Biodegradable flexible packaging with personal care composition

Abstract

The present invention relates to a biodegradable flexible package in combination with a liquid personal care composition, the biodegradable flexible package comprising a package comprising at least one biodegradable polymer layer and an inorganic layer; a liquid personal care composition comprising from about 14% to about 50% water; from about 20% to about 70% of a humectant; wherein there is a water activity (Aw) of from about 0.40 to about 0.90. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a biodegradable flexible package in combination with a personal care composition, the biodegradable flexible package comprising a package comprising at least one biodegradable polymer layer; a liquid personal care composition comprising from about 14% to about 50% water; from about 20% to about 70% of a humectant; wherein there is a water activity (Aw) of from about 0.40 to about 0.80.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a biodegradable flexible packaging for use with a personal care composition having low water activity and low water content. Background Technology

[0002] Small-sized plastic pouches are small-format plastic packages that allow consumers to access consumer goods with low cash outlays and are typically unit / low-dose packaging. These pouches are typically multi-material laminates made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), and polyethylene (PE), partially metallized, and considered difficult to recycle and highly persistent if they enter the environment. Due to inadequate waste management systems, a significant amount of post-consumer pouch waste today ends up either incinerated or in the ocean / soil, with no or negative post-use value.

[0003] In particular, no solution has been found for unit / low-dose liquid products where the packaging / product also has desired consumer, commercial, technical, and end-of-life (environmental) characteristics.

[0004] To address this problem, the present invention identifies a method for selling liquid shampoos and other personal care products in pouches made of a specific type of biodegradable flexible structure, which would make the pouch less durable than current pouch packaging while maintaining a reasonable product shelf life. However, placing today's liquid shampoos in pouches made of such biodegradable flexible structures is not straightforward, as it has been historically seen that liquid products with high water content and high water activity will damage the less durable biodegradable flexible structure too quickly, making it impossible to achieve a useful shelf life through existing distribution and supply chains in various markets, even when the biodegradable flexible structure includes multiple layers, including barrier layers. Typically, such markets require shelf lives of up to one or two years, while packaging often endures environments such as 40°C and 75% RH (if not higher). However, when typical commercially available liquid shampoos (with high water content and high water activity) are placed within biodegradable flexible packaging, the following events often occur: a) early hydrolysis of the biodegradable polymer layer (which acts as a sealant for the packaging) in direct contact with the liquid product leads to a significant decrease in polymer molecular weight, making the pouch material weaker and more porous; b) the weakened sealant then allows moisture and water to migrate through it at a higher rate into other layers of the biodegradable flexible structure, which may further persist within the structure. In particular, any metallized barrier layers present typically undergo significant corrosion and damage when this occurs. This corrosion and damage can lead to greater moisture and water loss within the pouch; and / or c) the high water content in the formulation results in a high driving force for moisture to leave the packaging to balance with the external atmosphere, leading to high total weight loss, re-drying of the product within the packaging, and a significant increase in product viscosity, ultimately rendering the product unusable. If any or all of the above occurs, this will result in a shortened product shelf life that may be insufficient for a typical distribution system through which consumer products move, and this may subsequently lead to a poorer product performance experience for consumers.

[0005] Especially for liquid shampoos, while one solution could be to switch to dry shampoo, it can be challenging to get most consumers to switch to dry shampoo immediately (many consumers may never switch), and these solutions often require new and expensive capital investment to manufacture the product and packaging.

[0006] In order to make any further progress in manufacturing biodegradable pouches that can contain liquid shampoo products and other personal care compositions, the present invention has found the need to understand whether shampoo and other personal care formulations can actually be sufficiently modified to minimize damage to certain types of biodegradable flexible packaging, while the product still remains a liquid with a sufficiently low viscosity to spread adequately on hair or other surfaces.

[0007] This invention relates to novel shampoo formulations or other personal care compositions (having lower water activity and lower water content than typical shampoos currently on the market, thus posing less risk to biodegradable flexible packaging) in combination with specific types of biodegradable flexible packaging that has sufficient water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) barrier properties to minimize weight loss (and thus help maintain a sufficient shelf life), while also passing specific types of biodegradation tests to ensure that it will not be persistent if released into the environment after use and disposal of the pouch packaging. Generally, the invention aims to match the water activity of the product to the average humidity of the environment in which the product is sold, in order to minimize weight loss or weight gain. In some cases, work has been done to further reduce the water activity of the product so that it can be placed in biodegradable flexible packaging with even worse water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) barrier properties, where weight gain is manageable but weight loss is generally not observed. This solution enables the sale of liquid shampoos (and potentially other fluid personal care products) that still please consumers in pouches made of a biodegradable flexible structure. These pouches are less durable than today’s flexible pouches and still achieve a reasonable product shelf life (1-2 years) to keep the product fit for consumer use, even after passing through the typical distribution system of a typical consumer goods company (from factory to distribution center to store to consumer). Summary of the Invention

[0008] This invention relates to biodegradable flexible packaging in combination with a liquid personal care composition, the biodegradable flexible packaging comprising a package including at least one biodegradable polymer layer and an inorganic layer; a liquid personal care composition comprising about 14% to about 50% water; about 20% to about 70% a wetting agent; and wherein a water activity (Aw) of about 0.40 to about 0.90 is present. Furthermore, this invention relates to biodegradable flexible packaging in combination with a personal care composition, the biodegradable flexible packaging comprising a package including at least one biodegradable polymer layer; a liquid personal care composition comprising about 14% to about 50% water; about 20% to about 70% a wetting agent; and wherein a water activity (Aw) of about 0.40 to about 0.80 is present. Attached Figure Description

[0009] Figure 1a A non-limiting example of a small bag is depicted, which is an isometric view with cross-sectional line reference (1B-1B).

[0010] Figure 1b A cross-sectional view of structure 1 is depicted.

[0011] Figure 2A cross-sectional view of structure 2 is depicted.

[0012] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of structure 3 is depicted.

[0013] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of structure 4 is depicted.

[0014] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of structure 5 is depicted.

[0015] Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of structure 6 is depicted.

[0016] Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of structure 7 is depicted.

[0017] Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of structure 8 is depicted.

[0018] Figure 9 A cross-sectional view of structure 9 is depicted.

[0019] Figure 10 A cross-sectional view of structure 10 is depicted.

[0020] Figure 11 A cross-sectional view of structure 11 is depicted.

[0021] Figure 12 A cross-sectional view of structure 12 is depicted.

[0022] Figure 13 A cross-sectional view of structure 13 is depicted.

[0023] Figure 14 A cross-sectional view of structure 14 is depicted.

[0024] Figure 15 The relationship between structure and composition and weight change (%) is described.

[0025] Figure 16 A cross-sectional view of structure 16 is depicted.

[0026] Figure 17 A cross-sectional view of structure 17 is depicted.

[0027] Figure 18 A cross-sectional view of structure 18 is depicted. Detailed Implementation

[0028] Unless otherwise specified, all percentages and ratios used herein are by weight of the total composition. Unless otherwise specified, all measurements are to be understood as being performed under ambient conditions, where “ambient conditions” means conditions at about 25°C, at about one atmosphere, and at about 50% relative humidity. All numerical ranges are narrower ranges including endpoints; the upper and lower limits of the ranges described are combinable to form additional ranges not explicitly described.

[0029] The compositions of the present invention may comprise, consist of, or be composed of the basic components described herein, as well as optional ingredients. As used herein, “consistently consisting of” means that the composition or component may contain additional ingredients, provided that the additional ingredients do not substantially alter the essential and novel characteristics of the composition or method protected by the claims.

[0030] As used with respect to the composition, “apply” or “spread” means applying or spreading the composition of the present invention onto keratinized tissue such as hair.

[0031] "Dermatologically acceptable" means that the composition or component is suitable for contact with human skin tissue without undue toxicity, incompatibility, instability, allergic response, etc.

[0032] "Safe and effective amount" refers to an amount of compound or composition that is sufficient to significantly induce positive and beneficial effects.

[0033] In the context of this invention, the term "preservative effect" refers to preventing or delaying product deterioration caused by microorganisms present in the product or composition. In the context of this invention, "preservative agent" or "preservative" is a substance that prevents or delays the growth of microorganisms in a product or composition.

[0034] Although this specification concludes with a claim that specifically points out and clearly claims protection for the invention, it is believed that the invention will be better understood through the following description.

[0035] As used in this article, the term "fluid" includes both liquids and gels.

[0036] As used herein, when used in claims, the articles including “a” and “an” should be understood to refer to one or more substances protected or described in the claims.

[0037] As used herein, “includes / contains” means that other steps and other components may be added without affecting the final result. This term encompasses the terms “consisting of” and “substantially consisting of”.

[0038] As used herein, “mixture” is intended to include simple combinations of substances and any compounds that may be produced by such combinations.

[0039] As used herein, unless otherwise specified, “molecular weight” refers to weight-average molecular weight. Molecular weight is measured using industry-standard methods, gel permeation chromatography (“GPC”).

[0040] Given a range of concentrations, these should be understood as the total amount of the components in the composition, or, if more than one substance falls within the range of the component definition, the total amount of all components in the composition conforms to the definition.

[0041] For example, if a composition contains 1% to 5% fatty alcohol, a composition containing 2% stearyl alcohol and 1% cetyl alcohol and no other fatty alcohols will fall within this range.

[0042] The amount of each specific ingredient or mixture thereof described below may be up to 100% (or 100%) of the total amount of ingredients in a personal care composition.

[0043] As used herein, “personal care compositions” include products such as shampoos, body gels, liquid hand cleansers, facial cleansers and other surfactant-based liquid compositions, leave-in hair conditioners, skin washes, creams, lotions and the like.

[0044] As used herein, the terms “including,” “comprising,” and “containing” are intended to be non-restrictive and are understood to mean “having,” “possessing,” and “covering,” respectively.

[0045] Unless otherwise specified, all percentages, parts, and ratios are based on the total weight of the compositions of the present invention. All these weights relating to the listed ingredients are based on the content of the active substance and therefore do not include carriers or byproducts that may be contained in commercially available substances.

[0046] Unless otherwise specified, all component or composition levels refer to the active portion of the component or composition and do not include impurities, such as residual solvents or byproducts, that may be present in commercially available sources of such components or compositions.

[0047] It should be understood that each maximum numerical limit given throughout this specification includes each lower numerical limit, as such lower numerical limits are explicitly stated herein. Each minimum numerical limit given throughout this specification will include each higher numerical limit, as such higher numerical limits are explicitly stated herein. Each numerical range given throughout this specification will include each narrower numerical range falling within such a wider numerical range, as all such narrower numerical ranges are explicitly stated herein.

[0048] As used herein, “biopolymer” or “bioplastic” is intended to include polymers derived from biological materials (typically plant materials).

[0049] As used herein, "biodegradable" is intended to include materials that are readily assimilated by microorganisms (such as molds, fungi, and bacteria) when buried underground or otherwise exposed to microorganisms (including under conditions favorable to microbial growth). When something is biodegradable, it means that the entire structure plus all major components passes one or more of the biodegradability tests listed below. A component is considered a major component if it comprises >10% by weight of the entire structure.

[0050] As used herein, “easily biodegradable” or “intrinsically biodegradable” means a material that meets the readily biodegradable or inherently biodegradable qualification level according to the OECD Chemicals Testing Guide, Method 301 B: CO2 Emissions (Modified Sturm Test) (adopted 17 July 1992).

[0051] As used herein, “home compostable” refers to materials that meet the pass level of TÜV AUSTRIA (2012) OK compostable HOME OK-02e certification. Alternatively, other composting tests that comply with similar testing requirements may be used, such as the Australian Standard AS 5810—2010—“Biodegradable Plastics for Home Composting” for biodegradable plastics.

[0052] As used in this article, “industrial compostable” refers to materials that meet the pass level of TÜV AUSTRIA (2012) OK compostable INDUSTRIAL OK-02e certification.

[0053] As used in this article, passing the "aerobic biodegradation test in marine sediments" means that when placed in a biodegradation test at 25°C according to ISO 23832, the material reaches at least 50% biodegradation within 150 days during the test.

[0054] As used herein, the term "copolymer" is intended to include polymers derived from two or more polymerizable monomers. When used in a general sense, the term "copolymer" also includes more than two different monomers, such as terpolymers. The term "copolymer" also includes random copolymers, block copolymers, and graft copolymers.

[0055] As used in this article, "lateral direction" or "CD" is intended to include the width of the membrane, which is typically perpendicular to the MD direction.

[0056] As used herein, “membrane” is intended to include sheet-like materials in which the length and width of the material far exceed its thickness. As used herein, the terms “membrane” and “sheet” are used interchangeably.

[0057] As used in this article, "longitudinal direction" or MD is intended to include the length of the membrane during its production.

[0058] As used herein, “renewable” is intended to include materials that can be produced from or derived from natural sources that are periodically (e.g., annually or annually) replenished by the action of plants (e.g., crops, edible and inedible grasses, forestry products, seaweed or algae) or microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, fungi or yeast) in 15 terrestrial, aquatic or marine ecosystems.

[0059] As used herein, “recyclable” means paper in use, including in-plant and post-consumer waste paper and paperboard, which can be processed into new paper or paperboard using methods defined in the voluntary standards for repulping and recycling corrugated fiberboard in the presence of water and water vapor to improve its performance (August 16, 2013).

[0060] As used in this article, "flexible" means that it can be easily bent without breaking.

[0061] As used in this article, "inorganic layer" refers to a layer that is not composed of or derived from biological matter.

[0062] As used herein, “water solubility” means the ability of a sample material of at least about 25 grams, at least about 50 grams, at least about 100 grams, or at least about 200 grams to dissolve or disperse completely in water without leaving visible solids or forming a distinct separated phase when treated at 20°C in one liter (1 L) of deionized water and thoroughly stirred at atmospheric pressure.

[0063] Water-insoluble biodegradable polymers for use in sealant layers and other layers

[0064] In this invention, a biodegradable polymer layer (commonly referred to as a sealant or sealant layer or heat sealant layer) that comes into contact with the product may be present, made of a water-insoluble biodegradable polymer. In the packaging industry, these materials are commonly referred to as "bioplastics" as well as "biopolymers" or "biodegradable polymers." In some structures, such a biodegradable polymer layer may also be suitable as a laminate between other layers, such as paper layers and sealant layers. If a polymer is deemed biodegradable after testing, it is considered to have lower durability than a non-biodegradable polymer in the environment associated with the test.

[0065] In this invention, the water-soluble biodegradable polymer can be a thermoplastic polymer. As used herein, a thermoplastic polymer is a polymer that melts and crystallizes or hardens upon cooling, but can be remelted upon further heating. Suitable thermoplastic polymers used herein typically have melt temperatures of 60°C to 300°C, 80°C to 250°C, or 100°C to 215°C. The molecular weight of the thermoplastic polymer is high enough to achieve entanglement between polymer molecules, but low enough, if desired, to be melt-extrudable. Suitable thermoplastic polymers may have a weight-average molecular weight of 1000 kDa or less, 5 kDa to 800 kDa, 10 kDa to 700 kDa, or 20 kDa to 400 kDa. The weight-average molecular weight is determined by the specific ASTM method for each polymer, but is generally measured using gel permeation chromatography (GPC) or by a solution viscosity measurement.

[0066] In this invention, there may be situations where a non-thermoplastic polymer is required for a specific layer within the structure. One example is when a cellulose membrane is needed in the structure. Most biodegradable cellulose membranes are not thermoplastic but are only available as off-the-shelf membranes (produced by solution casting rather than thermoplastic extrusion) to be laminated into the structure.

[0067] Suitable biodegradable polymers also include those biodegradable materials that are environmentally degradable by aerobic or anaerobic digestion procedures or by exposure to environmental factors such as sunlight, rain, moisture, wind, temperature, etc.

[0068] The specific choice of biodegradable polymer will depend on the specific product formulation that the polymer will be in contact with. The choice of biodegradable polymer will also depend on the specific country and the likely end-of-life of the packaging once the product is depleted, as different polymers have different biodegradation rates. For example, some biodegradable polymers biodegrade quickly enough and at sufficiently low temperatures under home composting conditions (which typically operate at lower temperatures than industrial compost piles – laboratory tests simulating home composting typically operate at or near that temperature), and are more prevalent than industrial composting systems. However, some biodegradable polymers degrade much more slowly and require higher temperatures to initiate biodegradation, and are therefore only suitable for disposal under industrial composting conditions (which typically operate at much higher temperatures than home compost piles – laboratory tests simulating industrial composting typically operate at 58°C). Such composting systems are available in some countries, but not all. On the other hand, some biodegradable polymers can biodegrade at temperatures even lower than those observed in home composting systems, and can actually biodegrade if left in nature, such as if they remain in or on soil, or in freshwater or seawater / sediments.

[0069] A) Biodegradable aliphatic and / or aromatic polyesters

[0070] In this invention, possible biodegradable water-insoluble polymers may include biodegradable thermoplastic materials selected from the group consisting of aliphatic and / or aromatic polyesters. Such biodegradable aromatic and / or aliphatic polyesters may be bio-produced (e.g., via large-scale bacterial fermentation) or chemically synthesized. Biodegradable aliphatic and / or aromatic polyesters suitable for the practice of this invention may be copolymers of: i) at least one aliphatic dicarboxylic acid; and / or ii) at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid; and iii) dihydroxy compounds (diols).

[0071] Aliphatic dicarboxylic acids can be C2 to C3. 12 Aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, such as succinic acid, glutaric acid, dimethylglutaric acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, or azelaic acid, and their derivatives (e.g., alkyl esters, acyl chlorides, or their anhydrides). Aromatic dicarboxylic acids may be terephthalic acid or naphthalenedicarboxylic acid. Dihydroxy compounds or diols may be C2-C6 alkanediols or C5-C6 alkanediols. 10 Cycloalkyl glycols (e.g., ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,4-cyclohexanediol, etc.).

[0072] Examples of biodegradable aromatic and / or aliphatic polyesters include, but are not limited to: various copolyesters of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), wherein an aliphatic diacid or diol is incorporated into the polymer backbone to make such copolyesters biodegradable or compostable; and various aliphatic polyesters and copolyesters derived from diacids such as succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, azelaic acid, or their derivatives (e.g., alkyl esters, acyl chlorides, or their anhydrides) and diols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,4-cyclohexanediol, etc. For example, biodegradable aromatic and / or aliphatic polyesters may be selected from the group consisting of: polybutylene terephthalate (PBAT), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polybutylene adipate (PBSA), polylactic acid (PLA), and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), and any combination / mixture thereof.

[0073] The following information provides examples of specific types of biodegradable aromatic and / or aliphatic polyesters:

[0074] i) Example of polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT):

[0075] Polybutylene terephthalate (PBAT) is a copolymer of butylene adipate and butylene terephthalate, combining the properties of both PBA and PBT. PBAT contains flexible aliphatic chains and rigid aromatic chains, thus exhibiting high toughness and high-temperature resistance, and is also biodegradable due to the presence of ester bonds.

[0076] Examples of suppliers selling PBAT include those using the trade name ECOFLEX. ® BASF sells various grades of PBAT; under the brand name Origo-Bi ® Novamont is sold in various grades; under the name Wango ® Zhuhai Wango Chemical Co Ltd, which conducts sales; Ecoworld ® JinHui Zhaolong (which sells its products), Eastman Chemical (which sells its products under the name Eastar Bio), and Xinjiang Blue Ridge Tunhe Polyester Co. Ltd., along with their PBAT products, are among the suppliers. Other suppliers of PBAT currently in Asia include Zhejiang Biodegradable Advanced Material Co. Ltd., Dongguan Xinhai Environmental Protection Material Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Ruijiang Chemical Co., Ltd., Red Avenue New Material Group Co., Ltd., and Jiangsu Torise Biomaterials Co., Ltd. (in China), plus Green Chemical Co., Ltd. and WILLEAP (in South Korea).

[0077] ii) Examples of polybutylene succinate (PBS) and polybutylene adipate succinate (PBSA)

[0078] Polybutylene succinate (PBS) can be obtained by polycondensation of 1,4-butanediol and succinic acid. Polybutylene succinate / adipate ester (PBSA) is obtained by adding adipic acid to 1,4-butanediol and then performing polycondensation of succinic acid.

[0079] Examples of suppliers selling various grades of PBS and PBSA include those using the trade name Bio-PBS. ™The products sold are from Mitsubishi Chemical Group (MCCP); PTTMCC Biochem (a joint venture between PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (GC) and Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC); and are marketed under the trade name Bionelle. ™ Showa Denko, Roquette, and Succinity, as well as Xinjiang BlueRidge Tunhe Polyester Co. Ltd, sell their products, which have PBS and PBSA grades.

[0080] iii) Examples of polylactic acid (PLA)

[0081] Polylactic acid, also known as poly(lactic acid) or polylactide (PLA), is a compound with the skeletal formula (C3H4O). 2n Or [–C(CH3)HC(=O)O–] n Polylactic acid (PLA) is a thermoplastic polyester obtained in the form of lactic acid C(CH3)(OH)HCOOH with water loss. It can also be prepared by ring-opening polymerization of lactide [–C(CH3)HC(=O)O–]2, a cyclic dimer of basic repeating units. PLA typically requires industrial composting conditions to initiate biodegradation. However, it is one of the most resistant biopolymers to aggressive agents. Therefore, it is likely to be used only for the most aggressive products.

[0082] Polylactic acid (PLA) can typically be derived from monomeric units of any isomer of lactic acid, which is a monomeric precursor of PLA. Lactic acid can be obtained through carbohydrate fermentation or conventional chemical synthesis. Also known as "milk acid," it is the simplest hydroxy acid, possessing an asymmetric carbon atom and two optical configurations: the L isomer and the D isomer. Both the L and D isomers can be produced in bacterial systems, while mammalian organisms produce only the L isomer, which is readily assimilated during metabolism.

[0083] Lactic acid is primarily produced through bacterial fermentation of carbohydrates. These fermentation processes can be classified according to the type of bacteria used. Most fermentation processes utilize Lactobacillus species, which produce high yields of lactic acid. Some organisms primarily produce the L isomer, such as *Lactobacillus amylophilus*, *Lactobacilli amylophilius*, *L. bavaricus*, *L. cosei*, and *L. maltaromicus*, while *L. delbrueckii*, *L. jensenii*, or *L. acidophilus* produce the D isomer or a mixture of L and D isomers.

[0084] The synthesis of PLA is a multi-step process that can follow at least three main pathways. In one production pathway, lactic acid undergoes polycondensation to produce a low-molecular-weight, brittle polymer, most of which is unusable unless an external coupling agent is used to increase its chain length. The second pathway is the azeotropic dehydration condensation of lactic acid. This can produce high-molecular-weight PLA without the use of chain extenders or special auxiliaries. The third and primary method involves an intermediate step of forming lactide from lactic acid, followed by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of the lactide to obtain high-molecular-weight PLA.

[0085] Polylactic acid (PLLA) can be a homopolymer or copolymer, such as a homopolymer or copolymer containing monomer units derived from L-lactic acid (in some cases, these may be referred to as PLLA) and monomer units derived from D-lactic acid (in some cases, these may be referred to as PDLA). Multiple PLAs can be included in any desired percentage, each PLA having a different ratio between monomer units derived from L-lactic acid and monomer units derived from D-lactic acid.

[0086] The physical properties of polylactide are related to the enantiomeric purity of the lactic acid stereopolymer. Homopolymer PLA is a linear macromolecule whose molecular structure is determined by its stereochemical composition. Completely amorphous PLA or PLA with up to 40% crystallinity can be produced. PLA resins containing more than 93% L-lactic acid are semi-crystalline, but PLA with 50% to 93% L-lactic acid is completely amorphous. Therefore, the L / D ratio induces or inhibits polymer crystallinity.

[0087] In this invention, PLA may have different density data because the crystalline portion can have a density of 1.29 compared to 1.25 for amorphous materials. PLA is a slow-crystallizing polymer similar to PET. Like PET, PLA can be oriented through processing. Chain orientation increases the mechanical strength of PLLA plastic. If orientation is performed at low temperatures, the resulting PLLA has an enhanced modulus without a significant increase in crystallinity.

