Totem-oriented Technical Questions

PP plastic materials have many different categories: PP homo polymer, PP/PE copolymer, PP/PE random copolymer, as well as other PP hybrids (ex. PP/PE, PP/EPR, PP/EPDM, PP/EVA, PP/PA…etc.). These PP plastics blend with other materials for different purposes, and so do Totempak's PP materials. In order to ensure Totempak’s PP materials comply with regulations, they are submitted to TUV of LFGB for testing in Germany, and obtained 121℃ heat-resistance certification, complying with food safety regulations.

Food-grade paper without lamination-processing cannot resist water and oil. Paper containers rely on the plastic laminations to provide them with water/oil-resistant capabilities, which afforded them the ability to contain food and drinks. Initial coatings were done with wax, and now No.4 LDPE copolymer lamination has been generally adopted. As for Totempak, we adopt the safer and better heat-resistant No.5 PP copolymer lamination. (Please refer to Dr. Jie-liang Lin's page on the website for more information)

The following reference materials are from JPIA (Japan Plastic Industry Association). No.4 LDPE stands for Low Density Polyethylene, which has a temperature resistance of 70-90℃. It is corrosion and acid/alkali-resistant, which is traditionally utilized in plastic bags, translucent or opaque plastic bottles, as well as interior laminations for paper cups on the market. No.5 PP stands for Polypropylene, which has a heat-resistance of 100-140℃. It is resistant against acid/alkali, chemical substances, impacts, high-temperature, which is traditionally utilized in water cups, pudding boxes, and microwaveable containers.

The initial No.5 PP copolymer lamination paper cup didn't meet the market price due to technological restrictions, low production capacity, and high processing costs, and hence was hard to promote around the globe. Totempak made new advancements in the technology, heightening production capacity to meet economic efficiency. Therefore, when promoting, it is closer to market price, so we are able to provide the consumers with a safer product.

The manufacturing principle behind Totempak's patented watermark is not as same as traditional transparent ink or laser-printing. It utilizes the characteristics of PP lamination, and it is manufactured with physical principles, producing an emboss-like effect, not having any adverse effects on foods or the human body.

Totempak's No.5 PP copolymer lamination paper cups are safer and more heat-resistant than No.4 LDPE in plastic materials, and have a lesser plastic smell. Yet, they are not thermal-insulated. In order to achieve thermal-insulation effect, please order double-layered cups or cup sleeves.

The entire Totempak Nangang plant is ISO22000&HACCP certified, different from how sometimes a certification can be obtained by having a certified machine in one room. Totempak's production plant is a positive-pressured clean room plant, safeguarding issues of dust contaminations and microorganisms for the consumers. After cup stock paperboards come into the factory, they immediately enter the fully 24-hour process management under a fully ISO22000&HACCP certified plant environment. We stringently safeguard and produce high-quality products.

Toxic meal boxes are caused by inadequate traditional printing methods. The powder-spraying drying method adopted by traditional soy-ink printing does not fully dry easily, and the powders are prone to get stuck on the inner surface of the paper in the production process, creating ink-to-food contamination issues. Traditional soy inks are organic solvents, and are not easily cleaned with water and alcohol. Improper companies would sometimes use the carcinogenic toluene to clean the residue ink, creating toxic meal boxes. Totempak adopts the Flexo water-based printing technology, different from soy ink, and does not utilize traditional powder-drying. The Flexo water-based printing utilizes FIR (far infrared) and hot air drying. We comply with FDA-standard raw materials, and our production plant is fully ISO22000&HACCP certified, eliminating all toxic meal box concerns. Our consumers can use at ease.

Most paper containers on the market adopt traditional soy-ink printing. Soy-ink printing has an overly lengthy natural drying time, and is prone to have flaws, therefore, corn starch or industrial starch are mostly used to accelerate the drying speed, decreasing the production time. Yet, spraying starch induces a heightened frictional force in the paper, causing flaws and defections during the forming stage, thus, additional talcum powder is introduced to reduce the friction between the paper and the machine. This is the reason why paper cups produced with traditional solvent-type soy-ink printing method would feel “powder-ish” on the touch, as well as affecting the original taste in foods. Totempak improved the printing technology, and has been promoting non-powder printing continuously in the recent years. It is not only safer, but also retains the original taste in foods.

Paper cups on the market generally adopt oil-printing, and consumers would sometimes consume residual oil-based ink caused by cup-stacking in printing processes. Totempak's Wrapped-Ink technology utilizes a layer of PP coating after printing in order to wrap the ink inside, eliminating any contact with the water-based ink. This is an invention or Taiwan, and a world exclusive technology.