Pioneering sustainable plastic packaging with Palsgaard's Einar additives
Last update on Aug 14, 2025
An interview with Laura Juhl, Application Manager for Bio Specialty Additives at Palsgaard, Denmark
In today's world, sustainability is no longer just a trend but a necessity in the plastics industry. All the stakeholders across the value chain are seeking eco-friendly alternatives to traditional petroleum-based additives. Palsgaard, a pioneer in plant-based additive technologies, is at the forefront of this revolution. They are redefining performance and responsibility in polymer processing.
Einar® 987, a recently launched anti-fouling agent by Palsgaard, is a classic example of this sustainable transformation. Einar® 987 has been developed to remove severe concerns about the exolylated amine chemistry. It is an unquestionably safe and efficient alternative that has worldwide regulatory approval.
In addition, the company is focused on improving the state-of-the-art facilities and collaboration with customers. This positions it uniquely to serve the evolving needs of plastic manufacturers worldwide.
We interviewed Laura Juhl, Application Manager for Bio Speciality Additives (BSA) at Palsgaard, Denmark. She takes us through the advancements of Palsgaard's plant-based additive technologies. She also provides details about how the company reinforces sustainability in the future of plastics manufacturing.
#1. With sustainability now a central focus across the plastics value chain, how is Palsgaard contributing through its plant-based additive technologies?
Palsgaard A/S invented the modern food emulsifier in 1917 and has continued to develop and explore the use of plant-based additives across multiple applications, ranging from polymer additives to food and personal-care ingredients.
From the very beginning, our privately held company needed to ensure its edible products met stringent regulatory requirements and were unquestionably safe. Over the decades, we have applied the same high standards to all our emulsifier and stabilizer products, including those used in plastic resin modification.
At our Polymer Application Centre in Denmark, we develop plant-based, food-grade additives from scratch, rigorously test their performance, and collaborate closely with customers to explore new opportunities and develop innovations.
And because true progress calls for responsibility, we constantly support our work with ambitious environmental, social, and governance (ESG) targets that go beyond industry expectations.
Sneak peek at Palsgaard Polymer Application Center
#2. Palsgaard recently expanded its product range with the introduction of Einar® 987, a plant-based anti-fouling additive for polyolefin production. What are its key functions and benefits?
Palsgaard introduced its latest polymer additive, Einar® 987, in December 2024. While keeping safety and sustainability in mind, this anti-fouling additive is specially designed as a liquid drop-in solution to aid the polypropylene and polyethylene polymerization process. This helps to address concerns about the conventional ethoxylated amine chemistry currently used in such applications.
Safety concerns over amine chemistry have led resin makers to seek alternatives for some time now. Einar® 987 is made from all renewable raw materials, non-toxic, and food-contact-approved. The active compound of Einar® 987 – which is supplied as a clear, low-viscous liquid – is a polyglycerol ester (PGE) blend of fatty acids from vegetable oils.
Polyolefin resin producers stand to benefit directly from this technology, as its anti-static properties help to ensure the fine polymer powder does not cling to the reactor wall during polymerization. This serves to:
- stabilize the reaction temperature,
- sustain a high production performance, and
- enable consistent product quality
We have already conducted several successful trials of Einar® 987 with resin makers, with one major polymer producer having already approved its use. In addition to existing tests, our technical team is always prepared to assist more customers in evaluating the product as they seek to replace the incumbent amine chemistry with safer, more sustainable alternatives.
#3. We have touched on anti-fouling in polymerization – what other plant-based additives is Palsgaard offering for packaging and film applications?
Palsgaard offers a wide variety of plant-based polymer additives, all based on vegetable oil, addressing many applications, from mold release agents to lubricants and processing aids. The main focus of our polymer additive range is anti-static and anti-fogging applications for polyethylene and polypropylene.
Efficient anti-static performance
From an anti-static perspective, our various Einar® anti-static additives offer numerous benefits. These include:
- Safe, food-contact approved, and effective replacement for conventional anti-static amines and amides
- Anti-dust in plastic articles for clean packaging during production and storage
- Low statics during filling and loading of plastics packaging
- High performance at low concentration, enabling high-performing, mono-material structures and thinner co-extruded and laminated structures, along with thin-wall injection molded packaging
- Excellent anti-static performance at low humidity and low risk of interactions, which is particularly important for electronics packaging
Advanced anti-fogging performance
Our Einar® anti-fogging additives also offer a wide range of benefits, including:
- Einar® anti-fog additives migrate quickly and distribute evenly on the surface of the packaging films and sheets, facilitating an effective performance without oiliness
- High-performance at low dosage levels enables multilayer constructions with thin film layers
- Einar® anti-fog additives’ efficacy also supports mono-layer film constructions and is compatible with the recycling process, thereby improving on the circularity of the plastic items
- Controlled migration helps to enable efficient sealing in very thin layers in coextruded food packaging films
- Reduction of food waste by keeping product packaging clear, transparent, and the food more appealing to the consumer
- Reduce water condensation and dripping onto the packaged food, thereby further reducing food spoilage
- Efficient anti-fog performance in PP films and thermoformed food packaging. Very small amounts of our Einar® additives are effective in keeping such packaging clear and transparent, including for hot foods, creating steam, like clear PP domes on hot chicken containers
#4. What is Palsgaard focused on for future polymer additive development?
Innovation is part of our DNA, and Palsgaard remains at the forefront of polymer additive development by closely collaborating with our clients and customers. We see a growing demand for sustainable yet high-performing polymer additives, driven both by regulations and consumer preferences. Our commitment to sustainability ensures that our products contribute to a greener future while sustaining or enhancing the expected polymer performance.
Understanding and addressing customer concerns is central to our approach. We prioritize safety and regulatory compliance, guaranteeing that our additives are non-toxic and food-contact-approved. By engaging in a dialogue with our clients, we gain insights into their specific challenges and requirements. This collaborative approach allows us to tailor our solutions to meet their needs, providing effective and reliable alternatives to traditional chemistries.
Einar® polymer additives are based on renewable raw materials – still, we continuously explore how we can meet the ever-evolving market needs at our Polymer Application Centre. Our team of experts is dedicated to overcoming obstacles through our knowledge, innovation, and collaboration with customers. Whether we do comparative studies with a customer’s incumbent chemistry or new product development, we approach each challenge with a proactive and solution-oriented mindset. By remaining agile and responsive to market demands, we give our customers confidence in our high-performance additives will help them reach their own success.
#5. Global demand for safe, sustainable additives is rising fast. How is Palsgaard investing to ensure you stay ahead?
For more than a century, Palsgaard has built its reputation on innovation, and we continue to expand globally. Now with more than 800 employees in 16 countries, we doubled production in the Netherlands in 2024, and this year we are doubling production in our home country of Denmark, by adding:
- new emulsifier plants,
- a cooling belt for pelletized products,
- a spray cooling tower for powder products, and
- a robotic warehouse
Finally, we also plan to double emulsifier production in Malaysia by 2028, at the same time as we are adding a new warehouse there. We also operate 9 application centres in 7 countries and sell our products in more than 120 countries.
Palsgaard is growing while staying true to our high standards for safe, sustainable, and innovative products and a collaborative approach that supports our customers’ success.
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Laura Juhl is Application Manager for Palsgaard’s polymer business area. In her role, she serves as a technical support for the global sales team and leads product development projects within the polymer business field with a team of technical specialists. Prior to joining Palsgaard, she worked with product development and R&D at Covestro and Plixxent.
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