[0088] PLA can be plasticized using various methods, such as, but not limited to, oligolactic acid (o-LA), citrates, or low molecular weight polyethylene glycol (PEG). Plasticization increases chain mobility and lowers the glass transition temperature, making PLA less brittle. Other plasticizers may include vitamin-based chemicals, such as RIKEMAL PL-710 from Richen Vitamin Company.

[0089] Examples of suitable polylactic acid polymers that can be used in this invention are commercially available from Biomer, Inc., Krailling, Germany under the name BIOMER (registered trademark) L9000. Other suitable polylactic acid polymers are commercially available from Natureworks LLC, Minnetonka, Minn. (NATUREWORKS (registered trademark)) or Mitsui Chemical (LACEA (registered trademark)). Other suitable polylactic acids are described in U.S. Patents 4,797,468, 5,470,944, 5,770,682, 5,821,327, 5,880,254, and 6,326,458, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

[0090] The number-average molecular weight (“Mn”) of polylactic acid is typically in the range of about 40 kDa to about 160 kDa, and may be about 50 kDa to about 140 kDa, and may be about 80 kDa to about 120 kDa. Similarly, the weight-average molecular weight (“Mw”) of the polymer is also typically in the range of about 80 kDa to about 200 kDa, and may be about 100 kDa to about 180 kDa, and may be about 110 kDa to about 160 kDa.

[0091] The ratio of weight-average molecular weight to number-average molecular weight (“Mw / Mn”), i.e., the “polydispersity index”, is also relatively low. For example, the polydispersity index is typically in the range of about 1.0 to about 3.0, can be about 1.1 to about 2.0, and can be about 1.2 to about 1.8. Weight-average molecular weight and number-average molecular weight can be determined by methods known to those skilled in the art.

[0092] The apparent viscosity of polylactic acid can also be from about 50 Pascal-seconds (Pas) to about 600 Pas, from about 100 Pas to about 500 Pas, or from about 200 Pas to about 400 Pas, as determined at a temperature of 190°C and a shear rate of 1000 sec. The melt flow rate of polylactic acid (on a dry basis), determined at a load of 2160 g and 190°C, can also be in the range of about 0.1 g / 10 min to about 40 g / 10 min, from about 0.5 g / 10 min to about 20 g / 10 min, or from about 5 g / 10 min to about 15 g / 10 min.

[0093] Aliphatic biopolymers such as PLA are biodegradable. The main abiotic degradation phenomena involve thermal and hydrolytic degradation. During composting, PLA degrades in a multi-step process involving different mechanisms. Primarily, PLA degrades via hydrolytic degradation following exposure to moisture through abiotic mechanisms.

[0094] iv) Examples of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs)

[0095] In this invention, the aliphatic and / or aromatic polyesters used may be derived from a family of polymers called polyhydroxyalkanoates (also known as "PHAs"). These polymers can be synthesized in fermentation plants by plants or bacteria fed with specific substrates such as glucose. In many cases, the structural or mechanical properties of PHAs can be tailored to meet the specifications of the desired end product. PHAs and their copolymers can degrade aerobicly and anaerobically. This makes them particularly suitable for composting or for rapid and complete degradation in the environment.

[0096] These bioplastics are typically sold in the form in which the plastic is suspended in an aqueous emulsion and can be dried into films (forming dispersion coatings) on a variety of substrates, although they can also be sold in granular form for extrusion film formation and coating—which is more relevant to this invention due to the need for complete containment of the liquid formulation. Extruded films are better than dispersion coatings at retaining the liquid formulation because they tend to contain fewer pinholes, reducing the chance of leakage of the liquid formulation through the sealant. Coatings formed via dispersion coating tend to be used more often to form sealants containing the dried product.

[0097] The resulting PHA can be made from a variety of different copolymers. For example, Danimer Scientific, Inc. produces poly(β-hydroxyalkanoate), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (NODAX). ™Kaneka produces poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate). Non-limiting examples of PHA copolymers include those described in U.S. Patent No. 5,498,692. Other PHA copolymers can be synthesized by methods known to those skilled in the art, such as ring-opening polymerization of microorganisms, β-lactones, dehydration condensation of hydroxyalkyl acids, and dealcoholization condensation of alkyl ethers of hydroxyalkyl acids, as described in Volova, “Polyhydroxy Alkanoates Plastic Materials of the 21st Century: Production, Properties, and Application,” Nova Science Publishers, Inc. (2004), which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0098] In this invention, examples of structural units used to form PHA resins may include 3-hydroxyalkanoates, which may be represented by the following formula (1):

[0099] [O-CHR-CH2-CO],

[0100] Where R is C p H 2p+1 The alkyl group is represented by p, where p is an integer from 1 to 15, 1 to 10, and 1 to 8. Examples of R include straight-chain or branched alkyl groups, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, and hexyl groups.

[0101] A particularly interesting group of PHA resins are homopolymers and / or copolymers containing repeating structural units of 3-hydroxybutyrate (hereinafter referred to as "P3HB"), either alone or in combination with one or more other repeating structural units.

[0102] In this invention, the blend may be made from at least two P3HB copolymers containing the same monomer components or structural units but different molar percentages, while providing at least two P3HB copolymers in specific amounts to form a polymer resin blend having PHA as the main component but still having satisfactory processability and mechanical properties.

[0103] The P3HB copolymer in the blend may contain a 3-hydroxybutyrate repeating structural unit (hereinafter referred to as "3HB") combined with another type of repeating structural unit, such as 3-hydroxypropionate, 4-hydroxybutyrate (hereinafter referred to as "4HB"), 3-hydroxyvalerate (hereinafter referred to as "3HV"), 3-hydroxyhexanoate (hereinafter referred to as "3HH"), 3-hydroxyheptanoate, 3-hydroxyoctanoate, 3-hydroxynonanoate, 3-hydroxydecanoate, 3-hydroxyundecanoate, etc. In this invention, the PHA copolymer may be poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) or poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate). More specifically, the PHA copolymer may be poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) containing the same 3HB and 3HH structural units but with different molar percentages.

[0104] In a specific example, the P3HB copolymer comprises a first poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) resin (hereinafter referred to as "P3HB3HH") containing a first molar % (i.e., x) of 3HH structural units. x " and a second poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) resin containing a second molar % (i.e., y) of 3HH structural units (hereinafter referred to as "P3HB3HH") y ”, wherein the second mole% is higher than the first mole% (i.e., y>x).

[0105] The weight-average molecular weight of the PHA resin used in this invention is not limited to a specific range. The PHA resin of this invention is characterized by a weight-average molecular weight in the range of 100 kDa to 1,000 kDa, or 200 kDa to 900 kDa, or 300 kDa to 800 kDa. When the weight-average molecular weight of the PHA resin is below 100 kDa, the mechanical properties of the resin are significantly weakened, making them unsatisfactory for forming molded articles. When the weight-average molecular weight of the PHA resin is above 1,000 kDa, the processability of the melt form of such resins is significantly reduced, making them difficult to process.

[0106] The weight-average molecular weight of PHA resin can be measured as the polystyrene equivalent molecular weight using a chloroform solution of the resin or resin components via gel permeation chromatography (HPLC GPC system manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation). The column used in gel permeation chromatography can be any column suitable for weight-average molecular weight measurement.

[0107] The method for producing PHA resin is not limited to a specific technology. It can be a chemical synthesis method or a microbial production method. In this invention, the PHA resin used can be microbially produced. The microbial production method used can be any known method. Non-limiting examples of bacteria that produce P3HB copolymers include *Ralstonia eutropha*, *Aeromonas caviae*, and *Alcaligenes eutrophus*, particularly bacteria incorporating the P3HH synthase gene. Such microorganisms are cultured under suitable conditions to allow the accumulation of P3HB3HH in their cells, and the microbial cells accumulating P3HB3HH are used. Depending on the PHA resin to be produced, genetically modified microorganisms incorporating any suitable PHA resin synthesis-related genes can be used instead of the aforementioned microorganisms. The culture conditions, including the substrate type, can be optimized according to the PHA resin to be produced.

[0108] Other commercially available examples of PHA resins that can be used in this invention include PHBV, P3HB4HB, and P3HB, which are available from Ningbo Tianan, Ecomann, and CJ Cheiljedang.

[0109] V) Examples of other blends of aliphatic and / or aromatic polyesters

[0110] In this invention, aliphatic and / or aromatic polyesters not yet mentioned may include polycaprolactone. Poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) is typically obtained by ring-opening polymerization of e-caprolactone in the presence of metal alkoxides (e.g., aluminum isopropoxide, tin octoate). PCL exhibits very low Tg (-61°C) and low Tm (65°C), which can be a disadvantage in some applications. Therefore, PCL is often blended or modified (e.g., copolymerized, crosslinked). PCL can be hydrolyzed and biodegraded by fungi. PCL can be readily degraded by enzymes. In this invention, this may also include nylon, such as polyamide-6 or polyamide-6,6. Suppliers of polycaprolactone may include BASF, etc.

[0111] In this invention, aliphatic and / or aromatic polyesters not yet mentioned may include polyglycolic acid (PGA) polymers, also known as polyglycolic acid. This is a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer and the simplest linear aliphatic polyester. It can be prepared from glycolic acid via polycondensation or ring-opening polymerization. Kureha (USA) is an example supplier of PGA polymers.

[0112] Polypropylene carbonate (PPC) - This invention may include polypropylene carbonate (PPC), also known as poly(propylene carbonate). It is an aliphatic polycarbonate plastic material. The ester groups give the main chain molecular flexibility. It is prepared by reacting carbon dioxide and propylene oxide. Suppliers of PPC may include Empower Materials, SK Energy, Moyomer, and Tianguan Group.

[0113] B) Thermoplastic starch

[0114] In this invention, the water-insoluble polymer may include specific grades of thermoplastic starch (e.g., MATER-BI from Novamont or PLANIC from Plantic / Kuraray, BIOTEC, AGRANA Beteiligungs AG and Grupa Azoty). ® ).

[0115] Starch is a low-cost, naturally occurring biopolymer. Starch can be selected from the group consisting of natural starch, modified starch, or mixtures thereof. In this invention, the starch used can be natural or in its natural state.

[0116] In this invention, substituted starches can be used. In this invention, the starch can be modified during processing to produce a thermoplastic starch composition. The thermoplastic starch composition may also contain a plasticizer.

[0117] C) Heterogeneous blends of different biodegradable polymers

[0118] In this invention, the biodegradable polymer can consist of a heterogeneous blend of various different biodegradable polymers—because this allows manufacturers to achieve an optimal balance of properties, such as balancing biodegradation rate and resistance to formulations that come into direct contact with the biodegradable polymer. One example may include PBAT (e.g., under the trade name ECOFLEX). ® The BASF version sold) and PLA (e.g., from Nature Works LLC, which is sold by BASF under the trade name Ecovio) ®PBAT is often blended with PLA to provide greater chemical resistance, hydrolysis resistance, or improved processability, while still balancing the rate of biodegradation and the temperature required to initiate biodegradation. Another example of a heterogeneous blend is PBAT blended with starch, manufactured by Novamont, which sells various grades of PBAT under the trade name Materbi. Yet another example of a heterogeneous blend of polymers is PBAT with starch, manufactured by JinHui ZhaoLong High Technology under the trade name Ecowill. Another example is blends of PLA and PHA sold by Danimer Scientific, Inc., which are blended together to obtain the best overall properties of both polymers and are typically sold under the Nodax brand name. In some cases, soluble biodegradable polymers (as described in later sections) may also be blended with insoluble polymers.

[0119] D) Additives and fillers

[0120] The biodegradable polymer layer of the present invention may also contain one or more additives or fillers.

[0121] The intended fillers include, but are not limited to, inorganic fillers such as oxides of magnesium, aluminum, silicon, and titanium. These materials can be added as inexpensive fillers or processing aids. Other inorganic materials that can be used as fillers include hydrated magnesium silicate, titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate, clay, chalk, boron nitride, limestone, diatomaceous earth, mica, glass, quartz, and ceramics. In addition, inorganic salts, including alkali metal salts, alkaline earth metal salts, and phosphates, can be used. Furthermore, alkyd resins can be added to the composition. Alkyd resins may contain polyols, polyacids or anhydrides, and / or fatty acids.

[0122] The envisioned nanoparticles can be selected from the group consisting of: metals, metal oxides, allotropes of carbon, clays, organically modified clays, sulfates, nitrides, hydroxides, oxy / hydroxides, particulate water-insoluble polymers, silicates, phosphates, and carbonates. Specific examples may include silica, carbon black, graphite, graphene, fullerenes, expanded graphite, carbon nanotubes, talc, calcium carbonate, bentonite, montmorillonite, kaolin, zinc glycerol, silica, aluminosilicates, boron nitride, aluminum nitride, barium sulfate, calcium sulfate, antimony oxide, feldspar, mica, nickel, copper, iron, cobalt, steel, gold, silver, platinum, aluminum, calcium silicate, alumina, zirconium oxide, titanium dioxide, cerium oxide, zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, tin oxide, iron oxide (Fe2O3, Fe3O4), and mixtures thereof. Nanoparticles can increase the strength, thermal stability, and / or abrasion resistance of the compositions disclosed herein, and can impart electrical properties to the compositions.

[0123] In specific respects, fillers may include renewable fillers. These may include, but are not limited to, lipids (e.g., hydrogenated soybean oil, hydrogenated castor oil), cellulose (e.g., cotton, wood, hemp, cardboard), lignin, bamboo, straw, grass, kenaf, cellulose fibers, chitin, deacetylated chitosan, flax, keratin, algae fillers, natural rubber, nanocrystalline starch, nanocrystalline cellulose, collagen, whey, gluten, and combinations thereof. Some of these additives may themselves be biodegradable.

[0124] Such one or more additives may be present in amounts ranging from 1% to 40% by weight, or 2% to 30% by weight, or 4% to 15% by weight. In this invention, the biodegradable membrane may contain little or no such one or more additives.

[0125] E) Other ingredients

[0126] The biodegradable polymer layer of the present invention may also contain one or more other components without impairing the effects of the invention. Examples of other components that may be included are: nucleating agents, lubricants, plasticizers, antistatic agents, flame retardants, conductive additives, heat insulation materials, crosslinking agents, antioxidants, ultraviolet absorbers, colorants, inorganic fillers, organic fillers, hydrolysis inhibitors, etc. Non-limiting examples of nucleating agents for PHA and other polymers include pentaerythritol, orotic acid, aspartame, cyanuric acid, glycine, zinc phenylphosphonate, and boron nitride. Among these, pentaerythritol may be used because it is particularly effective in accelerating the crystallization of PHA resin components. Non-limiting examples of lubricants for PHA and other polymers include behenamide, oleamide, erucamide, stearamide, palmitamide, N-stearyl behenamide, N-stearyl erucamide, ethylene bis-stearamide, ethylene bis-stearamide, ethylene bis-oleamide, ethylene bis-erucamide, ethylene bis-lauramide, ethylene bis-decanoamide, p-phenylene bis-stearamide, and condensation products of ethylenediamine, stearic acid, and sebacic acid. Among these, behenamide and erucamide may be used because they are particularly effective at lubricating PHA resin components.

[0127] In this invention, the biodegradable polymer layer may contain a surfactant. Suitable surfactants may belong to the nonionic, cationic, anionic, or amphoteric categories. Surfactants may also include anionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, or combinations of anionic and amphoteric surfactants, as well as combinations thereof, such as those disclosed in, for example, U.S. Patents 3,929,678 and 4,259,217 and EP 414 549, WO93 / 08876 and WO93 / 08874. Suitable surfactants may be, but are not limited to, poloxamer (polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene glycol), alcohol ethoxylates, alkylphenol ethoxylates, tertiary acetylenols and alkanolamides (nonionic), polyoxyethylene amines, quaternary ammonium salts and polyoxyethylene quaternary amines (cationic), and amine oxides, N-alkyl betaine and sulfobetaine (amphoteric). Other suitable surfactants are sodium sulfosuccinate, acylated fatty acid esters of glycerol and propylene glycol, fatty acid lactoyl esters, sodium alkyl sulfate, polysorbate 20, polysorbate 60, polysorbate 65, polysorbate 80, lecithin, acetylated fatty acid esters of glycerol and propylene glycol, and acetylated esters of five fatty acids, as well as combinations thereof.

[0128] The biodegradable polymer layer according to the invention may contain a lubricant / stripping agent. Suitable lubricants / stripping agents are, but are not limited to, fatty acids and their salts, fatty alcohols, fatty acid esters, fatty amines, fatty amine acetates, and fatty amides. The lubricant / stripping agent may be fatty acids, fatty acid salts, fatty amine acetates, and mixtures thereof.

[0129] The biodegradable polymer layer according to the present invention may include fillers, extenders, antiblocking agents, and anti-sticking agents. Suitable extenders, antiblocking agents, and anti-sticking agents are, but are not limited to, starch, modified starch, cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone, cross-linked cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, silica, metal oxides, calcium carbonate, talc, and mica.

[0130] The biodegradable polymer layer may include antistatic agents, such as fabric softeners known to provide beneficial antistatic effects. These may include those fabric softeners having fatty acyl groups with an iodine value greater than 20, such as N,N-di(tartrazine-oxyethyl)-N,N-dimethylmethylammonium sulfate.

[0131] Non-limiting examples of plasticizers for PHA polymers particularly include epoxidized soybean oil, glycerol ester compounds, citrate compounds, sebacic acid ester compounds, adipate compounds, polyether ester compounds, benzoate compounds, phthalate compounds, isosorbide compounds, polycaprolactone compounds, and diester compounds. Glycerol ester compounds, citrate compounds, sebacic acid ester compounds, and diester compounds can be used in this invention because they provide plasticizing effects on polyhydroxyalkanoate resin components. Examples of glycerol ester compounds include glyceryl diacetyl monolaurate. Examples of citrate compounds include tributyl acetyl citrate. Examples of sebacic acid ester compounds include dibutyl sebate. Examples of diester compounds include benzyl methyl diethylene glycol adipate, etc. Additionally, epoxidized soybean oil can be used because it is non-toxic and has excellent biodegradability.

[0132] F) Cellulose polymers used to prepare cast cellulose films

[0133] This invention utilizes cast cellulose membranes within multilayer structures. These membranes are made from biodegradable but not thermoplastic cellulose polymers and therefore must be fabricated using a specialized membrane solution casting process. One reason for using such membranes is that when a very good moisture barrier layer is required, this can be achieved by utilizing a cast cellulose membrane already coated on at least one or both sides. The highest level of barrier is achieved when one side of the cast cellulose membrane is metallized by coating it with a very thin aluminum vapor deposition layer. An example of a supplier of various biodegradable cellulose membranes coated with a barrier layer is Futamura, which uses the brand name Natureflex. ™ These types of films are sold. They are typically placed as an interlayer between the heat-sealing layer and any outer layer, such as paper. A non-limiting example of such a film is its Natureflex. ™ NM membrane, which is a metallized cellulose membrane with a WVTR barrier of approximately 10 g / m2.day at 38°C / 90%RH.

[0134] Inorganic layer acting as a barrier layer

[0135] Adding an inorganic layer at a point within the layered structure of a biodegradable flexible structure can act as a barrier layer and help reduce the overall water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of the structure. The quality of this layer and how its integrity is maintained are crucial to preserving the good WVTR barrier properties of the entire structure. Its interaction with the layers below and above it is important for achieving the best possible barrier properties for the entire structure.

[0136] In many cases, an inorganic layer is deposited onto one side of a biodegradable polymer layer that serves as a sealant layer for packaging via vapor deposition. In this invention, the inorganic layer can also be deposited (also via vapor deposition) onto one side of an intermediate biodegradable polymer layer, separate from the biodegradable polymer layer serving as a sealant for packaging. In this invention, it can also be deposited onto a paper layer via vapor deposition—more specific details regarding this possibility are described in later sections. In still other cases, the inorganic layer can be deposited onto the paper layer via a transfer metallization process. In other cases, a solution coating process can be used to deposit the inorganic layer from an aqueous solution or other solution.

[0137] A) Vapor deposition of inorganic layers

[0138] In this invention, suitable vapor-deposited inorganic coatings can be formed from metals. Suitable vapor-deposited inorganic coatings can also be formed from metal oxides and related compounds.

[0139] Inorganic layers can be optically opaque, translucent, or transparent, depending on the specific chemical properties applied. Typically, metal barrier layers such as aluminum will produce opaque barrier layers, while metal oxide barrier layers such as alumina or silicon dioxide will produce transparent barrier layers.

[0140] In this invention, suitable inorganic coatings can be formed by vapor deposition of metals, including but not limited to aluminum, magnesium, titanium, tin, indium, silicon, carbon, gold, silver, chromium, zinc, copper, cerium, hafnium, tantalum, and diamond-like carbon.

[0141] In this invention, suitable inorganic coatings can be formed by vapor deposition of metal oxides, metal nitrides, and related compounds. As used herein, metal oxides include aluminum oxide (e.g., Al₂O₃), aluminum carbide, aluminum nitride, magnesium oxide, titanium oxide (such as titanium dioxide, titanium oxide (3), or titanium monoxide), zinc oxide, tin oxide, yttrium oxide, or zirconium oxide (e.g., zirconium monoxide), calcium oxide, boron oxide, or metal-like oxides (such as silicon oxide, silicon carbide, and silicon nitride). Silicon oxide coatings or nitride-based coatings can also be selected from SiO₂. X (where x is an integer from 1 to 4) or SiO X N Y The coating consists of a group of groups (where each of x and y is an integer from 1 to 3).

[0142] In this invention, the barrier layer may be a single-component vapor deposition layer comprising at least one of the above-mentioned groups, or comprising a layer comprising SiO2. xA bicomponent vapor-phase deposition layer consisting of at least one combination of two components from the group consisting of Al2O3, SiO / ZnO, SiO / CaO, SiO / B2O3 and CaO / Ca(OH)2.

[0143] In this invention, various processes can be used to vapor-deposit metals and metal oxides. For example, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or physical vapor deposition (PVD) processes can be used to vapor-deposit metal or metal oxide coatings. Generally, most CVD processes are suitable due to the stability of metals, metal oxides, and metal oxide precursors.

[0144] In this invention, plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) can be used to form vapor-deposited inorganic coatings. In this invention, atomic layer chemical vapor deposition (ALCVD) can be used.

[0145] Plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition (PCVD) is an improved chemical vapor deposition process in which the thermal activation energy is provided by high-energy plasma instead of direct heat. A PCVD process that can be used for the films described herein includes the following steps: vaporizing a metal or metal oxide precursor; introducing plasma to thermally modify the precursor and form an intermediate compound; and cooling the intermediate compound to form a coating on at least one surface of the structure to be coated. PCVD processes can be particularly advantageous because such processes provide the thermal energy required for vapor deposition without melting or otherwise damaging the structure to be coated.

[0146] To form a metal oxide coating, various precursor compounds can be vaporized. For example, tetramethylsilane (“TMS”) and trimethylaluminum (“TMA”) can be vaporized, respectively, to form silicon dioxide (“SiO2”) and aluminum oxide (“Al2O3”) coatings. Hexamethyldisilazane (“HMDS”), hexamethyldisiloxane (“HMDSO”), and tetraethyl orthosilicate (“TEOS”) can be similarly vaporized to form silicon oxide (“SiO2”) coatings. x ")coating.

[0147] In this invention, atomic layer chemical vapor deposition (ALVDC) can be used to deposit metal oxides or even metals. ALVDC is a chemical vapor deposition process based on sequential, self-saturating surface reactions. In such a process, metal oxide precursors are pulsed into the chemical vapor deposition chamber and deposited layer by layer.

[0148] In this invention, physical vapor deposition (PVD) processes can be utilized. Unlike chemical vapor deposition (CVD), PVD uses physical methods such as heating or sputtering to generate vapor from a solid precursor. The vaporized compound is adsorbed onto the substrate to be coated to directly form a thin layer. Suitable PVD processes for forming inorganic layers in this invention may include sputtering, such as magnetron sputtering, thermal evaporation, and electron beam (“e-beam”) evaporation.

