Calcium Carbonate
EarthCoating formulations use calcium carbonate, or chalk, to increase mineral content and support recyclable paper packaging.
Coatings
EarthCoating®
The original mineralized resin coating for paper substrates. Made with 40–51% calcium carbonate depending on the formulation, it repulps like clay and is designed for the standard paper recycling stream.
The Technology Behind EarthCoating
A coating engineered to behave differently in recycling.
EarthCoating is a suite of mineralized resin formulations that combine calcium carbonate with polymer resins. Its high mineral content is designed to fracture into small, dense particles in conventional pulping, separating from paper fibers in the same way as mineral clay coatings.
Repulpable Design
During pulping, the coating is engineered to avoid the large, light plastic flakes associated with conventional PE coatings.
Waterproof & Greaseproof
EarthCoating EC-40 provides waterproof and greaseproof barrier performance for paper packaging applications.
Strong Seals
The mineralized resin formulation provides heat-seal and fiber-tear performance designed for standard converting processes.
Cost Competitive
By replacing a portion of polymer with low-cost mineral, EarthCoating is designed to be competitive with conventional polyolefin coatings.
Drop-In Solution
EarthCoating is intended to run on standard extrusion-coating equipment without new capital equipment or process redesign.
The Science
Why EarthCoating Recycles
Recycling compatibility depends on what happens to a coating inside a standard paper pulper.
Conventional PE Coating
Standard polyethylene is thermoplastic. In a hot-water pulper, it can break into large, light flakes that float with paper fibers, complicating pressure screening and contaminating the fiber stream.
EarthCoating
With 40–51% calcium carbonate, EarthCoating is engineered to fracture into small, dense particles. These particles are separated from paper fibers by conventional screening and cleaning equipment, like mineral clay coatings.
Smart Planet reports that EarthCoating-lined paper cups are classified as Path 13 — the premium uncoated paper recycling grade — by Institute Cyclos-HTP. See the recyclability and certifications page for a brief overview.
Cost & Economics
Sustainability without compromise.
EarthCoating is designed as a drop-in alternative to conventional LDPE-coated paper. It supports the required barrier and heat-seal performance while helping converters avoid capital investment and production slowdown.
The material combines polyethylene and calcium carbonate, allowing the lower-cost mineral to replace part of the polymer content. Applied coatweight to coatweight, the company reports material costs that remain competitive with LDPE.
Discuss your application
Formulations
EarthCoating Blends
Available formulations are designed to address common paper packaging applications and processing requirements.
EC-40
40% CaCO₃ + 60% LDPE
The most commonly used blend, designed for waterproof and greaseproof barrier performance and competitive economics.
EC-Bio40
Mineralized PLA + BioPBS
A mineralized blend designed to reduce total resin content while maintaining key packaging and processing advantages.
EC-PP
Mineralized Polypropylene
A formulation designed for higher-temperature applications, including requirements related to microwave use.
Ready to Switch to EarthCoating?
Contact our team to learn how EarthCoating can support sustainable packaging initiatives while helping to reduce material cost and complexity.
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