Antibacterial and Environment-friendly rePAPER’s Products

 

The fear and anxiety about COVID-19 has spread the world. Showing the symptoms of respiratory illness, this new type of virus is known to be contagious by human-to-human transmission and people have become vulnerable to see how fast it gets into their daily lives. As the virus was resulted from unsanitary food distribution system and eating practices, everyone became extremely careful about individual hygiene. Consequently, the needs of single-use products have been drastically increased, especially in the places where people with a low immune system gather.

 

Stop the COVID-19 from Spreading! Temporary Allowance on Disposable Products

Since the revised Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources was implemented in 2018, it has been prohibited to offer single use plastic containers for the in-store customers at food service areas in Korea. After the outbreak of COVID-19, however, the Ministry of Environment temporarily lifted the regulation for where there is much external inflow such as international airports, harbors, and KTX train stations. The heads of local governments can also decide whether to allow disposable products temporarily in the areas. Some airlines to China switch the in-flight food service containers to single-use products in order to reduce the possibility of cross infection.

These disposables have been widely used since we can consume them anywhere at any time and they are easy to carry or dispose. As we can assume, it is almost impossible to equip sufficient reusable containers while operating collecting and cleaning systems at public places such as hotels, concert halls, theaters, and amusement parks. As the young, elderly or patients require special care, places such as day-care centers, nursing homes and hospitals generally use single-use products for hygiene. Especially when an epidemic disease occurs, the use of disposable products is recommended as a way of protection.

 

Products to Protect Us from Harmful Bacteria

We can be easily exposed to virus and germs from the items including smartphones, keyboards, handles that we are in daily contact with. Therefore, more and more people are looking for the antibacterial products that can protect them from possible infection.

An antibacterial product means that it could slow down the rate of growth of virus or bacteria. It wouldn’t stop or kill every germ, but is known to be somewhat effective on preventing tuberculosis or food poisoning from increasing. There are usually two ways to make antibacterial products. One is to make a product with adding the powder of antibacterial agents and the other is to coat a layer of antibacterial material on the surface. There are already many of such products introduced in the markets such as deodorizers, soaps, paints, notes and etc. and with the outbreak of COVID-19, the concept has been applied to more and more fields including food packaging, utensils, clothing fibers, and wall papers.

 

Win the Battle Against Germs with rePAPER’s Products!

rePAPER’s coated board is mainly made into primary packaging that will be in direct contact with foods and human bodies that the antibacterial property can be considered one of the most significant features. Therefore, rePAPER tested the straw paper which RP200 and RP400 is applied respectively. According to the test reports on Staphylococcus aureus which could cause food poisoning and on Pneumococcal, the reduction rate of germs reached 99.9%. In other words, rePAPER’s products are highly antimicrobial, preventing those bacteria from growing.

In addition, rePAPER’s products are environmentally friendly with extraordinary material and organic recyclability. They are also thermostable withstanding the heat over 200℃ that it can be used in a microwave or even in an oven without worrying the migration.

The world has been approaching various ways to preserve and improve the destroyed environment by developing sustainable technology and industrial and social systems while restraining the use of disposable products. Therefore, it is understandable that some worry even the temporary deregulation on single use products may make the ban difficult to settle down again in Korea. However, there are times and places that the consumption of those is inevitable just like now. In that case, wouldn’t we be able to understand the difference and make a wiser choice?

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