[0149] In this invention, the physical vapor deposition process does not require the use of precursor compounds; instead, it directly vaporizes the material of the final coating. For example, an alumina coating can be formed on the surface of the structure to be coated by sputtering or electron beam evaporation of solid aluminum granules or particles. In this invention, inorganic layer coatings can be applied by sputtering, ion plating, or via a sol-gel method.

[0150] In this invention, the specific choice of inorganic coating will depend on the end application. Generally, metal oxides are more brittle than metals, while metals can be slightly more flexible than metal oxides. In this invention, it has been found that when aluminum is used to form the inorganic layer, a lower moisture permeability can be obtained than if silicon oxide is used. Compared to using metals, metal oxide coatings tend to form multiple microcracks extending within the inorganic coating more easily, which can be detrimental to optimizing moisture and oxygen permeability. Some metal oxides form very transparent inorganic layers, while some metals produce very opaque inorganic layers. This can provide beneficial effects to maximize paper recyclability and minimize any optical defects in recycled paper, or to construct translucent barrier paper layers that allow the product inside the packaging to be seen. Therefore, in this invention, it may include the use of metal oxide barrier coatings, even if the barrier properties are not as good as those achieved via metal barrier coatings.

[0151] In this invention, specific treatments can be used to clean the top of the biodegradable polymer to which the inorganic layer will be deposited, maximizing adhesion between the inorganic layer and the underlying biodegradable polymer film. Examples include plasma treatment, solvent treatment, flame treatment, corona treatment, photon ablation treatment, electron beam irradiation treatment, ion bombardment treatment, ultraviolet treatment, vacuum annealing, or physical abrasion treatment. For example, prior to vapor deposition of the inorganic coating, the surface of the polymer layer can be ablated using helium-oxygen plasma or argon-oxygen plasma at a power of 100 W to approximately 150 W and a flow rate of 30.0 L / min. Other gases can also be used for plasma ablation, including nitrogen and ammonia. It is understood that in this invention, the surface of the primer layer can be partially ablated, substantially completely ablated, or completely ablated. Certain ablation processes can also functionalize the surface and provide functional groups to enable adhesion of the vapor-deposited inorganic coating. Certain vapor deposition processes can eliminate the need for treatment steps. For example, plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition processes inherently clean the primer layer and minimize any need to prepare the primer layer before applying the inorganic coating.

[0152] In this invention, two or more physically separate vapor-deposited inorganic coatings may be applied to the structure. In this invention, the inorganic coating layers may be stacked on top of each other. In this invention, a primer layer may be used between each inorganic layer to protect them. Each additional vapor-deposited inorganic coating may be applied in a manner similar to the aforementioned vapor-deposited inorganic coatings, or they may be applied in a different manner.

[0153] A diagram is shown on page 39 of the fourth edition of the Metallization Technology Reference published by the Association of Industrial Metallizers Coaters and Laminators, illustrating a typical apparatus for applying an inorganic layer to a roll of substrate.

[0154] In this invention, the thickness of the inorganic layer can be 2nm-1,000nm, 10nm-200nm, or 20nm-100nm. In this invention, the thickness ratio of the inorganic layer to the polymer layer can be approximately 20 to approximately 20,000.

[0155] B) Inorganic layer laid by water-based coating

[0156] In this invention, the inorganic layer can be formed by depositing an aqueous nanocomposite dispersion onto a suitable layer, which will be part of a multilayer structure of a biodegradable flexible packaging. Water is then removed from the aqueous nanocomposite dispersion to obtain a water-dispersible barrier layer. In this invention, such an inorganic layer can be made of nanoclay. In this invention, the inorganic layer deposited by the aqueous coating can be a lithium montmorillonite clay layer. Further disclosures regarding lithium montmorillonite can be found in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2023 / 0234096 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2023 / 0235510, which are incorporated herein by reference. The inorganic layer can also be a Cloisite clay layer. Further disclosures regarding Cloisite can be found in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20220112664.

[0157] In this invention, the inorganic layer can be laid on different or multiple surfaces of the biodegradable polymer layer or other suitable biodegradable substrate.

[0158] paper layer

[0159] In this invention, where paper is present in the structure, the paper can be biodegradable without leaving a persistent, potentially harmful material in the environment, and can be recycled in a typical paper recycling stream. In practice, the paper is typically not only made from 100% cellulose fibers, but also contains polymer binders, mineral sizing agents, brighteners, surfactants, and other additives. These other components are suitably selected to ensure that (a) if the packaging is improperly disposed of in the environment, the paper will biodegrade to meet certain international biodegradation standards and will not cause any ecotoxicity issues; and / or (b) if the packaging is recycled, the paper will break down in the repulping unit at the paper recycling machine and release the maximum amount of cellulose fibers for use in the manufacture of recycled paper; and / or (c) if the packaging is sent to composting (domestic or industrial), the paper will biodegrade in the composting system.

[0160] For paper to be considered recyclable, a paper recycling machine can obtain at least 50% by weight of cellulose fibers from an incoming batch of paper-based waste. For this purpose, the packaging can contain at least between 50% and 100% by weight of cellulose fibers, between 65% and 98% by weight, or between 75% and 95% by weight of cellulose fibers.

[0161] It is also contemplated that the paper layer itself may contain recycled materials (made of natural or synthetic fibers). For example, any paper present in the structure of the present invention may contain more than 10% by weight, more than 20% by weight, or more than 30% by weight of recycled materials, specifically listing all values ​​within these ranges and any ranges arising therefrom. The paper layer may contain between 0% and 100% virgin paper or recycled paper or mixtures thereof.

[0162] The presence of recycled materials can be visually inspected on the packaging. For example, manufacturers may advertise the use of recycled materials to attempt to demonstrate their eco-friendly product approach. To further expand on this example, some manufacturers may utilize logos, such as leaves, and wording indicating the use of recycled materials in the packaging. Typically, manufacturers may also specify the percentage of recycled materials used, such as over 50%, over 70%, etc.

[0163] Visual inspection can be as simple as using the human eye to check for signs indicating the use of recycled materials on packaging. Visual inspection can include microscopy, such as optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, or other suitable methods known in the art. For example, packaging materials containing recycled paper fibers may look different under a microscope because of the wider range of natural fiber types available compared to packaging materials containing 100% non-recycled paper from a single or narrow group of tree or plant types. Also, under a microscope (likely a scanning electron microscope), recycled fibers may exhibit more fibrillation than their virgin fiber counterparts due to their processing.

[0164] Non-limiting examples of paper suitable for forming biodegradable and recyclable paper layers as part of this invention include Leine Nature from Sappi. ® Paper (basic weight = 85g / m³) 2 This paper is a glossy paper certified as "OK Home Compost"; it is a special kraft paper from UPM, branded as Lucent. It is also made from NiklaSelect V natural fabric-textured paper (99g / m²) sourced from Brigli and Bergmeister. 2 Paper with adhesive applied only on one side; PackPro 7.0 paper (80g / m²) from Brigli and Bergmeister. 2 Paper with adhesive on both sides; from BillerudKorsnäs ™ Axello paper (including tough white paper from Axello, 80g / m²) 2 It is designed to be tougher than many other papers and therefore has some advantages in the distribution chain; and SCG Glassine paper (58g / m²) from SCG / Prepack.2 As shown in the table below, these papers passed the paper recycling programs of Western Michigan University in the United States and the PTS Institute in Germany. These papers also passed the OECD 301B biodegradability screening test, undergoing at least 60% biodegradation within 60 days.

[0165] <![CDATA[Leine Nature ® 85g / m 2 SappiL]]> pass pass pass <![CDATA[NiklaSelect V natural linen paper 100g / m 2 Brigl and Bergmeister]]> pass pass pass <![CDATA[PackPro 7.0 80g / m 2 Brigl and Bergmeister pass pass pass <![CDATA[Axello ® 80g / m² tough white paper 2 BillerudKorsnäs]]> pass pass pass <![CDATA[Glassine 58g / m 2 SCG Packaging]]> NA* NA* pass Special kraft paper in 40gsm, 62gsm, 78gsm and 90gsm UPM NA* NA* NA* Paper grade West Michigan Paper Recycling Program PTS Paper Recycling Program OECD 301B Biodegradation Test

[0166] *NA - Unavailable

[0167] Other suitable papers may include, but are not limited to, papers specifically prepared for subsequent decorative metallization, such as Nikkalett Spezial TD paper (60 g / m²) from Brigli and Bergmeister. 2 ).

[0168] To withstand the harsh conditions of high-speed manufacturing processes (where products are placed in packaging made of the laminates disclosed in this invention) and the harsh conditions of transportation, the paper layers must be strong and flexible enough.

[0169] Cellulose fibers used in papermaking can be derived from tree fibers (including cork and hardwood) as well as non-tree fibers, which typically have shorter fibers and include, but are not limited to, bamboo, grass, hemp, kenaf, flax, corn husks, cotton stalks, coffee grounds, bagasse, rice straw, wheat straw, algae, abaca, tamarisk, fine-stemmed needlegrass, milkweed fiber, pineapple leaf fiber, wood fiber, pulp fiber, etc. Some papers can be blended with a range of different fibers from various sources.

[0170] Paper with an inorganic layer incorporated on its surface

[0171] As mentioned above, the present invention may include laying an inorganic layer on one surface of paper, rather than laying it on a biodegradable polymer layer, or laying it on an intermediate biodegradable polymer layer.

[0172] Three non-limiting examples of how inorganic layers can be deposited onto paper include: a) vacuum deposition; b) deposition from aqueous nanocomposite dispersions; and c) the transfer of metallized layers from another metallized substrate onto a paper structure. This is sometimes referred to as a “transfer metallization process.” Information on this has been given and can be referenced in the “Inorganic Layers” section of this paper.

[0173] A) Vapor deposition onto paper

[0174] In this invention, it is advantageous that the paper is as flat as possible on at least one side, because this side will need to be coated with additional sizing agents, primers, etc., before the inorganic layer is laid. If it is too rough, the sizing agents and primers, as well as the inorganic layer, may be absorbed into the rough paper surface and never actually form a continuous layer. Before adding these additional coatings, the paper can be made as flat as possible during the manufacturing process by “sizing,” which in the industry means coating it with an aqueous polymer suspension containing various low-cost inorganic fillers such as clay, calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, methylcellulose, silica, etc. The suspension is then dried, and the paper is calendered to deliver a flatter surface than before sizing, as the inorganic fillers and binders dry to fill the porous, rough surface of the paper. In some cases, both sides of the paper are sizing to the same or different degrees. In this invention, the paper can be mechanically varnished during the papermaking process by a mechanical ironing / pressing step, which sometimes involves heating—in which case, the paper fibers are squeezed together and flattened to densify the paper surface and remove porosity. In some cases, sizing and mechanical varnishing are combined to achieve an even flatter, more perfect surface during the papermaking process, followed by a barrier layer coating. In other cases, kraft paper, cellophane, or tracing paper can be used because these types of paper are inherently very flat. These papers are manufactured by densifying the paper structure throughout its thickness during the manufacturing process and therefore do not require further sizing or varnishing. Paper layers can also be prepared using foam-forming processes, an improved papermaking process that uses water-based foam instead of water.

[0175] The smoothness of a paper surface coated with a barrier layer can be measured using a 3D LSM. Typically, the roughness (S) on the side where the barrier layer is coated is measured. q - As measured by 3D LSM, the roughness can be <1.5 in order to optimize all layers added on top, especially inorganic layers (if they are deposited via vacuum deposition). Nikkalett Spezial TD paper, specifically designed for metallization, has a roughness of approximately 0.98 on the side designed for metallization. However, if the inorganic layer is applied via a transfer process, such as when the metallization layer is transferred from another pre-metallized substrate to the paper layer, there is a possibility that the receiving layer of the transferred metallization layer may have a slightly higher roughness value.

[0176] In this invention, there are instances where a biodegradable primer layer is laid on top of the flattest side of the paper layer, followed by an inorganic layer. The role of the biodegradable primer layer is to further and as flatten as possible the surface of the paper substrate to be coated with the primer before the inorganic layer is deposited onto the paper base structure. Generally, the lower the roughness value of the paper, the greater the barrier value achieved. It is also necessary to ensure the inorganic layer adheres as well as possible to form a strong interface, achieving a stable barrier layer and preventing delamination between the inorganic layer and the underlying paper layer. In some cases, such a primer layer may also be used (or simply) on top of the inorganic layer to prevent mechanical damage or oxidation, and in this case, it may be referred to as a protective layer. The primer can also be used to provide additional heat resistance to the thermal hysteresis often experienced during vapor deposition. In addition to a protective layer, the biodegradable primer layer may sometimes be referred to as a biodegradable varnish or biodegradable lacquer. In some cases, even a non-biodegradable primer may be used if it can be applied very thinly and is environmentally friendly. In this invention, the primer can be an inorganic-organic hybrid polymer, such as bio-ORMOCER developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research in Würzburg, Germany. ® or ORMOCER ® These materials are hybrids between glass and polymers, and their exact chemical properties can be customized for specific applications. Bio-ORMOCER is modified to be biodegradable. ® and bio-ORMOCER ® Non-limiting examples include those described in U.S. Patent No. 2011 / 0250441 A1 and U.S. Patent No. 6709757B2, in addition to German patents DE-OS 3828098 and DE4303570.

[0177] In this invention, the biodegradable primer and inorganic-organic hybrid material may include, but are not limited to, PVOH varnish or shellac varnish obtained from the Huber Group in Germany. These are also expected to be biodegradable. Typically, any primer layer will be laid in such a manner that it produces a final cured thickness in the range of 0.5µm-20µm, 2µm-10µm, and 1µm-5µm. It is important to keep this layer as thin as possible to maintain a good balance between protecting the barrier properties of the inorganic layer and preventing problems in the paper recycling stream. If the primer layer is too thick or too difficult to break, it may clog the filters in the paper repulping unit or cause optical defects in the resulting recycled paper. Regardless of the primer used, the final inorganic layer will be laid on top of it.

[0178] B) Indirect transfer of metallization to paper

[0179] In this invention, the metallization layer may not be directly applied to the primer layer, but rather transferred from another metallized substrate to a paper structure. This is sometimes referred to as a "transfer metallization process." This is a method frequently used in the decorative industry, but there are also applications where this technique is used to form barrier layers. In this transfer metallization process, a vacuum metallization layer is first deposited onto an intermediate substrate, such as a biaxially oriented PET film, a biaxially oriented PP film, or a cellulose film, to form an intermediate structure, and then the metallization layer is transferred to the paper-based structure. Potential suppliers of these intermediate structures may include Dongguan Ruize Creative Arts New Materials Co., Ltd., Shanghai Zijiang New Material Technology Co., Ltd., or others.

[0180] The following describes how these intermediate structures are formed, as they typically contain multiple layers. Prior to vacuum metallization, the intermediate substrate is coated with a release layer that will provide good adhesion to the metallization layer subsequently deposited on top, but relatively poor adhesion to the underlying intermediate substrate. In some cases, this release layer may be formed from a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based material, but other chemicals may also be used. Vacuum metallization can be performed using the aforementioned suitable processes to deposit a suitable barrier layer. In some cases, but not always, a final primer layer is deposited on top of the metallization layer to protect it until the intermediate structure is used for a transfer process at a later time or date. Such primer coatings may also be applied later to treat the release layer with suitable surface energy / tension, making it easier to apply other coatings or laminates on top.

[0181] In the transfer process, the vacuum-metallized intermediate structure is first laminated with the paper substrate to which the vacuum-metallized layer will be transferred. This transfer process is performed using various suitable adhesives, with the selected adhesive first applied to the paper substrate. Then, in the lamination process, lamination equipment is used to bring the intermediate structure into contact with the adhesive-coated paper substrate to form a laminated structure. This adhesive forms a stronger adhesion between the metallized layer and the paper substrate than between the release layer and the intermediate substrate in the intermediate structure. The final part of the lamination process causes the laminated structure to split into two new structures at the weakest interface (now the interface between the release layer and the intermediate substrate). The two new structures are a final structure (which will be retained for further processing into packaging) and a disposable structure (which is disposed of, recycled, or reused several times later after thorough cleaning). Thus, as the laminated structure separates at its weakest interface, the vacuum-metallized layer, along with the release layer from the intermediate structure, is peeled off from the original intermediate structure and transferred to the paper substrate, forming the final structure. This final structure then consists of the paper substrate, the adhesive layer, the vacuum-metallized layer, and the release layer.

[0182] Subsequently, the final structure typically undergoes another lamination process to adhere the extruded biodegradable sealant layer to the release layer side. In some cases, an alternative to laminating the extruded biodegradable sealant layer is to directly apply the biodegradable sealant (in the form of fine polymer particles) to the final structure via methods such as emulsion coating or dry coating. At the start of this lamination process, an anchoring coating (sometimes based on polyurethane materials, but alternatively other materials) is typically applied to the top surface of the release layer to alter its surface energy before the biodegradable sealant layer attaches, ensuring good adhesion between the release layer and the biodegradable sealant layer. An example of such a polyurethane material could be the high-functionality polyurethane dispersion “TAKELAC” from Mitsui Chemicals. ™ The "WPB" series of products, such as the TAKELAC WPB-341 class.

[0183] Biodegradable adhesive layer

[0184] In this invention, a biodegradable adhesive layer can be used to adhere multiple layers together to form a laminate. Such an adhesive can be based on a biodegradable solution, a solvent-based or solvent-free adhesive composition. Non-limiting examples of biodegradable adhesive layers may include biodegradable polyvinyl acetate, starch, maltodextrin, natural waxes, artificial waxes, and polyester-polyurethane blends. In this invention, the biodegradable adhesive layer can be a commercially available grade from BASF, such as Epotal 3675 or Epotal 3702 or Epotal P100ECO (which is a water-based polyester-polyurethane compostable adhesive) or Epotal 3702 (also a water-based adhesive), all of which are biodegradable and compostable. In this invention, the adhesive can be Berkshire Labels' BioTAK. ® Or Bostik 43298 Thermogrip hot melt adhesive.

[0185] In this invention, soluble adhesives can have the beneficial effect of enhancing recyclability in typical paper repulping systems because they can accelerate the breakage of biodegradable flexible packaging, potentially offering advantages similar to those of the biodegradation process. In other cases, such as when the ambient moisture content is very high, insoluble adhesives may be used. If water-soluble adhesives are chosen, examples of polymers upon which they can be based include biodegradable and soluble grades of PVOH and polyethylene oxide. Additional examples of water-soluble polymers are also mentioned in the section referred to below as “Water-soluble Biodegradable Polymers.” In this invention, it may be necessary to lay the adhesive from a solution to minimize the thickness of the adhesive layer. In this invention, it may be necessary to lay the adhesive as a continuous layer to achieve maximum bond strength between layers. In this invention, it may be considered to lay the adhesive as a discontinuous layer to maximize the rate at which the entire structure breaks down during paper recycling or biodegradation. In some cases, the use of non-biodegradable adhesives may be considered acceptable if the adhesive is very thin, can be safely dispersed, and if it is based on specific chemical properties that do not cause ecotoxicity issues. Possible options include polyurethane-based adhesives or ionomer-based adhesives.

[0186] Water-soluble biodegradable polymers

[0187] In this invention, the material can be in direct contact with the liquid product (sealant layer) and can be insoluble in water; however, in this invention, water-soluble polymers can still be used within another part of the biodegradable flexible packaging structure. For example, such a water-soluble biodegradable polymer layer can be adapted to form a laminate or adhesive layer between specific layers within the structure. Suitable copolymers or derivatives thereof for use as water-soluble polymer layers are selected from polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), polyvinyl alcohol copolymers (such as butene glycol-vinyl alcohol copolymer (BVOH)), which are produced by copolymerization of butene glycol with vinyl acetate followed by hydrolysis of vinyl acetate; suitable butene glycol monomers are selected from 3,4-diol-1-butene, 3,4-diacyloxy-1-butene, 3-acyloxy-4-ol-1-butene, 4-acyloxy-3-ol-1-butene, etc.; polyepoxides, such as polyethylene oxide... Alkane or polyethylene glycol (PEG); maleic acid / acrylic acid copolymer; poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) (polyAMPS); polycarboxylic acids and salts; cellulose derivatives, such as cellulose ethers, methylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose; hydroxypropyl methylcellulose; natural gums, such as xanthan gum and carrageenan; sodium alginate; maltodextrin, low molecular weight dextrin; sugars; polysaccharides; certain thermoplastic starch grades (e.g., PLANTIC from Plantic / Kuraray). ® (Specific grades) polyamino acids or peptides; proteins, such as casein and / or caseinates (e.g., those commercialized by Lactips).

[0188] In this invention, the water-soluble biodegradable polymer can be polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide, methylcellulose, and sodium alginate. For applications requiring "plastic-free" products, the majority of the components of the water-soluble polymer layer can be naturally derived polymers, such as sodium alginate. In this invention, the content of the biodegradable polymer in the water-soluble polymer layer can be at least 60%. In this invention, the average molecular weight (measured by gel permeation chromatography) of the water-soluble biodegradable polymer can be from about 1 kDa to about 1,000 kDa, or any integer value from about 1 kDa to about 1,000 kDa, or any range formed by any of the foregoing values, such as from about 10 kDa to about 300 kDa, from about 20 kDa to about 150 kDa, etc. More specifically, the molecular weight of polyvinyl alcohol can be in the range of 30 kDa to 150 kDa. For polyethylene oxide, the molecular weight can be in the range of 50 kDa to 400 kDa. For methylcellulose, the molecular weight can be in the range of 10 kDa to 100 kDa. Methylcellulose can also be 18% to 32% substituted methoxy groups and 4% to 12% substituted hydroxy-propoxy groups. For sodium alginate, the molecular weight can range from about 10 kDa to about 240 kDa. If homopolymer polyvinyl alcohol is used, the degree of hydrolysis can be in the range of 70% to 100%, or any integer percentage value between 70% and 100%, or between 84% and 92%, or between 86% and 90%, or any range formed by any of these values, such as 80% to 100%, 85% to 100%, 90% to 100%, 95% to 100%, 98% to 100%, 99% to 100%, 85% to 99%, 90% to 99%, 95% to 99%, 98% to 99%, 80% to 98%, 85% to 98%, 90% to 98%, 95% to 98%, 80% to 95%, 85% to 95%, 90% to 95%, etc. Certain grades of polyvinyl alcohol may claim stronger moisture resistance while remaining soluble. Examples include polyvinyl alcohols from the Exceval range derived from Kuraray, including grades Exceval HR-3010 and Exceval AQ-4104.

[0189] Water-soluble polymers can be processed via thermal extrusion and solution casting. Solution casting involves first forming the water-soluble polymer into a polymer solution. The polymer in the solution can be considered aqueous. In this invention, aqueous polymers can be used because a thinner, flatter, and more uniform biodegradable polymer layer can be formed compared to extrusion coating. In this invention, the water-soluble polymer coating can be used as a laminate between various other layers. The water-soluble polymer layer may contain disintegrants, plasticizers, surfactants, lubricants / stripping agents, fillers, extenders, antiblocking agents, anti-sticking agents, defoamers, or other functional ingredients. In this invention, for certain applications, the water-soluble polymer layer may contain disintegrants to increase its dissolution rate in water. Suitable disintegrants are, but are not limited to, corn / potato starch, methylcellulose, mineral clay powder, cross-linked carboxymethyl cellulose (cross-linked cellulose), crosspovidone (cross-linked polyvinyl N-pyrrolidone or PVP), and sodium carboxymethyl starch (cross-linked starch). In this invention, the water-soluble polymer layer may contain a disintegrant ranging from 0.1% to 15% by weight, and from about 1% to about 15% by weight.

