Polyethylene Film Reel of Polyester Metallised Polyéthylène Adhesive agent Reel of Polyethylene Metallised Polyester Film laminated with Polyethylene Film Binding Cylinder Adhesive agent Reel of Polyethylene film Binding Cylinder

6. Smurfit Bag-in-Box Comparison EVOH et METPET Films • EVOH Film is made through a co-extrusion process that links the polyethylene, • the Tie Layer (modified PE) at the same time. • This means that the polyethylene and EVOH are extruded simultaneously. • Due to that, the cohesion of this two materials is excellent. • Metallised Polyester Film is made by lamination, • The process requires three stages. We need to get first three films made by extrusion • (2 polyethylene films and the polyester film independently) • Then we have the vacuum-metallization of the aluminium on the polyester layer. • This operation is very delicate because a very poor layer of aluminium is deposing • on the film. This thin deposit is very fragile and can break very easily. • The last stage consists of laminating these tree layers by sticking them together • with some adhesive: this operation is delicat and can be critical to the quality • of the film.

7. Smurfit Bag-in-Box Comparison EVOH et METPET Films CHARACTERISTICS OF BARRIER FILMS FOR BAG IN BOX Dynamic perforation resistance Elongation Properties Food contact agreement Oxygen Barrier Antistatic Properties Sealing Properties Flavour Barrier Oxygen Barrier after transport Seal Strength Temperature Resistance Multilayer Sliperiness

8. Comparison of EVOH & PETMET Films Smurfit Bag-in-Box Mechanical characteristics No transport After 400 Gelboflexes (= 400km)

9. Smurfit Bag-in-Box EVOH film is a ‘flexible’ film. All the elements of the structure are polyethylene and all therefore are ‘soft’ when compared to polyester. In addition, the oxygen barrier of the film comes from an EVOH copolymer which is an extruded layer in the film, rather than a layer of metal randomly deposited onto a film. As a result of the ‘flexibility’ of the film and the manufacturing process of the barrier layer, the film is very resistant to the rigours of transportation and the ‘flex-cracking’ of the film which can result. It is this ‘flex-cracking of film which at its worst leads to pinholing in the film and leakers. Whilst the oxygen permeability rate of a piece of virgin EVOH may be slightly higher (say 1.2 cc compared to 1 cc/m²/day) than metallised polyester laminate, laboratory tests, pallet vibration tests, transportation tests and many years of experience show EVOH film to be more resistant to flex-cracking than metallised polyester laminate, particularly over long distances. Attached are two charts showing the results of some laboratory work which give an indication of how EVOH film compared to metallised polyester laminate when subjected to flex-cracking.

10. Comparison of EVOH & PETMET Films Smurfit Bag-in-Box Influence of Gelbo Flexing on Oxygen Transmission Rate (100 Cycles = 80 km)

11. Comparison of EVOH & PETMET Films Smurfit Bag-in-Box • The following curves show the results of a study made by the « Institut coopératif du vin de Montpellier » and the Institut Œnologique de Champagne. • So2 Levels (Free & Total) has been analysed on bag-in-box made with the same inner ply, and a different outside linner (EVOH & PETMET) filled with red wine, either tranported or not. • These analyses reflects the level of the wine oxydation. • N.B.: You will notice that analyses made on transported are more heterogeneous due to mechanical alterations.

12. Comparison of EVOH & PETMET Films Smurfit Bag-in-Box Influence of different barrier Films on SO2 Levels (No transport) Total SO2 Free SO2

13. Comparison of EVOH & PETMET Films Smurfit Bag-in-Box Influence of different barrier Films on SO2 Levels (With transport) SO2 Total SO2 Libre

14. MET- PET: 1) Opacity/ metal aspect: can protect un-packed bag-in-box from light Can « hide » the product inside the bag Can Give a « richer » aspect 2) Environment: Waste can be incinerated, but it should be done in a smokeless (toxic gazes) incinerator to ensure complete combustion Metal wastes in the ashes EVOH: 1) Transparency: No foreign body No trapped air Can check for discolouration and any quality defects in the product. 2) Environment: Waste can be incinerated (No toxic gaz emission No metal presence in the ashes Comparison of EVOH & PETMET Films Smurfit Bag-in-Box Various

15. N.B.: Recent reports in the Danish Press has focus attention on the levels of Primary aromatic amines (PAAs) in multi-layer flexible laminates. Aromatic amines (which seem to be linked to cancer) can be produced when any isocyanates (used in some Polyurethane based adhesive) react readily with moisture or any residual alcohol solvents from printing inks… Sixth amendment (2001/62/EEC) to 90/128/EEC directive has introduced a limit of 20mg/kg foodsttuff for PAAs. Polyurethane is never used in the process of co-extruded film (EVOH film)  Some laminating Processes are using adhesive with high levels of isocyanates. Comparison EVOH et METPET Films Smurfit Bag-in-Box Point on Primary aromatic amines (New 20001/62/EG Amendment to the 90/128/EG Directive) Our Films in contact with the products fulfill the actual EEC/FDA regulations