100% bio-based barrier coatings from Michelman for food packaging
Last update on May 4, 2026
Formulators and packaging converters working on fiber-based retail food packaging can now evaluate two new bio-based coatings from Michelman - Nuvita® Life 4002 and Nuvita® Life 4605. Both are described by the company as microplastic-free and 100% bio-based in dry film and are positioned for applications where recyclability and compostability are packaging design requirements.
Interested in bio-based grades? See all Michelman ingredients >>
Product profiles
Nuvita® Life 4002 is a heat seal coating that imparts oil and grease resistance (OGR) and mineral oil barrier performance. It provides strong seals across a wide sealing window, and notes the coating is overcoatable, which the supplier indicates offers design flexibility for packaging structures.
Nuvita® Life 4605 is a topcoat that imparts OGR, water resistance, and moisture barrier performance for retail food packaging applications.
Looking for packaging ingredients? See all grades from our Master Catalog of Coatings >>
Regulatory alignment and end-of-life positioning
Both coatings are described by Michelman as SUPD compliant and aligned with the European Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). The company states the coatings are designed to support compatibility with existing recycling streams and compostability pathways.
Both coatings are also reported to be crease resistant and engineered with a low coefficient of friction to support compatibility with vertical form-fill-seal (VFFS) processing lines.
Target applications identified by Michelman include pouches and sachets for dry foods, flow wraps for food bars, and envelopes for tea.
"The Nuvita® Life series unlocks new possibilities for paperization in retail food applications. These forward-looking technologies allow fiber-based packaging to deliver the high barrier performance converters and brands need while supporting compliance with regulations targeting plastic pollution and waste reduction," said Lori Gobris, global marketing director, Packaging, at Michelman.
You can review the full Michelman product range in the Master Catalog of Coatings.
Image Credits: Michelman