[0190] In this invention, the water-soluble, biodegradable polymer layer may comprise a water-soluble plasticizer. The water-soluble plasticizer may be selected from polyols, sugar alcohols, and mixtures thereof. Suitable polyols include those selected from the group consisting of: glycerol, diglycerol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol with a molecular weight of up to 400 Da, neopentyl glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, dipropylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, methyl glycol, trimethylolpropane, hexanediol, neopentyl glycol, and polyether polyols, or mixtures thereof. Suitable sugar alcohols include those selected from the group consisting of: isomaltitol, maltitol, sorbitol, xylitol, erythritol, ribitol, galactitol, pentaerythritol, and mannitol, or mixtures thereof. In some cases, plasticizers may be selected from the following list: ethanolamine, alkyl citrate, isosorbide, pentaerythritol, glucosamine, N-methylglucosamine, or sodium isopropylbenzenesulfonate. Less mobile plasticizers such as sorbitol or polyethylene oxide can promote the formation of water-soluble polymer layers with greater barrier properties compared to water-soluble polymer layers containing more mobile plasticizers such as glycerol. In some cases, when it is desirable to use as many naturally derived materials as possible, the following plasticizers may also be used: vegetable oils, polysorbate, polydimethylsiloxane, mineral oil, paraffin wax, C1-C3 alcohols, dimethyl sulfoxide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, sucrose, corn syrup, fructose, sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate, triethyl citrate, tributyl citrate, 1,2-propanediol, monoacetates, diacetates, or triacetates of glycerol, natural gums, citrates, and mixtures thereof. The water-soluble plasticizer may be selected from glycerol, 1,2-propanediol, 2,0-dipropylene glycol, 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, trimethylolpropane, triethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, sorbitol, or mixtures thereof. The water-soluble polymer layer may contain between 5% and 50% by weight, between 10% and 40% by weight, or between about 12% and about 30% by weight of plasticizer.

[0191] In this invention, the water-soluble, biodegradable polymer layer may contain a surfactant. Suitable surfactants may belong to the nonionic, cationic, anionic, or amphoteric categories. Suitable surfactants are, but are not limited to, poloxamer (polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene glycol), alcohol ethoxylates, alkylphenol ethoxylates, tertiary acetylenols and alkanolamides (nonionic), polyoxyethylene amines, quaternary ammonium salts and polyoxyethylene quaternary amines (cationic), and amine oxides, N-alkyl betaine and sulfobetaine (amphoteric). Other suitable surfactants are sodium sulfosuccinate, acylated fatty acid esters of glycerol and propylene glycol, fatty acid lactoyl esters, sodium alkyl sulfate, polysorbate 20, polysorbate 60, polysorbate 65, polysorbate 80, lecithin, acetylated fatty acid esters of glycerol and propylene glycol, and acetylated esters of five fatty acids, and combinations thereof. The water-soluble polymer layer may contain between 0.1% and 2.5% by weight of surfactant; it may contain about 1% to 2% by weight of surfactant.

[0192] In this invention, the water-soluble, biodegradable polymer layer may contain a lubricant / stripping agent. Suitable lubricants / stripping agents are, but are not limited to, fatty acids and their salts, fatty alcohols, fatty esters, fatty amines, fatty amine acetates, and fatty amides. In this invention, the lubricant / stripping agent may be fatty acids, fatty acid salts, fatty amine acetates, and mixtures thereof. In this invention, the water-soluble polymer layer contains between 0.02% by weight and 1.5% by weight, and may contain between about 0.1% by weight and about 1% by weight of lubricant / stripping agent.

[0193] In this invention, the water-soluble biodegradable polymer layer may comprise fillers, extenders, anti-blocking agents, and anti-sticking agents. Suitable fillers, extenders, anti-blocking agents, and anti-sticking agents are, but are not limited to, starch, modified starch, cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone, cross-linked cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, silica, metal oxides, calcium carbonate, talc, and mica. In this invention, the biodegradable polymer layer may comprise between 0.1% and 25% by weight, and may comprise between about 1% and about 15% by weight of fillers, extenders, anti-blocking agents, and anti-sticking agents. In the absence of starch, the biodegradable polymer layer may comprise between 1% and 5% by weight of fillers, extenders, and anti-blocking agents.

[0194] In this invention, the water-soluble, aqueous, biodegradable polymer layer may contain a defoamer. Suitable defoamers are, but are not limited to, blends of polydimethylsiloxane and hydrocarbons. In this invention, the water-soluble polymer layer may contain between 0.001 wt% and 0.5 wt%, and may contain between about 0.01 wt% and about 0.1 wt% of defoamer.

[0195] At least one of the biodegradable polymer layers in the biodegradable flexible packaging, made of the water-soluble polymer according to the invention, may contain residual moisture in the water-soluble layer, depending on the hygroscopicity and isotherm of the laminated components as measured by Karl Fischer titration under given temperature and humidity conditions. For example, the water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol layer in the laminate may contain about 4%-8% residual moisture at 23°C and 50% relative humidity.

[0196] Inks, trademarks and decorations

[0197] The biodegradable flexible packaging according to the invention will be opaque in most cases, but may be translucent in some cases depending on the specific choice of materials. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to the invention may include a printing area. Printing can be achieved using standard printing techniques such as flexographic printing, gravure printing, offset printing, or inkjet printing. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to the invention can be arranged in numerous configurations. For example, the packaging may include multiple sheets that enclose multiple articles. Each of these sheets includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The outer surface and / or inner surface of one or more sheets may include inks or dyes, etc., for forming trademarks, packaging information, and / or background colors on the packaging.

[0198] In this invention, the deposited ink can be solvent-based or water-based, and the pigments within the ink can be organic or inorganic, or a combination of both. In this invention, the ink is highly abrasion-resistant. For example, highly abrasion-resistant inks may include coatings cured by ultraviolet radiation (UV) or electron beam (EB), or coatings comprising nitrocellulose and cured during solvent evaporation. In this invention, any organic pigments within the ink are derived from petroleum sources. In this invention, any organic pigments within the ink may be derived from renewable resources such as soybeans or other plants. In this invention, any organic pigments within the ink may also be biodegradable if the pigment is organic and designed to be biodegradable. In this invention, any inorganic pigments within the ink will be made from inorganic metal oxides that are safe, dispersible, and environmentally harmless at the levels used, even if they are themselves non-biodegradable.

[0199] Non-limiting examples of inks that are non-biodegradable but do not inhibit biodegradation and can be safely dispersed during biodegradation include ECO-SUREITM from Gans Ink and Supply Co.; and VUTEk, a solvent-based ink from EFI. ®And BioVu™ inks, which are entirely derived from renewable resources (e.g., corn). Others include SunVisto AquaGreen and Aquathene from SunChemicals; and INXhrc from Sakata Inx. ™ and GENESIS ™ GS. Biodegradable inks can be made, for example, from recycled vegetable oil inks, soybean oil inks, etc. Soybean oil inks are obtained by replacing all or part of the petroleum-based solvents and drying oils in conventional inks with soybean oil, and this is advantageous because it allows the ink to easily separate from the paper and degrade in soil. Soybean oil inks are commercially available, for example, from TOYO INK MFG.CO., LTD. or TOPPAN PRINTING CO., LTD. Another potential biodegradable ink is Blue Iris from SunChemicals. Regardless of the type of ink used, the ink is typically present in a thickness of about 0.5 µm to about 20 µm, about 1 µm to about 10 µm, or about 2.5 µm to about 3.5 µm. The biodegradable flexible packaging of the present invention may contain inks and / or dyes to provide a background color for the packaging disclosed herein. To reduce the use of inks / dyes to facilitate the recycling process, the natural color of the paper layers can be utilized. For example, inks / dyes can be used to define the background color of a panel that is only for consumer use, while the natural color of the paper layers will be used as the background color of other sheets of the flexible packaging.

[0200] Surface coating for ink protection

[0201] In this invention, the printed surface of the biodegradable flexible structure used to manufacture packaging is surface-coated to protect the ink layers from their physical and chemical environment, thereby enhancing the durability of the paper layers and providing a high-gloss or matte finish. This surface coating may be referred to as a varnish, lacquer, or anti-splatter layer. In this invention, non-limiting examples of the surface coating may be made from nitrocellulose varnish, acrylic varnish, water-based varnish, or reactive two-component polyurethane varnish. Biodegradable options may be used to enhance the overall biodegradability of the entire packaging. In this invention, the surface coating may include those made from natural waxes that have passed the OECD 301B biodegradability screening test, such as beeswax, rapeseed wax, castor oil, candelilla wax, soybean wax, palm oil wax, or another natural wax, provided that the exposure temperature does not exceed the wax's melting point. In some cases, some paraffin oil-based waxes may also pass OECD 301B. Because the thickness of the surface coating affects the recyclability and biodegradability of the packaging made from the recyclable barrier paper composite of this invention, a thinner surface coating may be used. The thickness of the surface coating ranges from 0.1µm to 25µm, less than 10µm, and less than 5µm. In some cases, the surface coating can further enhance the WVTR of the entire package.

[0202] Methods for preparing biodegradable polymer films and / or heat-sealing layers

[0203] The biodegradable flexible structure used in the production of the packaging and articles of the present invention can be processed using conventional procedures for producing multilayer films on conventional co-extrusion film manufacturing equipment. See, for example, U.S. Patent Nos. 5,391,423 and 5,939,467, each incorporated herein by reference. Generally, polymers can be processed into films using casting or blown film extrusion methods. See, for example, Griff, “Plastics Extrusion Technology,” 2’ Ed., VanNostrand Reinhold. This document, dated 1976, is incorporated herein by reference. Cast film is extruded through a linear slit die. Typically, a flat web is cooled on a large, moving, polished metal roller. The film peels off from this first roller, passes through one or more auxiliary cooling rollers, through a set of rubber-coated traction rollers or “drawing” rollers, and then reaches the winding machine. In blown film extrusion, the melt is extruded upwards through a thin, annular die opening; this process is called tubular film extrusion. Air is introduced through the center of the die to cause the tube to expand, thus expanding it. This creates a moving bubble, which is kept at a constant size by controlling the internal air pressure. The film tube is cooled by blowing air through one or more cooling rings surrounding the tube. The tube is then collapsed by pulling it through a pair of traction rollers into a widening frame and into the winding machine. Both cast film and blown film processes can be used to produce single-layer or multi-layer film structures. Producing a single-layer film from a blend of a single thermoplastic material or thermoplastic components requires only a single extruder and a single manifold die. If a particular film requires a blend (e.g., sealant / barrier material, sealant / filler), the granules of the components can first be dry-mixed and then melt-mixed in an extruder feeding that layer. In this invention, if insufficient mixing occurs in the extruder, the granules can first be dry-mixed and then melt-mixed in a premixed extruder, followed by regranulation before film extrusion. In some cases, a biodegradable polymer layer can be formed by direct extrusion onto other layers, by thermal extrusion, or in some cases by application as a polymer suspension, followed by curing into a continuous layer.

[0204] Co-extrusion processes are used to produce multilayer films. Such processes require more than one extruder and co-extrusion feed block or multi-manifold die system, or a combination of both, to achieve the multilayer film structure. The principle of a co-extrusion feed block is described in U.S. Patents 4,152,387 and 4,197,069, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Multiple extruders are connected to a feed block employing movable distributors to proportionally change the geometry of each individual flow channel in direct relation to the volume of polymer flowing through the flow channels. The flow channels are designed such that the materials flow together at the same rate and pressure at their confluence, thereby eliminating interfacial stress and flow instability. After the materials are bonded in the feed block, they flow as a composite structure into a single manifold die. The melt viscosity and melt temperature of the materials should not differ too much; otherwise, flow instability can lead to poor die control over the layer thickness distribution in the multilayer film, as described in U.S. Patent 5,498,692. In this invention, in addition to co-extrusion of the feed block, multi-manifold or blade dies disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Patent Nos. 4,152,387, 4,197,069, and 4,533,30, which are incorporated herein by reference, can also be used. In this invention, various techniques can be used to microlayer various layers. In microlayering, interfacial properties dominate due to the small size of the layer thickness. Microlayering systems from Nordson / EDI or Cloeren are exemplary methods for achieving microlayering.

[0205] In some cases, particularly for biodegradable polymers such as polylactic acid (PLA), it is more common to form films via a different method called biaxial orientation. This requires different equipment for standard extrusion. Films produced via this method tend to be stiffer, which allows them to be structured better for subsequent coating with inorganic layers designed to act as barrier layers.

[0206] In some other cases, the sealant layer may not be formed by extrusion film, but rather by coating the remainder of the substrate with fine polymer particles. These can be applied as an emulsion of fine polymer particles, or the particles can be applied as a dry powder. The size of these particles is typically in the range of about 0.1 µm to about 1000 µm; about 1 µm to about 100 µm, but may be outside this range. Regardless of the form in which the fine polymer particles are applied, a heating step must then be performed, in which the fine polymer particles melt to form a continuous layer that contains any product to be held within the packaging.

[0207] Multiple different layers are laminated to form a laminate.

[0208] In this invention, the biodegradable flexible structure used to manufacture packaging can consist of several layers of different types of materials that need to be bonded together to form a multilayer laminated structure, which can then form the packaging. While some polymer layers can be produced by the methods described in the above section on "Preparation Methods of Biodegradable Polymer Films," some layers can be paper (with or without a barrier layer) or even polymer layers pre-coated with some type of barrier layer. The individual layers constituting the packaging can be laminated together to form a multilayer laminated structure. In this invention, any adhesive used for lamination can be biodegradable and is mentioned in the section referred to as "Biodegradable Adhesive Layers." Lamination is a process of joining two or more flexible packaging webs together using an adhesive. The substrate constituting the web can consist of film, paper, or aluminum foil. Generally, an adhesive is applied to a less absorbent substrate web, and then a second web is pressed against it to produce a double-sided or two-layer laminate. Some types of lamination techniques include, but are not limited to, wet lamination, dry lamination, wax lamination, and solvent-free lamination. Other types of laminations may include various forms of thermal lamination, including thermal lamination, conventional thermal lamination, extrusion lamination, and extrusion coating lamination.

[0209] Small bag preparation method

[0210] The laminated structure produced by the above method can be converted into the packaging and articles of the present invention using a molding-filling-sealing process. Conventional methods typically involve three consecutive steps in which the packaging or article is formed from a film structure, filled, and then sealed or closed, as described in U.S. Patent No. 6,293,402, which is incorporated herein by reference. In heat-sealing methods, there exists a temperature range above which the seal will burn out, and below which the seal will not be sufficiently robust. The seal is provided in any sealing manner known to those skilled in the art. Sealing may include applying a continuously heated element to the film and then removing the element after sealing. The heating element may be a hot bar comprising rotating jaws or heating wheels. Different types of seals include finned seals and overlapping seals. A well-known sealing single-pass method using a vertical molding and filling machine is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,521,437, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0211] Multichannel method

[0212] The packaging of this invention can also be processed using a multi-channel pouch packaging machine, such as the QuadroPack VEGA PACK 300S. High-speed multi-channel pouch processing machines are also described in U.S. Patent No. 6,966,166, which is incorporated herein by reference. Other non-limiting types of pouch machines may include the Shubham and / or Hassia pouch machines and / or Arjunior high-speed pouch machines, as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 9,809,336, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0213] The final form of biodegradable flexible pouches or packaging

[0214] The pouches or flexible packaging of the present invention can be square-bottom bags, flat bags, inflatable packaging, cross-bottom bags, side-sealed bags, three-sided side-sealed bags, four-sided side-sealed bags, stand-up pouches, stick bags, or full-wave bags. The pouches can be connected and sold to stores, including high-frequency stores, as rolls containing multiple pouches connected end-to-end with perforations between each pouch, allowing consumers to select how many pouches they wish to purchase and tear them from the roll. In some non-limiting examples, the perforations can be serrated, making it easier for the user to open the pouches. A roll of pouches can also have multiple pouches separated by perforations (i.e., multi-column pouches with two, three, four, or more columns). The pouches may have graphic instructions for use printed on at least one surface.

[0215] Personal care composition

[0216] Detergent surfactants

[0217] Personal care compositions may contain more than about 1% by weight of a surfactant system that provides cleaning properties to the composition, or more than 5% by weight of a surfactant system that enables the dissolution of scalp care active ingredients and provides a transparent appearance to the composition. Furthermore, the composition may have sufficient surfactant to achieve micellar or polymer thickening. The surfactant system comprises anionic surfactants and / or combinations of anionic surfactants and / or combinations of anionic surfactants with auxiliary surfactants selected from the group consisting of amphoteric, zwitterionic, nonionic, and mixtures thereof. Various examples and descriptions of detergency surfactants are set forth in U.S. Patent No. 8,440,605, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009 / 155383, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009 / 0221463, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0218] Personal care compositions may contain one or more surfactants, ranging from about 10% to about 23% by weight, from about 12% to about 21% by weight, or from about 10% to about 18% by weight.

[0219] Suitable anionic surfactants for use in the composition are alkyl sulfates and alkyl ether sulfates. Other suitable anionic surfactants are water-soluble salts of organic sulfuric acid reaction products. Other suitable anionic surfactants are reaction products of fatty acids esterified with ethanesulfonate and neutralized with sodium hydroxide. Other similar anionic surfactants are described in U.S. Patents 2,486,921, 2,486,922, and 2,396,278, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0220] Exemplary anionic surfactants for use in personal care compositions include ammonium lauryl sulfate, ammonium lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate, C10-15 alkyl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate, C10-15 alkyl ammonium sulfate, C11-15 alkyl ammonium sulfate, decyl ammonium sulfate, decyl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate, undecyl ammonium sulfate, undecyl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate, triethylamine lauryl sulfate, triethylamine lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate, triethanolamine lauryl sulfate, triethanolamine lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate, monoethanolamine lauryl sulfate, monoethanolamine lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate, diethanolamine lauryl sulfate, diethanolamine lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate, sodium monolaurate sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate, C10-15 alkyl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate, C10-15 alkyl sulfate, C11-15 alkyl Sodium sulfate, sodium decyl sulfate, sodium decyl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate, sodium undecyl sulfate, sodium undecyl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate, potassium lauryl sulfate, potassium lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate, C10-15 alkyl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate, C10-15 alkyl sulfate, C11-15 alkyl sulfate, potassium decyl sulfate, potassium decyl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate, potassium undecyl sulfate, potassium undecyl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate, sodium lauryl sarcosinate, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, lauryl sarcosinate, cocoyl sarcosinate, ammonium cocoyl sulfate, ammonium lauroyl sulfate, sodium cocoyl sulfate, sodium lauroyl sulfate, potassium cocoyl sulfate, potassium lauryl sulfate, triethanolamine lauryl sulfate, triethanolamine lauryl sulfate, monoethanolamine cocoyl sulfate, monoethanolamine lauryl sulfate, sodium tridecylbenzenesulfonate, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, sodium cocoyl hydroxyethyl sulfonate, and combinations thereof. The anionic surfactant can be sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate.

[0221] The compositions of the present invention may further comprise anionic surfactants selected from the group consisting of:

[0222] a)R1 O(CH2CHR3O) y SO3M;

[0223] b)CH3 (CH2) zCHR2 CH2 O (CH2 CHR3O) y SO3M; and

[0224] c) Their mixture.

[0225] Where R1 represents CH3 (CH2). 10 R2 represents H or a hydrocarbon group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms such that the sum of the carbon atoms in z and R2 is 8, R3 is H or CH3, y is 0 to 7, when y is not zero (0), the average value of y is about 1, and M is a monovalent or divalent positively charged cation.

[0226] Suitable anionic alkyl sulfate and alkyl ether sulfate surfactants include, but are not limited to, those having branched alkyl chains, synthesized from C8 to C18 branched alcohols optionally consisting of the group consisting of: Guerbert alcohols, aldol-derived alcohols, carbonyl synthetic alcohols, FT carbonyl synthetic alcohols, and mixtures thereof. Non-limiting examples of 2-alkyl branched alcohols include: carbonyl synthetic alcohols such as 2-methyl-1-undecanol, 2-ethyl-1-decanol, 2-propyl-1-nonanol, 2-butyl-1-octanol, 2-methyl-1-dodecanol, 2-ethyl-1-undecanol, 2-propyl-1-decanol, 2-butyl-1-nonanol, 2-pentyl-1-octanol, 2-pentyl-1-heptanol, and those sold under the trade name: LIAL. ® (Sasol), ISLCHEM ® (Sasol) and NEODOL ® (Shell); and alcohols derived from Gerbert and aldol condensation, such as 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, 2-propyl-1-butanol, 2-butyl-1-octanol, 2-butyl-1-decanol, 2-pentyl-1-nonanol, 2-hexyl-1-octanol, 2-hexyl-1-decanol, and those marketed under the trade name ISOFOL ® Those sold by (Sasol) or as alcohol ethoxylates and alkoxylates under the trade name LUTENSO SOL XP ® (BASF) and LUTENSOL XL ® Those sold by BASF.

[0227] Anionic alkyl sulfates and alkyl ether sulfates may also include those synthesized from C8 to C18 branched alcohols derived from butene or propylene, under the trade name EXXAL. ™ (Exxon) and Marlipal ®(Sasol) is available for sale. This includes anionic surfactants of the subtype of tridecyl polyoxyethylene ether-n sodium sulfate (STnS), wherein n is between about 0.5 and about 3.5. Exemplary surfactants of this subtype are tridecyl polyoxyethylene ether-2 sodium sulfate and tridecyl polyoxyethylene ether-3 sodium sulfate. The compositions of the present invention may also contain sodium tridecyl sulfate.

[0228] The compositions of the present invention may further comprise anionic alkyl and alkyl ether sulfosuccinates and / or dialkyl and dialkyl ether sulfosuccinates, and mixtures thereof. The dialkyl and dialkyl ether sulfosuccinates may be C6-15 straight-chain or branched dialkyl or dialkyl ether sulfosuccinates. The alkyl moiety may be symmetrical (i.e., the same alkyl moiety) or asymmetrical (i.e., different alkyl moiety). Non-limiting examples include: disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate, disodium lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfosuccinate, sodium bis(tridecyl) sulfosuccinate, sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate, sodium dihexyl sulfosuccinate, sodium dicyclohexyl sulfosuccinate, sodium dipentyl sulfosuccinate, sodium diisobutyl sulfosuccinate, straight-chain bis(tridecyl) sulfosuccinates, and mixtures thereof.

[0229] Personal care compositions may contain an auxiliary surfactant. The auxiliary surfactant may be selected from the group consisting of free amphoteric surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, nonionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof. The auxiliary surfactant may include, but is not limited to, lauramidopropyl betaine, cocamidopropyl betaine, lauramidohydroxysulfobetaine, sodium lauroamphoacetate, disodium cocoamphodiacetate, cocoamide monoethanolamide, and mixtures thereof.

[0230] The personal care composition may also contain about 0.5% to about 8% by weight, about 1.0% to about 7% by weight, about 1.5% to about 6% by weight of one or more amphoteric, zwitterionic, nonionic auxiliary surfactants, or mixtures thereof.

