EVOH Barrier Film Empowering Walmart’s Fresh Supply Chain
Global retail giant Walmart has announced its commitment to reducing fresh food waste by 50% by 2025 while achieving carbon neutrality across its supply chain. At the heart of this transformation is EVOH high-barrier co-extruded film, which is redefining the lifecycle of fresh products from farm to shelf through its extended freshness and lightweight recyclability.
Challenges: Tackling Fresh Food Waste and Carbon Emissions
Conventional PE Films: Oxygen transmission rate (OTR) > 100cc/m²·day, causing leafy greens to have a shelf life of less than 3 days and a waste rate of up to 25%.
Aluminum Foil Laminates: Non-recyclable with high carbon emissions (4.2 tons of CO₂ per ton produced), conflicting with Walmart’s ESG goals.
EVOH Solution: Four Breakthrough Innovations
（1） Seven-Layer Co-Extruded Film Design
Outer Layer: Nylon (35% higher puncture resistance, protecting against transport pressure).
Barrier Layer: EVOH (OTR < 1.8cc/m²·day, freshness retention comparable to aluminum foil).
Seal Layer: Modified PP (Withstands -30°C, adaptable to cold chain logistics).
Lightweight Breakthrough: Total thickness of only 45μm, reducing weight by 28% compared to traditional solutions and cutting logistics costs by ¥1.2 per box.
（2） Bio-Based EVOH polymerfor Carbon Reduction
40% plant-based ethylene (sourced from sugarcane bagasse), reducing 1.5 tons of CO₂ emissions per ton of resin.
Certified by TÜV Rheinland for carbon footprint, seamlessly integrating with Walmart’s supplier carbon accounting system.
（3） Intelligent Sorting and Recycling
Innovative Dielectric Sorting Technology enables high-efficiency separation of EVOH barrier and PP layers (purity > 92%).
Recycled material FDA-certified for use in non-food contact layers, increasing overall packaging recycling rates to 85%.
（4）Dynamic Barrier Control
Integrated smart labels (time-temperature indicators) allow EVOH film breathability to adjust based on storage conditions.
Reduces spoilage rates of berries (e.g., strawberries) by 58%, extending shelf display time to 7 days.
Policy Support Driving Adoption
The U.S. Food Packaging Safety Act (2023) mandates the elimination of non-recyclable food contact materials by 2026.
China’s "Green Packaging Product Recommendation Catalog" grants tax incentives and priority procurement for EVOH co-extruded films.
Walmart’s adoption of EVOH plastic proves that it is more than just a packaging material—it is a strategic enabler for supply chain carbon neutrality.
