New Cookie Package Seals Tight, Shines Bright

Mylar® has sparkling clarity and outstanding printing capabilities.

Packaging for Nabisco's fat-free, fruit-filled Newtons® Cobblers is as functional as it is flashy, thanks to a multilayer, extrusion-laminated structure based on DuPont™ Surlyn® resin and Mylar® polyester film. The new package was developed through a joint effort with Printpack, Inc., DuPont and Nabisco.

Sportinga layer of metallized oriented polypropylene (OPP) sandwiched between two layers of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and topped with a print ply of Mylar®, Surlyn® is used as the inner sealant layer.

According to Jim Scott, director of packaging development for Nabisco, Mylar® was selected for its excellent heat stability, and Surlyn® for its outstanding heat seal strength.

"Most traditional cookie packages don't require a high-performance sealant," said Scott. "But for a moist, chewy product like Newtons® Cobblers, we needed an improved moisture barrier - one that would really lock in product freshness. With Surlyn® , we found the tight, hermetic seals we were looking for."

In addition to providing strong, reliable seals, the broader seal range and excellent hot tack of Surlyn® help keep Nabisco's packaging lines running at top speed, with minimal rejects and downtime. Thanks to its low seal-initiation temperature, Surlyn® also minimizes heat distortion of the OPP layer.

And when it comes to maximizing the shelf appeal of Newtons® Cobblers, Mylar® really shines. With its sparkling clarity and outstanding printing capabilities, Mylar® is an excellent medium for the colorful, "looks-good-enough-to-eat" photography featured on the package which was printed and converted by Printpack.

"The combination of quick-sealing Surlyn® and heat-resistant Mylar® has improved our packaging productivity and line speeds, which in turn helps us keep a ready supply of Newtons® Cobblers on the shelves," Scott concluded.