[0231] Suitable amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants for use in the personal care compositions herein include those known for use in shampoos or other personal care cleansing agents. Non-limiting examples of suitable zwitterionic or zwitterionic surfactants are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,104,646 and 5,106,609, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0232] Suitable amphoteric auxiliary surfactants for use in compositions include those surfactants described as derivatives of aliphatic secondary and tertiary amines, wherein the aliphatic group may be linear or branched, and wherein one of the aliphatic substituents contains about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, and one of the aliphatic substituents contains an anionic group, such as a carboxyl group, sulfonate group, sulfate group, phosphate group, or phosphonate group. Suitable amphoteric surfactants include, but are not limited to, those selected from the group consisting of: sodium cocoaminopropionate, sodium cocoaminodipropionate, sodium cocoamphoacetate, sodium cocoamphodiacetate, sodium cocoamphohydroxypropyl sulfonate, sodium cocoamphopropionate, sodium zeinylamphopropionate, sodium laurylaminopropionate, sodium lauroylamphoacetate, sodium lauroylamphodiacetate, sodium lauroylamphohydroxypropyl sulfonate, sodium lauroylamphopropionate, sodium zeinylamphopropionate, sodium lauryliminodipropionate, and ammonium cocoaminopropionate. Ammonium cocoaminopropionate, Ammonium cocoamphoacetate, Ammonium cocoamphodiacetate, Ammonium cocoamphohydroxypropyl sulfonate, Ammonium cocoamphopropionate, Ammonium zearalenone, Ammonium laurylaminopropionate, Ammonium lauroamphoacetate, Ammonium lauroamphodiacetate, Ammonium lauroamphohydroxypropyl sulfonate, Ammonium lauroamphopropionate, Ammonium zearalenone, Ammonium lauryliminopropionate, Triethanolamine cocoaminopropionate, Triethanolamine cocoaminopropionate, Triethanolamine cocoamphoacetate, Triethanolamine cocoamphohydroxypropyl sulfonate, Ammonium cocoaminopropionate Triethanolamine sulfonate, Triethanolamine cocoamphopropionic acid, Triethanolamine zearalenone propionic acid, Triethanolamine laurylaminopropionic acid, Triethanolamine lauroylamphoacetic acid, Triethanolamine lauroylamphohydroxypropyl sulfonic acid, Triethanolamine lauroylamphopropionic acid, Triethanolamine zearalenone propionic acid, Triethanolamine lauryliminodipropionic acid, Triethanolamine cocoamphodipropionic acid, Disodium decanoylamphodiacetate, Disodium decanoylamphodipropionic acid, Disodium octanoylamphodiacetate, Disodium octanoylamphodipropionic acid, Disodium cocoamphocarboxyethylhydroxypropyl sulfonate Disodium cocoamphodiacetate, disodium cocoamphodiapropionate, disodium dicarboxyethyl cocopropanediamine, disodium lauryl polyoxyethylene ether-5-carboxyamphodiacetate, disodium lauryliminodiapropionate, disodium lauroylamphodiacetate, disodium lauroylamphodiapropionate, disodium oleylamphodiapropionate, disodium PPG-2-isodecyl alcohol polyether-7-carboxyamphodiacetate, laurylaminopropionic acid, lauroylamphodiapropionic acid, laurylaminopropylglycine, lauryl diethylenediaminoglycine, and mixtures thereof.

[0233] The composition may include a zwitterionic auxiliary surfactant, wherein the zwitterionic surfactant is a derivative of an aliphatic quaternary ammonium, phosphonium, and sulfonium compound, wherein the aliphatic group may be linear or branched, and wherein one of the aliphatic substituents contains about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, and one of the aliphatic substituents contains an anionic group, such as a carboxyl group, sulfonate group, sulfate group, phosphate group, or phosphonate group. Amphoteric surfactants may be selected from the group consisting of: cocamidopropyl betaine, cocamidopropylamine oxide, cocamidopropyl betaine, cocamidopropyl dimethylaminohydroxypropyl hydrolyzed collagen, cocamidopropyl dimethylaminohydroxypropyl hydrolyzed collagen, cocamidopropyl hydroxysulfonyl betaine, cocamidopropyl amphoteric propionate, cocamidopropyl betaine, cocamidopropyl hydroxysulfonyl betaine, cocamidopropyl betaine, cocamidopropyl betaine, lauryl betaine, lauryl hydroxysulfonyl betaine, lauryl sulfonyl betaine, and mixtures thereof.

[0234] Nonionic surfactants suitable for use in this invention include those described in McCutcheion's "Detergents and Emulsifiers" North American edition (1986, Allured Publishing Corp.) and McCutcheion's "Functional Materials" North American edition (1992). Nonionic surfactants suitable for use in the personal care compositions of this invention include, but are not limited to, polyoxyethylene alkylphenols, polyoxyethylene alcohols, polyoxyethylene polypropylene glycol, glycerides of alkanonic acids, polyglycerides of alkanonic acids, propylene glycol esters of alkanonic acids, sorbitan esters of alkanonic acids, polyoxyethylene sorbitan esters of alkanonic acids, polyoxyethylene glycol esters of alkanonic acids, polyoxyethylene alkanonic acids, alkanolamides, N-alkylpyrrolidones, alkyl glycosides, alkyl polyglucosides, alkylamine oxides, and polyoxyethylene siloxanes.

[0235] The auxiliary surfactant may be a nonionic surfactant selected from the following alkanolamide groups: cocamide, cocamide methyl MEA, cocamide DEA, cocamide MEA, cocamide MIPA, lauramide DEA, lauramide MEA, lauramide MIPA, tetradecamide DEA, tetradecamide MEA, PEG-20 cocamide MEA, PEG-2 cocamide, PEG-3 cocamide, PEG-4 cocamide, PEG-5 cocamide, PEG-6 cocamide, PEG-7 cocamide, PEG-3 lauramide, PEG-5 lauramide, PEG-3 oleamide, PPG-2 cocamide, PPG-2 hydroxyethyl cocamide, PPG-2 hydroxyethyl isostearamide, and mixtures thereof.

[0236] Representative polyoxyethylene alcohols include those with alkyl chains in the C9-C16 range and having about 1 to about 110 alkoxy groups, including but not limited to lauryl polyoxyethylene ether-3, lauryl polyoxyethylene ether-23, cetyl polyoxyethylene ether-10, stearyl polyoxyethylene ether-10, stearyl polyoxyethylene ether-100, behenyl polyoxyethylene ether-10, and those that may be traded under the name Neodol. ® 91. Neodol ® 23. Neodol ® 25. Neodol ® 45. Neodol ® 135. Neodo ® l 67、Neodol ® PC 100, Neodol ® PC 200, Neodol ® PC 600 is obtained commercially from Shell Chemicals (Houston, Texas), as well as mixtures thereof.

[0237] It is also available for commercial purchase and can be obtained through Brij ® Polyoxyethylene fatty ethers obtained from Uniqema (Wilmington, Delaware), including but not limited to Brij ® 30. Brij ® 35. Brij ® 52. Brij ® 56. Brij ® 58. Brij ® 72. Brij ® 76. Brij ® 78. Brij ® 93. Brij ® 97. Brij ® 98. Brij ® 721, and their mixtures.

[0238] Suitable alkyl glycosides and alkyl polyglucosides can be represented by the formula (S)nOR, where S is the sugar moiety such as glucose, fructose, mannose, galactose, etc.; n is an integer from about 1 to about 1000; and R is a C8-C30 alkyl group. Examples of long-chain alcohols from which the alkyl group can be derived include decanol, lauryl alcohol, tetradecyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, etc. Examples of these surfactants include alkyl polyglucosides, where S is the glucose moiety, R is a C8-20 alkyl group, and n is an integer from about 1 to about 9. Commercially available examples of these surfactants include those marketed under the trade name APG.® 325 CS, APG ® 600 CS and APG ® 625 CS) were purchased from Cognis (Ambler, Pa) as decyl polyglucoside and lauryl polyglucoside. Also used in this article are sucrose ester surfactants such as sucrose cocoate and sucrose lauryl ester, as well as those marketed under the trade name Triton. ™ BG-10 and Triton ™ CG-110 was purchased from The Dow Chemical Company (Houston, Tx) as an alkyl polyglucan.

[0239] Other nonionic surfactants suitable for use in this invention are glycerides and polyglycerides, including but not limited to, glyceryl monoesters, glyceryl monoesters of C12-22 saturated, unsaturated and branched fatty acids such as glyceryl oleate, glyceryl monostearate, glyceryl monopalmitate, glyceryl behenate, and mixtures thereof, and polyglycerides of C12-22 saturated, unsaturated and branched fatty acids such as polyglyceryl-4 isostearate, polyglyceryl-3 oleate, polyglyceryl-2-sesquioleate, diisostearyl triglyceride, diglyceryl monooleate, tetraglyceryl monooleate, and mixtures thereof.

[0240] Other nonionic surfactants that can be used in this article are sorbitol esters. Sorbitol esters of C12-22 saturated, unsaturated, and branched fatty acids are suitable for use in this article. These sorbitol esters typically comprise mixtures of monoesters, diesters, trimers, etc. Representative examples of suitable sorbitol esters include sorbitol monolaurate (SPAN). ® 20) Sorbitol monopalmitate (SPAN) ® 40) Sorbitol monostearate (SPAN) ® 60) Sorbitol Tristearate (SPAN) ® 65) Sorbitol monooleate (SPAN) ® 80), Sorbitol trioleate (SPAN) ® 85), and sorbitol isostearate.

[0241] Also applicable to this article are alkoxylated derivatives of sorbitol esters, including but not limited to polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitol monolaurate (Tween) esters, all purchased from Uniqema. ® 20), Polyoxyethylene (20) dehydrated sorbitan monopalmitate (Tween ® 40), Polyoxyethylene (20) dehydrated sorbitan monostearate (Tween) ®60), Polyoxyethylene (20) dehydrated sorbitan monooleate (Tween) ® 80), Polyoxyethylene (4) dehydrated sorbitol monolaurate (Tween ® 21) Polyoxyethylene (4) dehydrated sorbitan monostearate (Tween) ® 61) Polyoxyethylene (5) dehydrated sorbitan monooleate (Tween ® 81), and their mixtures.

[0242] Also applicable to this article are alkylphenol ethoxylates, including but not limited to nonylphenol ethoxylates (Tergitol, purchased from The Dow Chemical Company (Houston, Tx.)). ™ NP-4, NP-6, NP-7, NP-8, NP-9, NP-10, NP-11, NP-12, NP-13, NP-15, NP-30, NP-40, NP-50, NP-55, NP-70) and octylphenol ethoxylate (Triton, purchased from The Dow Chemical Company (Houston, TX)). ™ X-15, X-35, X-45, X-114, X-100, X-102, X-165, X-305, X-405,

[0243] Also applicable to this article are tertiary alkylamine oxides, including lauryl amine oxides and cocoyl amine oxides.

[0244] Non-limiting examples of other anionic, amphoteric, amphoteric and nonionic adjunct surfactants suitable for use in personal care compositions are described in McCutcheon’s Emulsifiers and Detergents (1989 Yearbook, published by MC Publishing Co.), and in U.S. Patents 3,929,678, 2,658,072, 2,438,091 and 2,528,378, the full text of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0245] A suitable surfactant combination contains about 0.5% to about 30%, about 1% to about 25%, and about 2% to about 20% of the average weight of alkyl branches.

[0246] The surfactant combination may have a cumulative average weight of about 7.5% to about 25%, about 10% to about 22.5%, and about 10% to about 20% of C8 to C12 alkyl chain length.

[0247] The surfactant combination may have an average C8-C12 / C13-C18 alkyl chain ratio of about 3 to about 200, about 25 to about 175.5, about 50 to about 150, or about 75 to about 125.

[0248] wetting agent

[0249] This invention may include a wetting agent. The wetting agent has an affinity for the hydrogen bonds of water molecules. Non-limiting examples of suitable wetting agents for use in this invention may include the following: amino acids and their derivatives such as proline and arginine aspartic acid, 1,3-butanediol, propylene glycol and water, as well as soft-haired pine algae extract, collagen amino acids or peptides, creatine anhydride, diglycerides, biosaccharide gum-1, glucosamine salts, glucuronides, glutamate, polyethylene glycol ethers of glycerol (e.g., glycerol polyether 20), glycerol, glycerol monopropoxylates, glycogen, hexanediol, honey and its extracts or derivatives, aloe vera, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, hydrolyzed mucopolysaccharides, inositol, keratin amino acids, LAREX A-200 (available from Larex), glycosaminoglycans, methoxy PEG 10, methyl glucetol polyether-10 and methyl glucetol polyether-20 (all commercially available from Amerchol in Edison, NJ), methyl glucose, 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, N-acetyl glucosamine salts, polyethylene glycol and its derivatives (such as PEG) 15 Butanediol, PEG 4, PEG 5 pentaerythritol, PEG 6, PEG 8, PEG 9), pentaerythritol, 1,2-pentanediol, PPG-1 glyceryl ether, PPG-9,2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid and its salts (such as glyceryl PCA), glycoisoesters, SEACARE (available from Secma), serine, serine amino acids, sodium acetylated hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, sodium polyaspartate, sodium polyglutamate, sorbitol 20, sorbitol 6, sugars and sugar alcohols and their derivatives such as glucose, sucrose, fructose, mannose and polyglycerol sorbitol, trehalose, triglycerides, trimethylolpropane, tri(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane salts and yeast extracts and mixtures thereof, ionic salts such as sodium chloride and potassium chloride and mixtures thereof.

[0250] In this invention, the wetting agent may be a polyol selected from the group consisting of: glycerol, diglycerol, glycerin, erythritol, arabinitol, xylitol, ribitol, mannitol, sorbitol, galactitol, fucitol, maltitol, mannose, inositol, triethylene glycol, sodium pyrrolidone carboxylate (PCA), zinc PCA, and derivatives and mixtures thereof.

[0251] The composition contains a safe and effective amount of wetting agent. In particular, it may contain about 20% to about 70% by weight; about 20% to about 50% by weight; or about 23% to about 45% by weight of wetting agent.

[0252] In this invention, the composition may contain two or more different wetting agents; for example, the composition may contain glycerol and xylitol.

[0253] Thickening polymer

[0254] Personal care compositions may contain a thickening polymer to increase the viscosity of the composition. Suitable thickening polymers may be used. Personal care compositions may contain about 0.05% to about 10% thickening polymer, about 0.05% to about 5% thickening polymer, about 0.05% to about 2.5% thickening polymer, and about 0.05% to about 2% thickening polymer. The thickening polymer modifier may be a polyacrylate or a polyacrylamide thickener. The thickening polymer may be an anionic thickening polymer.

[0255] Personal care compositions may contain a thickening polymer, which is a homopolymer based on acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or other related derivatives, and non-limiting examples include polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyethyl acrylates and polyacrylamide.

[0256] The thickening polymer may be an alkali-swellable and hydrophobically modified alkali-swellable acrylic copolymer or methacrylate copolymer. Non-limiting examples include acrylic acid / acrylonitrile copolymers, acrylate / stearyl polyoxyethylene ether-20 itaconic acid copolymers, acrylate / cetyl polyoxyethylene ether-20 itaconic acid copolymers, acrylate / aminoacrylate / C10-30 alkyl PEG-20 itaconic acid copolymers, acrylate / aminoacrylate copolymers, acrylate / stearyl polyoxyethylene ether-20 methacrylate copolymers, and acrylic acid... Ester / behenyl polyoxyethylene ether-25 methacrylate copolymer, acrylate / stearyl polyoxyethylene ether-20 methacrylate crosspolymer, acrylate / behenyl polyoxyethylene ether-25 methacrylate / HEMA crosspolymer, acrylate / vinyl neodecanoate crosspolymer, acrylate / vinyl isodecanoate crosspolymer, acrylate / palm oil alcohol polyether-25 acrylate copolymer, acrylic acid / acrylamidomethylpropane sulfonic acid copolymer, and acrylate / acrylic acid C10-C30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer.

[0257] The thickening polymer can be a soluble crosslinked acrylic polymer, and non-limiting examples include carbomer.

[0258] The thickening polymer may be an associative polymer thickener, and non-limiting examples include: hydrophobically modified alkali-swellable emulsions, and non-limiting examples include hydrophobically modified polyacrylates; hydrophobically modified polyacrylic acid and hydrophobically modified polyacrylamide; hydrophobically modified polyethers, wherein these materials may have a hydrophobicity selected from cetyl, stearyl, oleoyl and combinations thereof.

[0259] Thickening polymers can be used in combination with polyvinylpyrrolidone, cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone, and derivatives. Thickening polymers can also be used in combination with polyvinyl alcohol and derivatives. Furthermore, thickening polymers can be used in combination with polyethyleneimine and derivatives.

[0260] The thickening polymer can be combined with alginate-based materials, and non-limiting examples include sodium alginate and propylene glycol alginate.

[0261] The thickening polymer can be used in combination with polyurethane polymers, and non-limiting examples include hydrophobically modified alkoxylated polyurethane polymers, including PEG-150 / decyl alcohol / SMDI copolymers, PEG-150 / stearyl alcohol / SMDI copolymers, and polyurethane-39.

[0262] Thickening polymers can be combined with associative polymer thickeners, and non-limiting examples include: hydrophobically modified cellulose derivatives; and hydrophilic portions of ethylene oxide repeating groups having about 10 to about 300, about 30 to about 200, or about 40 to about 150 repeating units. Non-limiting examples of this type include PEG-120-methylglucose dioleate, PEG-(40 or 60) sorbitol tetraoleate, PEG-150 pentaerythritol tetrastearate, PEG-55 propylene glycol oleate, and PEG-150 distearate.

[0263] Thickening polymers can be combined with cellulose and derivatives, and non-limiting examples include microcrystalline cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose; nitrocellulose; cellulose sulfate; cellulose powder; and hydrophobically modified cellulose.

[0264] The thickening polymer can be combined with guar gum and guar gum derivatives, with non-limiting examples including hydroxypropyl guar gum and hydroxypropyl guar gum hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride.

[0265] Thickening polymers can be used with polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, and POE-PPO copolymers.

[0266] Thickening polymers can be combined with polyalkylene glycols characterized by the following general formula:

[0267]

[0268] Wherein R is hydrogen, methyl, or a mixture thereof, and further is hydrogen, and n is an integer having an average of 2,000-180,000, or 7,000-90,000, or 7,000-45,000. Non-limiting examples of this type include PEG-7M, PEG-14M, PEG-23M, PEG-25M, PEG-45M, PEG-90M, or PEG-100M.

[0269] Thickening polymers can be combined with silica, and non-limiting examples include pyrolytic silica, precipitated silica, and silica with an organosilicon surface treatment.

[0270] Thickening polymers can be combined with water-swellable clays, and non-limiting examples include synthetic lithium saponite, bentonite, montmorillonite, chlorophyllite, and lithium montmorillonite.

[0271] Thickening polymers can be combined with gums, and non-limiting examples include xanthan gum, guar gum, hydroxypropyl guar gum, gum arabic, tragacanth gum, galactomannan, long bean gum, black privet gum, and locust bean gum.

[0272] Thickening polymers can be combined with the following substances: dibenzyl sorbitol, carrageenan, pectin, agar, quince seeds, starch (from rice, corn, potatoes, wheat, etc.), starch derivatives (e.g., carboxymethyl starch, methyl hydroxypropyl starch), algal extracts, dextran, succinyl dextran, and pulleran.

[0273] Non-limiting examples of thickening polymers include acrylamide / ammonium acrylate copolymers (and) polyisobutylene (and) polysorbate 20; acrylamide / sodium acryloyl dimethyl taurate copolymer / isohexadecane / polysorbate 80; ammonium acryloyl dimethyl taurate / VP copolymer; sodium acrylate / sodium acryloyl dimethyl taurate copolymer; acrylate copolymers; acrylate crosslinker-4; acrylate crosslinker-3; acrylate / behenyl polyoxyethylene ether-25 methacrylate copolymer; acrylate / acrylic acid C10-C30 alkyl ester crosslinker; acrylate / stearyl polyoxyethylene ether-20 itaconic acid copolymer; poly… Ammonium acrylate / isohexadecane / PEG-40 castor oil; carbomer, sodium carbomer, crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyacrylamide / C13-14 isoparaffin / lauryl polyoxyethylene ether-7, polyacrylate 13 / polyisobutylene / polysorbate 20, polyacrylate crosslinked polymer-6, polyamide-3, polyquaternium-37 (and) hydrogenated polydecene (and) tridecyl polyoxyethylene ether-6, acrylamide / sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate / acrylic acid copolymer, sodium acrylate / acryloyldimethyl taurate / dimethylacrylamide, crosslinked polymer (and) isohexadecane (and) polysorbate 60, sodium polyacrylate. Exemplary commercially available thickening polymers include: ACULYN ™ 28. ACULYN ™ 33. ACULYN ™ 88. ACULYN ™ 22. ACULYN ™ Excel, Carbopol ® Aqua SF-1, Carbopol ® ETD 2020, Carbopol ® Ultrez 20, Carbopol ® Ultrez 21, Carbopol ® Ultrez 10, Carbopol ® Ultrez 30, Carbopol ® 1342, Carbopol ® Aqua SF-2 polymer, Sepigel ™ 305, Simulgel ™ 600, SepimaxZen, Carbopol ® SMART 1000, Rheocare ® TTA, Rheomer ® SC-Plus, STRUCTURE ®PLUS, Aristoflex ® AVC, Stabylen 30, and combinations thereof.

[0274] Scalp care active ingredients

[0275] This invention may include scalp care active ingredients. These scalp care active ingredients include soluble scalp care active ingredients and scalp health agents.

[0276] a) Soluble active ingredients for scalp care

[0277] Soluble scalp care active ingredients and / or anti-dandruff agents may be a material or mixture selected from the group consisting of: azoles, such as clomibazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole, econazole and neoconazole; hydroxypyridinones, such as oxymetholone (pyrrolidone ethanolamine), ciclopirox, lilopiprox and MEA-hydroxyoctyloxypyridinone; keratolytic agents, such as salicylic acid and other hydroxy acids; agaricone, such as pyraclostrobin; and metal chelating agents, such as 1,10-phenanthroline.

[0278] In this invention, the azole antimicrobial agent may be an imidazole, selected from the group consisting of: benzimidazole, benzothiazole, bifonazole, butanazole nitrate, clotrimazole, clotrimazole, kluconazole, epconazole, econazole, neoconazole, fenteconazole, fluconazole, flutriazole, isoconazole, ketoconazole, lanoconazole, metronidazole, miconazole, neconazole, omeconazole, oxiconazole nitrate, sertaconazole, thioconazole nitrate, thiaconazole, thiazole, and mixtures thereof; or the azole antimicrobial agent may be a triazole, selected from the group consisting of: terconazole, itraconazole, and mixtures thereof. The azole antimicrobial agent may be ketoconazole. Additionally, the sole antimicrobial agent may be ketoconazole.

[0279] Soluble antidandruff agents may be present in amounts of about 0.01% to 10%, about 0.1% to about 9%, about 0.25% to 8%, and about 0.5% to 6%. Soluble antidandruff agents may be surfactant-soluble, and thus may be surfactant-soluble antidandruff agents.

[0280] b) Scalp health products

[0281] In this invention, one or more scalp health agents may be added to provide beneficial scalp effects and / or antifungal / dandruff-reducing efficacy. This group of materials is varied and provides a broad range of beneficial effects, including moisturizing, barrier-improving, antifungal, antimicrobial, and antioxidant agents, antipruritic and sensory agents, and additional antidandruff agents such as polyvalent metal salts of pyrithione, non-limiting examples including zinc pyrithione (ZPT) and copper pyrithione, sulfur, or selenium sulfide. Such scalp health agents include, but are not limited to: vitamins E and F, salicylic acid, niacinamide, caffeine, panthenol, zinc oxide, zinc carbonate, basic zinc carbonate, glycols, glycolic acid, PCA, PEG, erythritol, glycerin, triclosan, lactate, hyaluronic acid esters, allantoin and other ureas, betaine, sorbitol, glutamate, xylitol, menthol, menthyl lactate, vanillyl butyl ether, isocyclic ketones, benzyl alcohol, and compounds comprising the following structures:

[0282]

[0283] R1 is selected from H, alkyl, aminoalkyl, and alkoxy;

[0284] Q = H2, O, -OR1, -N(R1)2, -OPO(OR1) x -PO(OR1) x -P(OR1) x , where x = 1-2;

[0285] V = NR1, O, -OPO(OR1) x -PO(OR1) x -P(OR1) x , where x = 1-2;

[0286] W = H2, O;

[0287] For n=0, X and Y are independently selected from H, aryl, and naphthyl groups;

[0288] For n ≥ 1, X and Y = aliphatic CH2 or aromatic CH, and Z is selected from aliphatic CH2, aromatic CH, or heteroatom;

[0289] A = lower alkoxy, lower alkathiol, aryl, substituted aryl, or fused aryl; and

[0290] Stereochemistry can change at the location marked with *.

[0291] And natural extracts / oils, including peppermint oil, spearmint, argan oil, jojoba oil and aloe vera.

