Seal Global, in partnership with BASF, is challenging South Africa’s FMCG and QSR sectors to move beyond recycling rhetoric — offering proven, science-backed barrier coatings that make sustainable food packaging an operational reality today.
For years, the food packaging industry has relied on composite materials like polyethylene (PE) and aluminium foil to achieve grease resistance, moisture retention, and oil barriers. While effective, these materials create a significant environmental issue—they cannot break down naturally or be processed by standard South African paper mills. As a result, they end up in landfills or the environment indefinitely.
“True sustainability isn’t about idealistic concepts; it’s about what actually happens to a package when it is discarded,” says the team at Seal Global, a South African leader in sustainable packaging innovations.
Water-based barrier technology
To address the conflict between performance and environmental impact, Seal Global has developed proprietary water-based dispersion coatings. In collaboration with BASF, Seal Global applies advanced polymer science to renewable, paper-based substrates.
The result is Paperised Packaging™, a portfolio of coatings that replace traditional plastic linings with a microscopic, high-performance barrier. These coated papers are water-soluble during standard repulping processes and degrade naturally in the environment.
Solutions for food sustainability
Seal Global’s innovations are transforming the packaging landscape for food manufacturers and QSR brands. Here are three key solutions:
- FastSeal®: The QSR solution
Traditional fast-food packaging for greasy foods relies on PE-laminated board. FastSeal® offers exceptional grease, oil, and condensation resistance without using plastic film. This plastic-free solution is 100% repulpable in standard mill processing and provides a 15% material yield savings for commercial kitchens. - CupSeal®: Rethinking single-use cups
By replacing the internal plastic lining of hot and cold beverage cups with a low-temperature, water-dispersion coating, CupSeal® ensures sustainability without compromising functionality.
A call for sustainable change
Seal Global’s innovations demonstrate that sustainability in packaging is achievable without sacrificing performance. By adopting solutions like Paperised Packaging™, FastSeal®, and CupSeal®, South Africa’s FMCG and QSR sectors can lead the charge in reducing plastic waste and protecting the environment.