[0292] In this invention, the scalp care active ingredient may be in encapsulated form. In one aspect, the capsule may comprise: melamine, polyacrylamide, organosilicon, silica, polystyrene, polyurea, polyurethane, polyacrylate-based materials, gelatin, styrene-malic anhydride, polyamide, aromatic alcohols, polyvinyl alcohol, fatty alcohols, polysaccharides, waxes, hydrogenated vegetable oils, and other materials known to those skilled in the art. In one aspect, the polyurea may include cross-linked ureas, such as ureas cross-linked with formaldehyde, ureas cross-linked with glutaraldehyde, and mixtures thereof. In one aspect, the polysaccharide may include gelatin, agar, alginate, chitosan, cellulose, glycogen, hyaluronic acid, dextran, xylan, inulin, pectin, and mixtures thereof. In one aspect, the polysaccharide may be cross-linked. Suitable cross-linking agents may include calcium chloride, calcium carbonate, isocyanates, glutaraldehyde, and mixtures thereof. Typically, anti-dandruff or scalp care active ingredients can be present in encapsulated form at concentrations ranging from 1% to 5% by weight based on the total formulation weight, and even up to 50% by weight or higher, depending on the chemical properties of the material to be encapsulated and the encapsulation structure itself. In this invention, the composition may contain up to 90%, up to 10%, up to 5%, or up to 1% encapsulation material.

[0293] In this invention, the personal care composition can be transparent or clear. As used herein, the terms "clear" or "transparent" mean that the percentage of transparency (T%) of the composition at 600 nm is at least about 70% transmittance. The T% at 600 nm can be about 70% to about 100%, about 80% to about 100%, or about 90% to about 100%. In this invention, the percentage of transparency (T%) at 600 nm can be at least about 80% transmittance; the percentage of transparency (T%) at 600 nm can be at least about 90% transmittance.

[0294] In this invention, the personal care composition may be translucent or opaque. The transparency of the composition is measured by ultraviolet / visible (“UV / VIS”) spectrophotometry, and the absorption or transmission of UV / VIS light by the sample is determined using the Gretag Macbeth Colorimeter. It has been shown that a light wavelength of 600 nm is sufficient to characterize the transparency of the cleaning composition.

[0295] The personal care composition of the present invention may contain about 14% to about 50% water; or may have about 35% to about 50% water.

[0296] Test methods for formulations

[0297] Water activity

[0298] In this invention, water activity is measured as Aw (when in the range of 0-1) or relative humidity - %RH (when reported as a percentage), RH% = aw * 100. The water activity (Aw) of a personal care composition is the ratio between the vapor pressure of the personal care composition itself and the vapor pressure of distilled water under the same conditions when undisturbed in equilibrium with the surrounding air medium.

[0299] Water activity determined

[0300] In this invention, the equipment used for determining water activity can be: A) a Hygrolab C-1 water activity meter (available from Rotronic AG) equipped with temperature and humidity probes and B) a shallow disposable sample cup (available from Rotronic AG). In this invention, the water activity of the test material can be determined using the temperature and humidity probes and the Hygrolab C-1 meter (available from Rotronic AG). The disposable sample cup (available from Rotronic AG) is filled with the test material, lowered into a sample holder, and covered by the humidity and temperature probes. Using the meter's AwE mode, the water activity of the equilibrium product will be displayed on the meter as water activity (Aw). The following conversion factor can be used to switch between units: 1.000 Aw = 100% RH. Viscosity method.

[0301] The present invention may have a water activity (Aw) of about 0.40 to about 0.90; may have a water activity (AW) of about 0.80 to about 0.87. The present invention may have a water activity (Aw) of less than about 0.80.

[0302] Viscosity determination

[0303] In this invention, the equipment and instruments used for viscosity determination are: A) a disposable syringe (available from VWR); a rheometer (available from TA Instruments); and C) a 40mm parallel steel plate (available from TA Instruments). In this invention, the viscosity of the shampoo test material can be determined using a Discovery DHR rheometer from TA Instruments (New Castle, Delaware, USA). Data collection, processing, and reporting are performed using TRIOS software version 5.1.1.46572 (available from TA Instruments). The instrument is configured using a parallel steel plate with a diameter of 40mm, a gap size of 1000µm, and a temperature of 25°C. Viscosity is measured at 2.0s. -1Data are collected by measuring the flow peak at a shear rate maintained for 180 seconds, and the reported viscosity is the value measured at 180 seconds. In this invention, the personal care composition may have a viscosity of about 5,000 cps to about 20,000 cps; about 8,000 cps to about 14,000 cps; or about 7,000 cps to about 12,000 cps.

[0304] Determining the percentage of weight loss

[0305] In this invention, the equipment used for determining the percentage of weight loss is: A) a controlled temperature and humidity (CTCH) chamber / room; B) an analytical balance with a sensitivity of 0.1 mg (available from Mettler Toledo); C) a fiberglass cafeteria tray (available from Amazon); and D) a spreadsheet processor (available from Microsoft). In this invention, the percentage of weight loss can be determined by filling and sealing pouches with product test material. Their initial weights are collected using an AT200 analytical balance (available from Mettler Toledo) and then recorded in an Excel spreadsheet (available from Microsoft). The pouches are placed on a cafeteria tray (available from Amazon) and stored in a controlled temperature and humidity (CTCH) chamber set to the desired temperature and humidity. The pouches are weighed at selected time intervals, and the weight loss over time is recorded.

[0306] calculate

[0307] 1. Weight loss % =

[0308] Where Δweight = weight - initial weight

[0309] Example :

[0310] Sample ID Initial weight Weight at 1 week Δ weight weight loss % Sample A 14.4187 14.3694 0.0493 0.342%

[0311] Test methods for packaging

[0312] In this invention, when testing and / or measuring materials, if the relevant test method does not specify a particular temperature, the samples are tested and / or measured at a temperature of 23°C (±3°C), wherein such samples are pre-conditioned to this temperature. When testing and / or measuring materials, if the relevant test method does not specify a particular humidity, the samples are tested and / or measured at a humidity of 35% (±5%), wherein such samples are pre-conditioned to this humidity. Testing and / or measurement should be performed by trained, skilled, and experienced personnel according to good laboratory practices using appropriately calibrated equipment and / or instruments.

[0313] 1) Biodegradation screening test OECD 301B- Major components (e.g., paper and sealant) can be tested individually, and then all should be tested for biodegradability of the final packaging according to test method OECD 301B. The final packaging includes all major and minor components (e.g., adhesives, primers, barrier layers, inks, varnishes) and is open at one end to simulate its disposal after being opened by a consumer. The pass / fail success criteria are shown in the table below:

[0314] OECD Biodegradation Test Methods and Standards

[0315] Test methods Through standards OECD 301B - Testing the main components of each layer - Testing fully formed pouches* <![CDATA[60% thCO2 release or thO2 consumption within 60 days]]>

[0316] The sample should be at least 60% biodegraded within 60 days.

[0317] Aerobic biodegradability is measured by the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by the test material, according to the standard test method defined in OECD Method 301B. This test is performed according to the specified OECD test protocol, but over a period of 60 days. The polymer must achieve at least 60% biodegradability, as measured by CO2 production over 60 days in Standard Method 301B. These OECD test method guidelines are well known in the art and are cited herein as references {OECD (1992) Test No. 306: Biodegradability in Seawater, OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals, Section 3, OECD Publishing, Paris,} https: / / doi.org / 10.1787 / 9789264070486-en .and OECD (1992), Test No. 301: Ready Biodegradability, OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals, Section 3, OECD Publishing, Paris , https: / / doi.org / 10.1787 / 9789264070349-en .}

[0318] 2) OK composting INDUSTRIAL (EN 13432) test

[0319] Packaging or products bearing the OK Compost INDUSTRIAL label are guaranteed to be biodegradable in industrial composting plants. This applies to all components, inks, and additives. The sole reference point for the certification procedure is the harmonized EN 13432:2000 standard: under no circumstances should any product bearing the OK Compost INDUSTRIAL logo comply with the requirements of the EU Packaging Directive (94 / 62 / EEC). One test is a disintegration test. To pass the disintegration test, the packaging must disintegrate 90% within 12 weeks, with any remaining fragments able to pass through a 2mm sieve. The temperature must not rise above 75°C and must be reduced to 50°C after one week. This is to simulate what would happen in an actual industrial composting unit.

[0320] 3) OK Compost HOME Test — Because the volume of waste involved is relatively small, the temperature in garden compost heaps is significantly lower and less constant than in industrial composting environments. This is why composting in a garden is a more difficult and slower process. TÜV AUSTRIA developed OK Compost HOME to guarantee complete biodegradability according to specific requirements, even in garden compost heaps. OK Compost HOME is not based on a standard, but rather on several standards. It is important to remember that the OK Compost HOME certification process does not explicitly reference any specific standard, but rather details all the technical requirements that a product must meet to obtain certification. The disintegration test involves ensuring that disintegration occurs within 6 months at a temperature not exceeding 30°C. This is to simulate what would happen in a real home compost.

[0321] In some cases, other composting tests that follow similar testing requirements to the OK Compost HOME test can be used, such as the Australian Standard AS 5810—2010—Biodegradable Plastics for Home Composting. This test is run at 25°C, and when used to predict the material's ability to decompose under home composting conditions, a sample is expected to reach 90% biodegradation within 12 months. This test can also be used to predict the material's ability to decompose under industrial composting conditions, in which case, when run at 58°C, a 90% biodegradation is expected within 6 months.

[0322] 4) "Aerobic Biodegradation Test in Marine Sediments"—This test is conducted according to ISO 23832 to understand the behavior of the product material in a marine environment. Since most biodegradable materials are denser than water, it is expected that such materials will eventually sink to the bottom of the ocean and remain atop seafloor sediments, eventually becoming buried within the sediments. Therefore, it is generally most relevant to conduct this test using sediments collected from the sea. Since the locations where this invention will be utilized are mostly in warm tropical environments, it is most relevant to perform the test at a temperature of 25°C. In this invention, materials that achieve at least 50% biodegradation within 150 days when placed in a biodegradation test according to ISO 23832 at 25°C are selected. This test is conducted while the sample is buried in sediment.

[0323] For the biodegradation test methods listed above in this section, the packaging film can be tested with or without exposure to the product or formulation to be packaged in packaging using such film before it undergoes biodegradation. Exposure can be on only one side of the film, such as when the product is filled in a closed compartment made of the packaging film, or on both sides of the film, such as when the packaging film is immersed in the product or formulation. Exposure is typically performed in accelerated test settings, i.e., at 40°C or 50°C for a duration less than the expected shelf life. It can also be performed in environmental test settings, i.e., at 25°C or 30°C for a duration representing an average or reasonable shelf life. Because the product can affect the film through hydrolysis or other interaction mechanisms, exposure can prepare the packaging film to better exhibit biodegradation characteristics at the end of its life cycle—since the packaging contains the product within itself for at least several months and possibly up to several years.

[0324] 5) Water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) -This test method is primarily based on ASTM F1249-13 under the following test conditions: the test gas temperature is 38°C (±0.56°C) and its relative humidity is 50% (±3%), or, if tropical conditions are required, the test gas temperature is set to 38°C (±0.56°C) and its relative humidity to 90% (±3%). The carrier gas is 100% N2 (dry). The equipment used to run the test is a Permatran-W water vapor permeability instrument conforming to written specification QMS 702-004. For materials outside the scope of ASTM F-1249-13 (§1.1), the water vapor transmission rate test method is not applicable. If the barrier properties of a particular substrate are too poor, especially if the coating on a paper substrate is very thin and the equipment is not properly sealed, it is impossible to measure WVTR by ASTM F1249-13. In these cases, a different test method is used, namely the ASTM E96 cup test method. However, results from the two different test methods can still be compared. For ASTM E96, if tropical conditions are required, the temperature is 38°C and the humidity is 90% relative humidity; otherwise, if tropical conditions are not required, the humidity is sometimes 50% relative humidity. For either test method, water vapor transmission rate is expressed in g / m³. 2 / Daily report. Water vapor transmission rate is expressed in g.µm / m if normalized by barrier thickness. 2 Daily report.

[0325] 6) Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR) - This test method is primarily performed according to ASTM F1927 under the following test conditions: unless otherwise specified, the temperature of the test gas is 23°C (±0.56°C) and its relative humidity is 80% (±3%), and the concentration of the test gas is 100% O2. The carrier gas is 98% N2 and 2% H2, and the carrier gas humidity is 0%. The test gas pressure is 760 mmHg. The equipment used for this test is an Oxtran 2 / 21 oxygen permeability meter conforming to test procedure QMS 702-002. For either test method, oxygen permeability is expressed in cc / m³. 2 Reported in units of / day. Water vapor transmission rate is expressed in cc.µm / m if normalized by barrier thickness. 2 Daily report.

[0326] 7) Individual layer thickness - A 20 µm thick cross-section of the film sample was cut using a sliding slicer (e.g., Leica SM2010 R), placed under a light transmission mode optical microscope (e.g., Leica Diaplan), and imaging analysis software was applied to measure the thickness of individual layers. The layer was also measured using a scanning electron microscope, sometimes supplemented with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, for further contrast between different layers.

[0327] 8) Thickness (Caliper) - The thickness (caliper / thickness) of a monolayer test sample was measured under static load using a micrometer according to pharmacopoeia method ISO 534, with modifications mentioned herein. All measurements were performed in a laboratory maintained at 23°C ± 2°C and 50% ± 2% relative humidity, with the test samples conditioned in this environment for at least 2 hours prior to testing. Thickness was measured using a micrometer equipped with a pressure foot capable of applying a stable pressure of 70 kPa ± 0.05 kPa to the test sample. The micrometer was a static-heavy instrument with readings accurate to 0.1 micrometers. A suitable instrument was the TMI digital micrometer model 49-56, or equivalent, purchased from Testing Machines Inc., New Castle, DE.

[0328] 9) Basis weight - The basis weight of the test sample is the mass (in grams) per unit area (in square meters) of a single material layer, and is measured according to the pharmacopoeia method ISO 536. The test sample is cut into blocks of known area, and the mass of the test sample is determined using an analytical balance accurate to 0.0001 g. All measurements are performed in a laboratory maintained at 23°C ± 2°C and 50% ± 2% relative humidity, and the test samples are conditioned in this environment for at least 2 hours prior to testing.

[0329] 10) Roughness measurement of substrate / individual layer (S q )- Root mean square roughness (Sq) was measured using a 3D laser scanning confocal microscope, such as the Keyence VK-X200 series microscope available from the Keyence Corporation of America. This microscope includes a VK-X200K controller and a K-X210 30 measurement unit. The instrument manufacturer's software, VK Viewer version 2.4.1.0, was used for data collection, and the manufacturer's software, Multifile Analyzer version 1.1.14.62 and VK Analyzer version 3.4.0.1, were used for data analysis. If desired, the manufacturer's image stitching software, VK Image Stitching version 2.1.0.0, was used. The manufacturer's analysis software, 15377P 22, conforms to ISO 25178. The light source used was a semiconductor laser with a wavelength of 408 nm and a power of approximately 0.95 mW. Thermal seal strength was also considered. Unless otherwise stated, test method ASTM F88-06 can be used to measure the heat seal strength of heat seals formed from various barrier paper laminates.

[0330] Recyclability test

[0331] To facilitate and promote the recyclability of packaging, packaging made from the structures disclosed herein may contain less than 50% by weight of inks, dyes, barrier layers, polymer layers, adhesives, and / or synthetic fibers. The weight percentage of inks, dyes, barrier layers, polymer layers, adhesives, and / or synthetic fibers in the packaging may be less than 50% by weight, less than 30% by weight, less than 10% by weight, and all values ​​within these ranges and any ranges arising therefrom are listed. For example, the weight percentage of inks, dyes, barrier layers, polymer layers, adhesives, and / or synthetic fibers in the packaging material may be between 0.1% by weight and 50% by weight, between 0.1% by weight and 30% by weight, between 0.1% by weight and 10% by weight, and all values ​​within these ranges and any ranges arising therefrom are listed. In a specific example, the amount of inks, dyes, barrier layers, polymer layers, adhesives, and / or synthetic fibers is 5% by weight or less, or between 0.1% by weight and 5% by weight, and all values ​​within these ranges and any ranges arising therefrom are listed. In this invention, the resulting overall packaging may be made from the biodegradable and recyclable barrier paper laminate described in this disclosure, comprising at least 50% by weight of natural cellulose fibers, at least 70% by weight of natural cellulose fibers, or at least 80% by weight of natural cellulose fibers, specifically listing all values ​​within these ranges and any ranges arising therefrom. The effectiveness of the recycling process for the packaging materials of this disclosure can be determined by the percentage of recyclability. The packaging materials of this disclosure may exhibit a percentage of recyclability of 50% or greater, 70% or greater, 80% or greater, specifically listing all values ​​within these ranges and any ranges arising therefrom. The packaging materials of this disclosure may have a percentage of recyclability of 50% to about 99%, about 85% to about 99%, or about 90% to about 99%. The percentage of recyclability of the packaging materials of this disclosure is determined by test PTS-RH:021 / 97 (draft October 2019) under Category II, as conducted by Papiertechnische Stiftung located at Pirnaer Strasse 37, 01809 Heidenau, Germany. Together with the recyclability percentage, the total nonconforming percentage can be determined via PTS-RH: 021 / 97 (October 2019 draft) under Category II. The total nonconforming percentage of packaging materials of this disclosure can be less than about 50%, less than about 30%, less than about 10%, specifically including all values ​​within these ranges and any ranges arising therefrom. For example, the total nonconforming percentage of packaging materials of this disclosure can be from 0.5% to 50%, 0.5% to 30%, 0.5% to 10%, specifically listing all values ​​within these ranges and any ranges arising therefrom.

[0332] The product has been reformulated to reduce water activity and water content.

[0333] In this invention, to prevent early hydrolysis of the biodegradable polymer layer on the inner side of the laminated pouch material, which acts as a packaging seal (and subsequent damage to the layered structure of the laminate), it is necessary to reduce the water activity and water content of the shampoo formulation. This is achieved by modifying commercially available shampoo formulations by removing any added water that does not enter the formulation as part of another ingredient (e.g., surfactants typically enter as part of an aqueous solution). Because the shampoo needs to be a liquid and have a viscosity similar to that of commercially available shampoos (to allow for good spreadability on the hair), only flowable liquids and soluble solids are considered to replace the 29%–41% added water in commercially available cosmetic shampoos. Since it is desirable not only to reduce the water content but also to reduce the water activity (reactivity) of the remaining water in the formulation, the components of bound water (wetting agents) are evaluated. The table below shows common wetting agents and the conditions under which they reach equilibrium under different water % and relative humidity (Aw) conditions. At approximately 50% shampoo water content and at an average humidity of approximately 75%–80% RH for the composition of interest, glycerin, propylene glycol, and sodium chloride can all reduce water activity by binding with water. Propylene glycol causes formulation separation at the desired level in the shampoo. However, replacing 29%–41% of the water in the shampoo with a combination of both glycerin and sodium chloride produces a stable formulation with both lower water content and activity. Furthermore, glycerin is known to provide a conditioning feel on hair compared to water.

[0334] Non-limiting embodiments

[0335] The personal care compositions illustrated in the following examples can be prepared using conventional formulation and mixing methods. Unless otherwise specified, all illustrative amounts are listed as a weight percentage based on the active ingredient and exclude trace materials such as diluents, preservatives, colored solutions, hypothetical ingredients, herbal medicines, etc. Unless otherwise specified, all percentages are based on weight.

[0336] Formulation Examples

[0337] Examples A and B are conventional cosmetic formulation examples with high water activity (Aw), which serve as a control comparison with Example C1, which is a formulation example of the present invention with reduced water activity (Aw).

[0338] Example description:

[0339] A-Higher Aw Traditional Shampoo

[0340] B-Higher Aw Traditional Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

[0341] C-lower Aw

[0342] D-lower Aw

[0343] E-lower Aw for dandruff

[0344] F-lower Aw for dandruff removal

[0345] G-lower Aw alternative wetting agent

[0346] H-low, Aw, sulfate-free

[0347] I-lower Aw, sulfate-free

[0348] J-Higher Aw Traditional Face Cream

[0349] K-Lower Aw Face Cream

[0350] Formulation Examples A B C D E F G H I <![CDATA[Sodium lauryl polyoxyethylene ether-1 sulfate 1 > 13.2 0 13.2 13.2 0 12.44 0 0 0 <![CDATA[Sodium lauryl sulfate 2 > 0 6 0 0 6 1.5 0 0 0 <![CDATA[Sodium lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate n>13 3 > 0 6 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 <![CDATA[Sodium trideceth-2 sulfate 4 > 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 0 0 <![CDATA[Sodium cocoyl isethionate 5 > 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7.8 6.0 <![CDATA[Cocamidopropyl betaine 6 > 2.4 1.8 2.4 3.5 1.8 1.2 3 6.6 0 <![CDATA[Lauramidopropyl betaine 7 > 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.15 <![CDATA[Cocamide MEA 8 > 0 0.85 0 0 0.85 1 0 0 0 <![CDATA[Hydroxyethyl cellulose 9 > 0 0 0 0.05 0 0 1 0 0 <![CDATA[Polyquaternium-6 (DADMAC)]]> 10 > 0.12 0 0.12 0.12 0 0 0 0.25 0 <![CDATA[Guar hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride 11 > 0.35 0.25 0.35 0.35 0.25 0.3 0 0 0 <![CDATA[Polyquaternium-76 12 > 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 0 0 0 <![CDATA[Polydimethylsiloxane 13 > 2.23 1.45 2.23 2.23 1.45 2.23 0 1.5 0 <![CDATA[Climbazole 14 > 0 0.5 0 0 0.5 0 0 1 0 <![CDATA[Piroctone olamine 15 > 0 0 0 0 0 0.5 0 0 0 <![CDATA[Benzyl alcohol 16 > 0 0.5 0 0 0.5 0 0 0 0 <![CDATA[Sodium citrate 17 > 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.78 0 <![CDATA[Sodium chloride 18 > 0.1 0.1 6 4 4 4 6 4 0 <![CDATA[Sodium salicylate 19 > 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.45 0 <![CDATA[Sodium benzoate 20 > 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.8 0.45 <![CDATA[Methylchloroisothiazolinone / Methylisothiazolinone 21 > 0.0005 0.0005 0.0005 0.0005 0.0005 0.0005 0.0005 0 0 <![CDATA[Citric acid 22 > 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.1 0.10 <![CDATA[Ethylene distearate 23 > 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.5 0 0 0 <![CDATA[Stearyl alcohol 24 > 0.64 0 0.64 0.64 0 0 0 0 0 <![CDATA[Cetearyl alcohol 25 > 0.32 0 0.32 0.32 0 0 0 0 0 <![CDATA[Dipropylene glycol 26 > 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 0 0 <![CDATA[Glycerin 27 > 0 to 1 0 23.74 22.66 44.5 38.51 0 40 69.98 Fragrance 0.9 1.2 1 1 1.2 1 1 1.2 1.0 Water, QS 77.79 79.09 48.05 49.98 30.70 34.97 46.25 35.52 14.09 Final viscosity, cps 10000 5000 14000 14000 7000 12000 5000 8100 13000 Water activity, Aw 0.98 0.98 0.82 0.85 0.70 0.74 0.80 0.75 0.40

[0351] Ingredient Code :

[0352] 1 Sodium lauryl polyoxyethylene ether-1 sulfate, 26% active ingredient, supplier: P&G 2 Sodium lauryl sulfate, 29% active ingredient, supplier: P&G 3 Sodium alkyl ether sulfate, 28% active ingredient, supplier P&G 4 Tridecyl polyoxyethylene ether-2-sodium sulfate, 45% active ingredient, supplier P&G 5 HOSTAPON SCI 85 C, supplier Clariant 6 Tego Betain L 7 OK, 30% active ingredient, supplier: Evonik 7 Laurylamidopropyl betaine, Mackam DAB ULS, Supplier: Solvay 8 Ninol Comf, 85% active ingredient, supplier: Stepan 9 Natrasol 250 HHX, supplier Ashland 10 Flocare C106, Supplier: SNF 11 N-HANCE 3196 Guar Guml, Supplier: Ashland 12 Mirapol 100, 31.5% active ingredient, supplier: SNF, Inc. 13 CF330M, Supplier: Momentive 14 Crinipan AD, Supplier: Symrise 15 Oxymethopyrone, Supplier: Clariant 16 Benzyl alcohol, supplier: Valtris 17 Sodium citrate dihydrate, supplier: ADM 18 Sodium chloride, supplier: Morton 19 Sodium salicylate, supplier: Spectrum Chemical 20 Sodium benzoate dense NF / FCC, supplier: Emerald Performance Materials 21 Kathon CG, 1.5% active ingredient, supplier: Dow 22 Anhydrous citric acid, supplier: ADM; content adjustable to achieve target pH. 23 TEGIN G 1100, Supplier: Evonik 24 Stearyl alcohol, supplier: P&G Chemicals 25 Cetyl alcohol, supplier: P&G Chemicals 26 Dipropylene glycol, supplier: BASF 27 Glycerin, supplier: P&G

[0353] RM name Example J: Traditional face cream Example K Lower Aw face cream Vitamin B active substances 4-6 2.5-4.5 Moisturizer 9 6.3 <![CDATA[Sodium EDTA 1 > 0.05 0.035 fatty alcohols 1.99 1.393 emulsifier 0.3 0.21 <![CDATA[Glycerol 99.0% 2 > 15 40.5 <![CDATA[Panthenol (D-Panthenol Liquid) 3 > 1 0.7 sunblock 0.3 0.21 preservative 0.725 0.5075 <![CDATA[Modified corn starch PrimG 4 > 5 3.5 Fragrance 0.13 0.091 Silicone touch modifier 1.5 1.05 <![CDATA[40%-60% stearic acid, beads, plant-derived 5 > 0.1 0.07 peptide blends 0.3-0.4 0.2-0.3 Thickening polymer 1.6 1.12 <![CDATA[Mica 6 > 0.4-0.6 0.25-0.45 <![CDATA[Sodium hyaluronate 7 > 0.005 0.0035 Water, QS 57.447 40.2129 Water activity, Aw 0.94 0.79

[0354] Ingredient Code :

[0355] 1 Sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate dihydrate (EDTA-2Na); Supplier: Supreme Resources 2 Glycerin, supplier: P&G 3 Dextropanthenol USP; Supplier: Roche Vitamins 4 Modified corn starch; Supplier: Ingredeon 5 Stearic acid; Supplier: Emery Oleochemicals 6 Mica; Supplier: Kobo 7 Sodium hyaluronate; Supplier: P&G Shiga Plant

[0356] Biodegradable flexible structure examples

[0357] Figure 1 to Figure 14 and Figures 16 to 18 Eighteen non-limiting examples of biodegradable flexible structures applicable to the present invention are shown.

[0358] Figure 1 shows Structure 1. The outer layer 1 of Structure 1 is a paper layer (with a basis weight of approximately 25 gsm); next is layer 2, which is a biodegradable adhesive; next is layer 3, which is a Natureflex NM cellulose-based film from Futamura, approximately 23 µm thick, one side of which is metallized with layer 4 (a very thin aluminum layer laid via vapor deposition) and forms the main moisture barrier layer of the packaging; next is a second layer 2, another biodegradable adhesive layer; and the last layer is layer 5, an extruded film made of polybutylene adipate succinate (PBSA), approximately 30 µm thick, which acts as a sealant for the packaging. This biodegradable flexible structure is obtained from Parkside (UK) and sold under the name "Triplex Laminate" with product code "HCPT1(b)". This structure has passed the OK Home Compost Biodegradability Test; the OK Industrial Compost Biodegradability Test; and it has also passed the OECD 301B Biodegradability Test. It is also expected to pass the ISO23832 test for aerobic biodegradation in marine sediments.

[0359] Figure 2 Structure 2 is shown, which is identical to structure 1 except that it is constructed by printing and coating structure 1. The outer layer is layer 7, which is a varnish layer; the next layer is layer 6, which is a printing ink layer; next is layer 1, which is a paper layer (with a basis weight of about 25 gsm); next is layer 2, which is a biodegradable adhesive; next is layer 3, which is a Natureflex NM cellulose-based film from Futamura, one side of which is metallized with layer 4 (a very thin aluminum metal layer laid via vapor deposition), which is about 23 µm thick and forms the main moisture barrier layer of the packaging; next is a second layer 2, which is another biodegradable adhesive layer; and the last layer is layer 5, which is an extruded film made of polybutylene adipate succinate (PBSA), which is about 30 µm thick and acts as a sealant for the packaging. The structure is expected to pass the OK household compost biodegradability test; the OK industrial compost biodegradability test; the OECD 301B biodegradability test; and the ISO 23832 test for aerobic biodegradation in marine sediments.

[0360] Figure 3Structure 3 is shown. The outer layer 1 is a paper layer. Layer 2 is a biodegradable adhesive; layer 4 is a very thin aluminum layer deposited onto layer 8 via vapor deposition. This layer is an extruded film made from BASF's Ecovio resin—a blend of polybutylene terephthalate (PBAT) and polylactic acid (PLA). The biodegradable flexible structure is available from Juratech (Germany) and is named "Jura Pro-Terra Laminate HEM-PBD". The total thickness of the structure is approximately 126 µm, with a film thickness of approximately 40 µm. This structure is expected to pass OK household compost biodegradability tests and OK industrial compost biodegradability tests.

[0361] Figure 4 Structure 4 is shown. This is a single-layer structure (layer 9) that is an extruded membrane prepared on a membrane line using BASF's Ecovio resin, a blend of polybutylene terephthalate (PBAT) and polylactic acid (PLA), resin code F2341. The membrane is approximately 22 µm thick. This structure passed the OK Home Compost Biodegradability Test and the OK Industrial Compost Biodegradability Test.

[0362] Figure 5 Structure 5 is shown. The outer layer, layer 1, can be a paper layer; layer 2 can be a biodegradable adhesive; layer 9 can be an extruded film, which can be derived from BASF's Ecovio resin, a blend of polybutylene terephthalate (PBAT) and polylactic acid (PLA), resin code F2341. This structure is expected to pass both the OK Home Compost Biodegradability Test and the OK Industrial Compost Biodegradability Test.

[0363] Figure 6 Structure 6 is shown. The outer layer (layer 7) is a varnish layer; layer 6 is a printing ink layer; layer 1 is a paper layer; layer 2 is a biodegradable adhesive; and layer 9 is an extruded film that can be prepared from BASF's Ecovio resin, which is a blend of polybutylene terephthalate (PBAT) and polylactic acid (PLA), resin code F2341.

[0364] Figure 7Structure 7 is shown. The outer layer (layer 1) is a paper layer (approximately 40 gsm); layer 10 is an adhesive layer (approximately 10 gsm); layer 4 is a very thin aluminum metal layer and forms the main moisture barrier layer for packaging; layer 11 is a release layer; layer 13 is an anchoring coating, which is a polyurethane dispersion TAKELAC WPB-341, laid on the release layer to treat the surface of the release layer with appropriate surface energy / tension to form a good bond with the heat sealant layer (layer 12) on top; layer 12 is an extruded film made of PBAT with a thickness of approximately 34 µm, and is obtained from POLYROCK under the code name PBAT801T_POLYROCK, wherein the original PBAT resin is available from Tunhe. Alternatively, a blend of polybutylene terephthalate (PBAT) and polylactic acid (PLA) can be used, wherein the PLA content is approximately 10% by weight, and similar results are given for stability. Regardless of the sealant used, it is thermally laminated to the remainder of the structure via benchtop lamination. The total thickness of the resulting structure is approximately 96 µm. When the heat sealant is made of PBAT, the entire structure passes OECD 301B and also ISO 23832 for aerobic biodegradation in marine sediments, and is expected to pass OK Home Compost Biodegradation Test, Australian Standard AS 5810-2010 for Biodegradable Plastics (for Home Compost), and OK Industrial Compost Biodegradation Test. When the heat sealant is alternatively made of a blend of polybutylene terephthalate (PBAT) and polylactic acid (PLA), with PLA content of approximately 10% by weight, similar biodegradation results are expected.

[0365] Figure 8 Structure 8 is shown. The outer layer is layer 3, which is a Natureflex NM cellulose-based membrane from Futamura, approximately 23 µm thick. One side of this membrane is metallized with layer 4 (a very thin aluminum layer deposited via vapor deposition) and forms one of the two main moisture barrier layers for packaging—this part of the structure is available from Futamura (USA). Next is layer 5, a thin extruded film (approximately 7 µm thick) made of polybutylene adipate succinate (PBSA), which serves as the layer holding the entire structure together. Layer 4 is a very thin aluminum layer deposited via vapor deposition onto layer 8, an extruded film made of Ecovio resin from BASF—a blend of polybutylene terephthalate (PBAT) and polylactic acid (PLA). This structure is expected to pass the OK Industrial Compost Biodegradability Test. The entire structure is thermally laminated together using a benchtop laminator. This structure is expected to pass the OK Industrial Compost Biodegradability Test.

[0366] Figure 9 Structure 9 is shown. The outer layer 1 is a paper layer. Layer 2 is a biodegradable adhesive; layer 19 is a very thin alumina (AlOx) layer deposited onto layer 8 via vapor deposition. This layer is an extruded film made from BASF's Ecovio resin—a blend of polybutylene terephthalate (PBAT) and polylactic acid (PLA). This structure is expected to pass OK household composting biodegradability tests and OK industrial composting biodegradability tests.

[0367] Figure 10 Structure 10 is shown. The outer layer 1 is a paper layer. Next is layer 2, which is a biodegradable adhesive; next is layer 14, a biaxially oriented film made of polylactic acid (PLA); next is a second biodegradable adhesive layer – the second layer 2; next is layer 4, a very thin aluminum metal layer (which forms the main moisture barrier layer of the structure), deposited onto layer 14 via vapor deposition. Layer 14 is a biaxially oriented film made of polylactic acid (PLA), and its outer layer acts as a sealant for the packaging. This structure is expected to pass OK industrial composting biodegradation tests.

[0368] Figure 11 Structure 11 is shown. The outer layer (layer 14) is a biaxially oriented film made of polylactic acid (PLA); layer 2 is a biodegradable adhesive; layer 4 is a very thin aluminum metal layer (which forms the main moisture barrier layer of the structure), which is deposited onto layer 14 via vapor deposition. Layer 14 is a biaxially oriented film made of PLA, and its outer layer acts as a sealant for the packaging. This structure is expected to pass the OK industrial compost biodegradability test.

[0369] Figure 12 Structure 12 is shown. The outer layer is layer 3, which is a Natureflex NM cellulose-based membrane from Futamura, one side of which is metallized with layer 4 (a very thin aluminum layer laid via vapor deposition) and forms one of the two main moisture barrier layers for packaging—this structure is available from Futamura (USA); then there is layer 5, a thin extruded film (approximately 7 µm thick) made of polybutylene adipate succinate (PBSA), which serves as the layer that holds the entire structure together; layer 4 is a very thin aluminum layer (which forms the main moisture barrier layer of the structure), which is laid via vapor deposition onto layer 14, a biaxially oriented film made of polylactic acid, the outer layer of which acts as a sealant for the packaging. The entire structure is thermally laminated together using a benchtop laminator. This structure is expected to pass the OK Industrial Compost Biodegradation Test.

[0370] Figure 13Structure 13 is shown. The outer layer is layer 1, which is a paper layer; the next layer is layer 15, which is a PVOH coating laid from an aqueous PVOH solution and then dried to remove water; layer 16 is a bio-Ormocer primer layer, which is laid via solution coating and then dried to form a glassy film; layer 4 is a very thin aluminum metal layer (which forms the main moisture barrier layer of the structure), which is laid onto layer 16 via vapor deposition, followed by a second layer 16, which is a second bio-Ormocer primer layer, which is laid to protect the metallization layer; layer 5 is an extruded film made of polybutylene adipate succinate (PBSA), which is thermally laminated to the rest of the structure and acts as a sealant for the packaging.

[0371] Figure 14 Structure 14 is shown. The outer layer is layer 1, which is a paper layer; the next layer is layer 2, which is a biodegradable adhesive; layer 4 is a very thin aluminum metal layer (which forms the main moisture barrier layer of the structure), which is deposited onto layer 14 via vapor deposition. Layer 14 is a biaxially oriented film made of polylactic acid, and its outer layer acts as a sealant for the packaging. This structure is expected to pass OK Industrial composting biodegradation tests.

[0372] Figure 16 Structure 16 is shown. The outer layer (layer 1) is a paper layer (approximately 40 gsm); layer 10 is an adhesive layer (approximately 10 gsm); layer 4 is a very thin aluminum metal layer and forms the main moisture barrier layer for packaging; layer 11 is a release layer; layer 13 is, for example, an anchoring coating, which is a polyurethane dispersion TAKELAC WPB-341, which is laid on the release layer to treat the surface of the release layer with appropriate surface energy / tension so as to form a good bond with the heat sealant layer (layer 12) on top; and layer 12 is a coating made of small particles, which are made of any biodegradable polymer mentioned in the section "Water-soluble Biodegradable Polymers for Sealant Layers and Other Layers" or in the section "Water-soluble Biodegradable Polymers", applied in the form of an emulsion of particles or in the form of dry particles. After the coating is applied, the substrate is then heated to melt the particles into a continuous layer. The structure is expected to pass OECD 301B testing, ISO 23832 testing for aerobic biodegradation in marine sediments, OK household compost biodegradation testing, Australian Standard AS 5810-2010 for biodegradable plastics (for household composting), and OK industrial compost biodegradation testing.

[0373] Figure 17Structure 17 is shown. The outer layer, layer 1, may be a paper layer; layer 17 is a biodegradable sealant coating made of small particles, which are made from any biodegradable polymer mentioned in the sections "Water-soluble Biodegradable Polymers for Sealant Layers and Other Layers" or "Water-soluble Biodegradable Polymers," applied in either an emulsion form or as dry granules. After the coating is applied, the substrate is then heated to melt the particles into a continuous layer. This structure is expected to pass OECD 301B testing, ISO 23832 testing for aerobic biodegradation in marine sediments, OK Home Compost Biodegradation Testing, Australian Standard AS 5810-2010 for Biodegradable Plastics (for Home Composting), and OK Industrial Compost Biodegradation Testing.

[0374] Figure 18 Structure 18 is shown. The outer layer, layer 1, may be a paper layer; layer 10 may be a biodegradable adhesive; layer 18 is a PBAT film containing 5%-15% by weight talc and other slip agents, and is substantially free of PLA. This structure is expected to pass OECD 301B testing, ISO 23832 testing for aerobic biodegradation in marine sediments, OK household compost biodegradation testing, Australian Standard AS5810-2010 for biodegradable plastics (for household composting), and OK industrial compost biodegradation testing.

[0375] Stability results of packaging and formulation combination

[0376] a) Stability results of the final packaging tested by consumers - A stability study (Example C) was conducted using consumers filled with the optimized formulation (including printing on top of the main flexible packaging structure (Structure 1), varnished to form Structure 2), which met the stability criterion of <10% weight change over 4 weeks at 40°C / 75% RH. The results are shown in Table 15. Each bar in the graph represents the measured % weight change over one week, and the total is recorded for 4 weeks. These conditions were chosen to predict how the product is expected to perform over a period of at least one year in the market.

[0377] b) Stability results for reference to market packaging -For reference – note that a conventional shampoo (Example A) will lose <0.2% by weight within 4 weeks at 40°C / 75% RH. This conventional shampoo is packaged in a currently marketed package made of one of the flexible structures (Structure 0) available on the market. Such a flexible structure is typically made of a non-biodegradable material having the following structure: an outer layer of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) reverse-printed with ink to display the necessary artwork; it is adhesively laminated to a metallized biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) layer to provide barrier properties; and it is then adhesively laminated to a polyethylene (PE) layer that acts as a sealant for the packaging. This structure is referred to as Structure 0. Although this structure provides good barrier properties and minimizes weight loss of the packaging, the flexible structure used to manufacture the packaging is not biodegradable, and therefore this combination does not solve the problem addressed by the present invention. Structure 0 in Table X refers to this non-biodegradable flexible structure.

[0378] c) Stability results of additional packaging made from a combination of formulation and biodegradable flexible structure: In addition, non-limiting examples of other combinations of flexible packaging structures and formulations were tested. Figures 1b to 18 Figures show 17 examples of biodegradable flexible structures. The weight variations from these different combinations are summarized in the table below.

[0379] The following table shows the weight gain / weight loss observed for different combinations of formulation and packaging:

[0380] The formulation examples refer to the table of non-limiting formulation examples, where Examples A and B are controls of conventional shampoo formulations with high water activity (Aw). The table shows that, in these packaging configurations, the high-Aw formulations exhibit significant weight changes over 4 weeks of storage at 40°C / 75% RH, compared to low-Aw formulation examples which show less than 10% weight change under the same conditions.

[0381] <![CDATA[ Formula / Pack Assembly structure ]]> <![CDATA[ Example A ]]> <![CDATA[ Example C ]]> <![CDATA[ Example D ]]> <![CDATA[ Example E ]]> <![CDATA[ Example B ]]> <![CDATA[ Example K ]]> <![CDATA[ Structure 1 ]]> 65% by weight (loss) 6.8% by weight (loss) 6% by weight (loss) -6.9% by weight (growth) 62.3% by weight (loss) n / a <![CDATA[ Structure 2 ]]> n / a 4% by weight (loss) (shown with) Figure 15 (The same final result as the chart in the image) n / a n / a n / a n / a <![CDATA[ Structure 3 ]]> 40% by weight (loss) 1.4% by weight (loss) 3.5% by weight (loss) -1.4% by weight (growth) 7.7% by weight (loss) n / a <![CDATA[ Structure 4 ]]> n / a n / a n / a -6.5% by weight (growth) n / a n / a <![CDATA[ Structure 5 ]]> n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a <![CDATA[ Structure 6 ]]> n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a <![CDATA[ Structure 7 ]]> n / a n / a 5% by weight (loss) n / a n / a 4.6% by weight (loss) <![CDATA[ Structure 8 ]]> 66% by weight (loss) 1.86% by weight (loss) n / a n / a n / a n / a <![CDATA[ Structure 9 ]]> n / a 7.18% by weight (loss) n / a n / a n / a n / a <![CDATA[ Structure 10 ]]> 45% by weight (loss) 3.19% by weight (loss) n / a n / a n / a n / a <![CDATA[ Structure 11 ]]> n / a 4.58% by weight (loss) n / a n / a n / a n / a <![CDATA[ Structure 12 ]]> n / a 1.4% by weight (loss) n / a n / a n / a n / a <![CDATA[ Structure 13 ]]> n / a 6.6% by weight (loss) n / a n / a n / a n / a <![CDATA[ Structure 14 ]]> n / a 1.1% by weight (loss) n / a n / a n / a n / a <![CDATA[ Structure 16 ]]> n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a <![CDATA[ Structure 17 ]]> n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a <![CDATA[ Structure 18 ]]> n / a n / a n / a -3.22% by weight (growth) n / a n / a <![CDATA[ Structure 0* ]]> <0.2% by weight (loss) n / a n / a n / a <0.2% by weight (loss) n / a

[0382] *Structure 0 is a commercially available laminate for preparing shampoo sachets.

[0383] foaming Shampoo formulations with lower Aw remain equivalent (within 0.5) to achieve better foaming properties.

[0384] Blender Method Example A Example B Example C Foam height, cm 5 4.5 6 creamy 1 0.5 2 bulge 0.5 0.5 1 bubble size 1 1.5 2

[0385] Blending methods for foaming properties

[0386] equipment KitchenAid blenders without a rubber seal at the bottom of the cup - the cup contains store-bought olive oil (representing sebum / scalp oil).

[0387] ProceduresAdd 100 mL of 40°C tap water to the blender cup. Laboratory-prepared hard water can be used, and the temperature should be adjusted for consumer relevance. Add 1 mL of olive oil. Add 2 mL of shampoo. Mix for 30 seconds. Immediately measure the foam height and pour into a small cup for further evaluation.

[0388] evaluate Visual scale 1-5 creamy / raised (low to high), visual scale 1-5 bubble size (large to small), foam height in blender cup (measured, cm).

[0389] In this invention, compared to the same liquid personal care composition having less than about 20% wetting agent, the liquid personal care composition may have increased foaming capacity, as measured by an increase in foam height of at least 1 cm.

[0390] Summary of performance test results from 30 basic consumer users

[0391] The following table presents the results of consumer testing in use, where consumers already using packaging available on the market were asked to test a new combination of formulation example D packaged within a biodegradable flexible structure referred to as structure 2. The results show that, apart from the fact that packaging structure 2 is biodegradable, consumer ratings for the test combination are significantly better than existing formulations and packaging on the market in many respects.

[0392] Thirty consumers were recruited who used shampoo sachets, the primary form of shampoo currently available on the market, as described in Formulation Example A of Packaging Structure 0. They were provided with Formulation Example D of Packaging Structure 2 and instructed to use these products at home for two weeks in lieu of their regular shampoo under actual shampooing habits and conditions. After two weeks of use, consumers completed a rating questionnaire. The following results are the average ratings from all 30 consumers, ranging from 0 to 100, with higher numbers indicating a preference for that attribute among the test group. Statistically significant preferences at a 95% confidence level are indicated in bold.

[0393] Attribute ranking issues Example A in Packaging Structure 0 Formulation Example D in Packaging Structure 2 Overall rating 66 81 Overall foaming 65 76 Overall Rinse 66 77 Thoroughly clean my hair 63 79 Overall conditioning of my hair 61 75 Overall, it achieves the look I want. 51 74 Overall, it makes my hair healthy 54 75 Overall, it makes your hair thicker / fuller. 54 75 Overall fragrance 78 82 Overall convenience 72 86 Packaging - Overall 63 86 Packaging - Overall appearance and feel 60 83 Packaging - Overall Texture 61 80 Packaging - Overall Color 65 83 Packaging - Overall Packaging that Benefits the Environment 53 90 Packaging - Overall, the packaging looks like a high-quality product. 58 80 Packaging - The packaging is made of high-quality materials. 57 69 Packaging - Overall ease of use 68 89 Preparation - Packaging is easy to open 65 86 Preparation - Packaging can protect the product 65 81 Preparation - Packaging should be waterproof 62 80 Preparation - Packaging for easy maintenance 68 83 Preparation and packaging are easy to handle. 71 86 Preparation - Packaging: Easy to squeeze 66 84 Preparation - Easy to remove the product from the packaging 66 84 Preparation - Easy to avoid product spills / drips / waste when opening 52 78 Preparation - The product's appearance in hand 67 80 Preparation - Shampoo in your hand (creamy consistency) 69 82 Apply - Easy to spread product from roots to ends 61 82 Apply - produce a good amount of foam 71 90 Apply - foaming creamy texture / richness / foaming properties 70 89 Fragrance intensity during shower application 76 85 Rinse - Easy to wash off 68 83 Rinsing - My hair didn't feel heavy when rinsing out the shampoo. 63 80 Rinsing - After rinsing shampoo, fingers / combs can easily pass through wet hair. 66 80 Rinse - Leaves hair feeling smooth after rinsing off shampoo. 69 83 Rinse - Leave hair feeling damp after rinsing out shampoo. 62 83 Rinsing - leaves my hair without any unwanted coating / residue. 59 77 Rinsing - left my hair feeling completely smooth and dry. 57 76 Rinsing - Keeps hair feeling clean when it's wet 66 83 Dry - fingers / comb easily pass through my hair 62 81 Dryness makes my hair easier to style. 62 80 Dryness - makes my hair feel clean 62 78 Drying - makes my hair move and flow freely. 56 75 Dryness - makes my hair feel soft 65 79 Dryness - makes my hair feel smooth 65 78 Dryness - keeps my hair moist 56 76 Drying helps control curling / scattering 50 69 Drying - leaves my hair without any unwanted coating / residue. 59 74 Daytime - Reduce / Control Curls 51 72 Daytime - Helps maintain the look I want all day. 52 70 Daytime - Hair feels clean but after conditioning 56 74 Daytime - Helps hair roots feel / look clean all day. 52 76 Daytime - Helps the scalp feel / look clean all day. 50 76 Daytime - Long-lasting fragrance on hair 70 83

[0394] Additional Examples / Combinations

[0395] A. A biodegradable flexible package for use with a liquid personal care composition, said biodegradable flexible package comprising:

[0396] a) Packaging, said packaging comprising at least one biodegradable polymer layer and an inorganic layer;

[0397] b) A liquid personal care composition comprising about 14% to about 50% water and about 20% to about 70% a wetting agent;

[0398] It contains a water activity (Aw) of approximately 0.40 to approximately 0.90.

[0399] B. The biodegradable flexible packaging as described in paragraph A, wherein the packaging includes additional layers selected from the group consisting of at least 3 layers, at least 4 layers, at least 5 layers, or at least 6 layers.

[0400] C. The biodegradable flexible packaging as described in paragraphs A to B, wherein the packaging comprises more than 6 layers.

[0401] D. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A to C, wherein at least one of the additional layers is selected from the group consisting of a paper layer, a cellulose layer, a biodegradable adhesive layer, a release layer, an anchoring coating, a second inorganic layer, a second biodegradable polymer layer, a primer layer, an ink layer, a varnish layer, and mixtures thereof.

[0402] E. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A to D, wherein the biodegradable polymer layer is derived from the group consisting of polybutylene adipate succinate (PBSA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polybutylene terephthalate (PBAT), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polylactic acid (PLA), polypropylene carbonate (PPC) and copolymers thereof, cellulose polymers and mixtures thereof.

[0403] F. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A to E, wherein the inorganic layer comprises a vapor-deposited aluminum layer laid on a paper layer, a cellulose layer, a biodegradable polymer layer, a second biodegradable polymer layer, or a primer layer.

[0404] G. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A through F, wherein the inorganic layer deposited by vapor deposition is a material selected from the group consisting of: metal oxides, SiOx (glassy material), alumina (e.g., Al2O3), aluminum carbide, aluminum nitride, magnesium oxide, titanium oxide (such as titanium dioxide, titanium oxide (3), or titanium monoxide), zinc oxide, tin oxide, yttrium oxide, or zirconium oxide (e.g., zirconium monoxide), calcium oxide, boron oxide; or metal-like oxides, such as silicon oxide, silicon carbide, and silicon nitride; or diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings. Silicon oxide coatings or nitride-based coatings may also be selected from SiOx. X (where x is an integer from 1 to 4) or SiO X N Y The coating consists of a group of groups (where each of x and y is an integer from 1 to 3).

[0405] H. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A to G, wherein the inorganic layer includes an aluminum layer attached to a paper layer, a cellulose layer, a biodegradable polymer layer, a second biodegradable polymer layer, a primer layer, or a biodegradable adhesive layer via an indirect transfer metallization process.

[0406] I. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A to H, wherein the inorganic layer comprises an aluminum layer attached to a paper layer, a cellulose layer, a biodegradable polymer layer, an adhesive layer, a release layer, or a second biodegradable polymer layer.

[0407] J. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A to I, wherein the inorganic layer comprises an aluminum layer transferred via an indirect transfer metallization process.

[0408] K. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A to J, wherein the inorganic layer comprises clay, or nanoclay, or an inorganic-organic hybrid polymer, and is applied from an aqueous dispersion to a paper layer, a cellulose layer, a biodegradable polymer layer, a second biodegradable polymer layer, or a primer layer via an aqueous coating process, followed by drying.

[0409] L. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A to K, wherein the biodegradable polymer layer comprises polybutylene adipate succinate (PBSA), and wherein at least one of the additional layers comprises paper, a biodegradable adhesive layer, and an inorganic layer of aluminum, the inorganic layer being laid on a second biodegradable polymer layer comprising a cellulose polymer.

[0410] M. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A to L, wherein at least one of the additional layers comprises a paper layer, an adhesive layer, and an inorganic layer of aluminum, a release layer, an anchoring coating, and a biodegradable polymer layer, the biodegradable polymer layer comprising a blend of polybutylene terephthalate (PBAT) and polylactic acid (PLA).

[0411] N. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A to M, wherein the biodegradable adhesive layer is selected from the group consisting of: biodegradable polyvinyl acetate, starch, maltodextrin, natural wax, artificial wax, polyester-polyurethane, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide or blends, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), and mixtures thereof.

[0412] O. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A to N, wherein the liquid personal care composition contains about 35% to about 50% water.

[0413] P. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A to O, wherein the wetting agent is from about 23% to about 45%.

[0414] Q. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A to P, wherein the humectant is selected from the group consisting of: glycerol, amino acids, proline, arginine aspartic acid, 1,3-butanediol, propylene glycol and water, soft-haired pine algae extract, collagen amino acids or peptides, creatine anhydride, diglycerides, biosaccharide gum-1, glucosamine salts, glucuronides, glutamate, polyethylene glycol ethers of glycerol, glycerol, glycerol monopropoxylate, glycogen, hexanediol, honey, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, hydrolyzed mucopolysaccharides, inositol, keratin amino acids, glycosaminoglycans, methoxy PEG 10, methyl glucetol polyether-10 and methyl glucetol polyether-20, methyl glucose, 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, N-acetyl glucosamine salt, polyethylene glycol, PEG 4, PEG 5 pentaerythritol, PEG 6, PEG 8, PEG 9. Pentaerythritol, 1,2-pentanediol, PPG-1 glyceryl ether, PPG-9,2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid and its salts, glycerol PCA, glycoisoesters, serine, serine amino acids, sodium acetylated hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, sodium polyaspartate, sodium polyglutamate, sorbitol 20, sorbitol 6, sugars and sugar alcohols, glucose, sucrose, fructose, mannose, polyglycerol sorbitol, trehalose, triglycerides, trimethylolpropane, tri(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane salts, yeast extracts, ionic salts, sodium chloride, potassium chloride and mixtures thereof.

[0415] R. Biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A to Q, wherein the wetting agent is selected from the group consisting of glycerol, sodium chloride, and mixtures thereof.

[0416] S. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A to R, wherein the water activity (Aw) is about 0.80 to about 0.90.

[0417] T. Biodegradable flexible packaging as described in paragraphs A to S, wherein the water activity (Aw) is less than about 0.80.

[0418] U. Biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A to T, wherein the liquid personal care composition comprises a surfactant.

[0419] V. Biodegradable flexible packaging as described in paragraphs A to U, wherein the surfactant is from about 10% to about 18%.

[0420] W. Biodegradable flexible packaging as described in paragraphs A through V, wherein the surfactant is selected from one or more anionic surfactants.

[0421] X. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A through W, wherein the liquid personal care composition comprises an amphoteric auxiliary surfactant.

[0422] Y. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A to X, wherein the amphoteric auxiliary surfactant is selected from the group consisting of cocamidopropyl betaine, lauramidopropyl betaine, and mixtures thereof.

[0423] Z. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A through Y, wherein the liquid personal care composition comprises a thickener.

[0424] AA. According to the biodegradable flexible packaging described in paragraphs A to Z, the liquid personal care composition comprises a thickener selected from the group consisting of: acrylic acid / acrylonitrile copolymer, acrylate / stearyl polyoxyethylene ether-20 itaconic acid copolymer, acrylate / cetyl polyoxyethylene ether-20 itaconic acid copolymer, acrylate / aminoacrylate / C10-30 alkyl PEG-20 itaconic acid copolymer, acrylate / aminoacrylate copolymer, acrylate / stearyl polyoxyethylene ether-20 methacrylate copolymer, acrylate / Behenyl polyoxyethylene ether-25 methacrylate copolymer, acrylate / stearyl polyoxyethylene ether-20 methacrylate crosspolymer, acrylate / behenyl polyoxyethylene ether-25 methacrylate / HEMA crosspolymer, acrylate / vinyl neodecanoate crosspolymer, acrylate / vinyl isodecanoate crosspolymer, acrylate / palm oil alcohol polyether-25 acrylate copolymer, acrylic acid / acrylamidomethylpropane sulfonic acid copolymer, and acrylate / acrylic acid C10-C30 alkyl ester crosspolymer, and mixtures thereof.

[0425] BB. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A to AA, wherein the thickener is selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethyl cellulose.

[0426] CC. The biodegradable flexible packaging described in paragraphs A through BB, wherein the liquid personal care composition contains sodium chloride.

[0427] DD. The biodegradable flexible packaging described in paragraphs A through CC, wherein the liquid personal care composition contains scalp health active substances.

[0428] EE. The biodegradable flexible packaging as described in paragraphs A to DD, wherein the scalp health active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of piroctone ethanolamine, zinc pyrithione, clomiphene, sulfur, and mixtures thereof.

[0429] FF. Biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A through EE, wherein the personal care composition has a viscosity of about 5,000 cps to about 20,000 cps.

[0430] GG. Biodegradable flexible packaging as described in paragraphs A through FF, wherein there is secondary packaging surrounding the biodegradable flexible packaging.

[0431] HH. Biodegradable flexible packaging as described in paragraphs A to GG, said biodegradable flexible packaging in combination with a personal care composition, said biodegradable flexible packaging comprising a package having at least one biodegradable polymer layer; a liquid personal care composition comprising about 14% to about 50% water; about 20% to about 70% a wetting agent; and wherein a water activity (Aw) of about 0.40 to about 0.80 is present.

[0432] II. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A to HH, wherein the packaging includes an additional layer selected from the group consisting of: a paper layer, a biodegradable adhesive layer, a second biodegradable polymer layer, an ink layer, a varnish layer, and mixtures thereof.

[0433] JJ. Biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A to II, wherein the biodegradable polymer layer is derived from the group consisting of polybutylene adipate succinate (PBSA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polybutylene terephthalate (PBAT), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polylactic acid (PLA), polypropylene carbonate (PPC) and copolymers thereof, cellulose polymers and mixtures thereof.

[0434] KK. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A to JJ, wherein the biodegradable adhesive layer is selected from the group consisting of: biodegradable polyvinyl acetate, starch, maltodextrin, natural wax, artificial wax, polyester-polyurethane, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide, polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), and mixtures thereof.

[0435] LL. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A to KK, wherein the packaging comprises at least a paper layer and a biodegradable polymer layer, the biodegradable polymer layer comprising polybutylene terephthalate (PBAT) or a blend thereof with polybutylene adipate succinate (PBSA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) or polylactic acid (PLA).

[0436] MM. Biodegradable flexible packaging as described in paragraphs A to LL, wherein the biodegradable packaging is selected from the group consisting of pouches, bags, tubes and pouch-in-bottle.

[0437] NN. Biodegradable flexible packaging as described in paragraphs A to MM, wherein the biodegradable packaging is selected from the group consisting of pouches, bags, tubes and pouch-in-bottle.

[0438] OO. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A to NN, wherein the biodegradable flexible packaging is combined with a liquid personal care composition, the biodegradable flexible packaging comprising a package, wherein the liquid personal care composition obtains water when packaged within the package, wherein the package does not increase in total weight by more than 10% over one month at 40°C and 75% relative humidity (RH).

[0439] PP. Biodegradable flexible packaging according to paragraphs A to OO, wherein the biodegradable flexible packaging is combined with a liquid personal care composition, the biodegradable flexible packaging comprising a package, wherein the liquid personal care composition acquires water when packaged within the package, wherein the acquisition of water by the liquid personal care composition achieves the physical or chemical properties of the final formulation of the liquid personal care composition.

[0440] QQ. Biodegradable flexible packaging in combination with a liquid personal care composition as described in paragraphs A to PP, the biodegradable flexible packaging comprising: a) a package comprising at least one biodegradable polymer layer and an inorganic layer; b) a liquid personal care composition comprising about 14% to about 50% water and about 20% to about 70% a wetting agent; wherein a water activity (Aw) of about 0.40 to about 0.90 is present, the water activity satisfying a stability criterion of <10 weight change over 4 weeks at 40°C / 75%RH.

[0441] RR. A biodegradable flexible package in combination with a liquid personal care composition as described in paragraphs A to QQ, the biodegradable flexible package comprising: a) a package comprising at least one biodegradable polymer layer and an inorganic layer; b) a liquid personal care composition comprising about 14% to about 50% water and about 20% to about 70% a wetting agent; wherein, compared to the same liquid personal care composition having less than about 20% a wetting agent, the liquid personal care composition has an increased foaming capacity, as measured by an increase in foam height of at least 1 cm.

[0442] SS. A biodegradable flexible package for use with a liquid personal care composition as described in paragraphs A to RR, the biodegradable flexible package comprising a paper layer; an adhesive layer; an aluminum metal layer; a release layer; an anchoring coating laid on the release layer; and a PBAT heat sealant layer on top of the anchoring coating.

[0443] TT. Biodegradable flexible packaging for use with liquid personal care compositions as described in paragraphs A through SS, the biodegradable flexible packaging comprising a paper layer, an adhesive layer, and a PBAT heat sealant layer.

[0444] The dimensions and values ​​disclosed herein should not be construed as strictly limited to the precise numerical values ​​cited. Rather, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to represent the stated value and the range surrounding its functional equivalent. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to represent “approximately 40 mm”.

[0445] Unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited, every reference cited herein, including any cross-references or related patents or patent applications, and any patent application or patent claiming priority to or benefiting from it, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Reference to any reference is not an endorsement of it as prior art to any disclosed or protected art herein, nor is it an endorsement of any such invention, either on its own or in combination with any one or more references. Furthermore, where any meaning or definition of a term in this invention conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in referenced documents, the meaning or definition given to that term in this invention shall prevail.

[0446] While specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described by way of example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that all such changes and modifications falling within the scope of the invention be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A biodegradable flexible package for use with a liquid personal care composition, the biodegradable flexible package comprising: a) Packaging, said packaging comprising at least one biodegradable polymer layer, preferably wherein the at least one biodegradable polymer layer is selected from the group consisting of polybutylene adipate succinate (PBSA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polybutylene terephthalate (PBAT), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polylactic acid (PLA), polypropylene carbonate (PPC) or copolymers thereof, cellulose polymers and mixtures thereof; and an inorganic layer; b) A liquid personal care composition comprising 14% to 50% water, preferably 35% to 50% water; 20% to 70% a humectant, preferably 23% to 45% a humectant, preferably wherein the humectant is selected from the group consisting of: glycerin, amino acids, proline, arginine aspartic acid, 1,3-butanediol, propylene glycol and water, soft-haired pine algae extract, collagen amino acids or peptides, creatine anhydride, diglycerides, biosaccharide gum-1, glucosamine salts, glucuronides, glutamate, polyethylene glycol ethers of glycerin, glycerin, glyceryl monopropoxylate, glycogen, hexanediol, honey, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, hydrolyzed mucopolysaccharides, inositol, keratin amino acids, glycosaminoglycans, methoxy PEG 10, methyl glucetol polyether-10 and methyl glucetol polyether-20, methyl glucose, 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, N-acetyl glucosamine salt, polyethylene glycol, PEG 4. PEG 5 pentaerythritol, PEG 6, PEG 8, PEG 9, pentaerythritol, 1,2-pentanediol, PPG-1 glyceryl ether, PPG-9,2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid and its salts, glycerol PCA, glycoisoesters, serine, serine amino acids, sodium acetylated hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, sodium polyaspartate, sodium polyglutamate, sorbitol 20, sorbitol 6, sugars and sugar alcohols, glucose, sucrose, fructose, mannose, polyglycerol sorbitol, trehalose, triglycerides, trimethylolpropane, tri(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane salt, yeast extract, ionic salts, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and mixtures thereof, preferably wherein the wetting agent is selected from the group consisting of glycerol, sodium chloride, and mixtures thereof; The water activity (Aw) is between 0.40 and 0.90, preferably between 0.80 and 0.

90.

2. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the packaging includes additional layers selected from the group consisting of at least 3 layers, at least 4 layers, at least 5 layers, or at least 6 layers, preferably wherein the packaging includes more than 6 layers.

3. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the additional layers is selected from the group consisting of a paper layer, a cellulose layer, a biodegradable adhesive layer, a release layer, an anchoring coating, a second inorganic layer, a second biodegradable polymer layer, a primer layer, an ink layer, a varnish layer, and mixtures thereof.

4. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inorganic layer comprises a vapor-deposited aluminum layer deposited on a paper layer, a cellulose layer, a biodegradable polymer layer, a second biodegradable polymer layer, or a primer layer, preferably wherein the inorganic layer deposited by vapor deposition is a material selected from the group consisting of: metal oxides, SiOx (glassy material), alumina (e.g., Al2O3), aluminum carbide, aluminum nitride, magnesium oxide, titanium oxide (such as titanium dioxide, titanium oxide (3), or titanium monoxide), zinc oxide, tin oxide, yttrium oxide, or zirconium oxide (e.g., zirconium monoxide), calcium oxide, boron oxide; or metal-like oxides, such as silicon oxide, silicon carbide, and silicon nitride; or diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings. Silicon oxide coatings or nitride-based coatings may also be selected from SiOx. X (where x is an integer from 1 to 4) or SiO X N Y The coating consists of a group of groups (where each of x and y is an integer from 1 to 3).

5. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inorganic layer comprises an aluminum layer attached to a paper layer, a cellulose layer, a biodegradable polymer layer, an adhesive layer, a release layer, or a second biodegradable polymer layer.

6. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inorganic layer comprises an aluminum layer transferred by an indirect transfer metallization process.

7. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inorganic layer comprises clay, or nanoclay, or an inorganic-organic hybrid polymer, and is applied from an aqueous dispersion onto a paper layer, a cellulose layer, a biodegradable polymer layer, a second biodegradable polymer layer, or a primer layer via an aqueous coating process, followed by drying.

8. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the biodegradable polymer layer comprises polybutylene adipate (PBSA), and wherein at least one of the additional layers comprises paper, a biodegradable adhesive layer, and an inorganic layer of aluminum, the inorganic layer being laid on a second biodegradable polymer layer comprising a cellulose polymer, preferably wherein at least one of the additional layers comprises a paper layer, an adhesive layer, an inorganic layer of aluminum, a release layer, an anchoring coating, and a biodegradable polymer layer, the biodegradable polymer layer comprising polybutylene terephthalate (PBAT) or a blend of polybutylene terephthalate (PBAT) and polylactic acid (PLA).

9. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the biodegradable adhesive layer is selected from the group consisting of: biodegradable polyvinyl acetate, starch, maltodextrin, natural wax, artificial wax, polyester-polyurethane, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide or blends, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), and mixtures thereof.

10. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the water activity (Aw) is less than 0.

80.

11. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the liquid personal care composition comprises a surfactant, preferably wherein the surfactant is 10% to 18%, preferably wherein the surfactant is selected from one or more anionic surfactants.

12. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the liquid personal care composition comprises an amphoteric auxiliary surfactant, preferably wherein the amphoteric auxiliary surfactant is selected from the group consisting of cocamidopropyl betaine, lauramidopropyl betaine, and mixtures thereof.

13. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the liquid personal care composition comprises a thickener, preferably wherein the thickener is selected from the group consisting of: acrylic acid / acrylonitrile copolymer, acrylate / stearyl polyoxyethylene ether-20 itaconic acid copolymer, acrylate / cetyl polyoxyethylene ether-20 itaconic acid copolymer, acrylate / aminoacrylate / C10-30 alkyl PEG-20 itaconic acid copolymer, acrylate / aminoacrylate copolymer, acrylate / stearyl polyoxyethylene ether-20 methacrylate copolymer, acrylate / behenyl polyoxyethylene ether-20 methacrylate copolymer, etc. The thickener comprises ethylene ether-25 methacrylate copolymer, acrylate / stearyl polyoxyethylene ether-20 methacrylate crosspolymer, acrylate / behenyl polyoxyethylene ether-25 methacrylate / HEMA crosspolymer, acrylate / vinyl neodecanoate crosspolymer, acrylate / vinyl isodecanoate crosspolymer, acrylate / palm oil alcohol polyether-25 acrylate copolymer, acrylic acid / acrylamidomethylpropane sulfonic acid copolymer, and acrylate / acrylic acid C10-C30 alkyl ester crosspolymer, and mixtures thereof, wherein the thickener is preferably selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethyl cellulose.

14. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the liquid personal care composition comprises sodium chloride.

15. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the liquid personal care composition comprises a scalp health active substance, preferably wherein the scalp health active substance is selected from the group consisting of piroctone olamine, zinc pyrithione, clomiphene, sulfur, and mixtures thereof.

16. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the personal care composition has a viscosity of 5,000 cps to 20,000 cps.

17. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the biodegradable polymer layer acting as a sealant is not water-soluble.

18. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a secondary packaging is provided surrounding the biodegradable flexible packaging.

19. A biodegradable flexible package for use with a personal care composition according to any of the preceding claims, said biodegradable flexible package comprising: a) Packaging, said packaging comprising at least one biodegradable polymer layer; b) A liquid personal care composition comprising 14% to 50% water; 20% to 70% wetting agent; It contains water activity (Aw) ranging from 0.40 to 0.

80.

20. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the packaging includes an additional layer selected from the group consisting of: a paper layer, a biodegradable adhesive layer, a second biodegradable polymer layer, an ink layer, a varnish layer, and mixtures thereof.

21. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the biodegradable polymer layer is selected from the group consisting of polybutylene adipate succinate (PBSA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polybutylene terephthalate (PBAT), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polylactic acid (PLA), polypropylene carbonate (PPC) and copolymers thereof, cellulose polymers and mixtures thereof.

22. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the biodegradable adhesive layer is selected from the group consisting of: biodegradable polyvinyl acetate, starch, maltodextrin, natural wax, artificial wax, polyester-polyurethane, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), and mixtures thereof.

23. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the packaging comprises at least a paper layer and a biodegradable polymer layer, the biodegradable polymer layer comprising polybutylene terephthalate (PBAT) or a blend thereof with polybutylene adipate succinate (PBSA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) or polylactic acid (PLA).

24. The biodegradable flexible packaging according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the biodegradable packaging is selected from the group consisting of pouches, bags, tubes and pouch-in-bottle.

25. A biodegradable flexible package in combination with a liquid personal care composition according to any of the preceding claims, the biodegradable flexible package comprising a package, wherein the liquid personal care composition acquires water when packaged within the package, wherein the package gains no more than 10% by weight in total weight over one month at 40°C and 75% relative humidity (RH).

26. A biodegradable flexible package for use with a liquid personal care composition according to any of the preceding claims, the biodegradable flexible package comprising a package, wherein the liquid personal care composition acquires water when packaged within the package, wherein the acquisition of water by the liquid personal care composition achieves the physical or chemical properties of the final formulation of the liquid personal care composition.

27. A biodegradable flexible package for use with a liquid personal care composition according to any of the preceding claims, said biodegradable flexible package comprising: a) Packaging, said packaging comprising at least one biodegradable polymer layer and an inorganic layer; b) A liquid personal care composition comprising 14% to 50% water; 20% to 70% wetting agent; The water activity (Aw) ranges from 0.40 to 0.

90. The water activity meets the stability standard of <10% weight change over 4 weeks at 40°C / 75%RH.

28. A biodegradable flexible package for use with a liquid personal care composition according to any of the preceding claims, said biodegradable flexible package comprising: a) Packaging, said packaging comprising at least one biodegradable polymer layer and an inorganic layer; b) A liquid personal care composition comprising 14% to 50% water; 20% to 70% wetting agent; It contains water activity (Aw) ranging from 0.40 to 0.90; and Compared to the same liquid personal care composition having less than 20% wetting agent, the liquid personal care composition has an increased foaming capacity, as measured by an increase in foam height of at least 1 cm.

29. A biodegradable flexible package for use with a liquid personal care composition according to any of the preceding claims, said biodegradable flexible package comprising a paper layer; an adhesive layer; and a paper layer. ； Aluminum metal layer; release layer; An anchoring coating, which is applied to the release layer; A PBAT heat sealant layer is placed on top of the anchoring coating.

30. A biodegradable flexible package for use with a liquid personal care composition according to any of the preceding claims, the biodegradable flexible package comprising a paper layer; an adhesive layer; and a PBAT heat sealant layer.

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