A barrier composition which is injection mouldable and able to be made into a transparent film or incorporated (by co-
extrusion and / or lamination) into multi-layer film products, the composition on 
dry basis: a) from 45 to 90% by weight of a 
starch and / or a 
modified starch selected from starches modified by reaction with a hydroxyl 
alkyl group, an acetate or a 
dicarboxylic acid anhydride or a 
grafting polymer; b) from 4 to 12% by weight of a 
water soluble polymer selected from 
polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylacetate, and copolymers of 
ethylene and vinylalcohol which have a 
melting point compatible with the 
molten state of the 
starch components c) from 5 to 45% by weight of a non-crystallising mixture of 
sorbitol and at least one other 
plasticizer selected from 
glycerol, 
maltitol, 
xylitol, 
mannitol, 
glycerol trioleate, epoxidised linseed or 
soybean oil, 
tributyl citrate, acetyl tri-ethyl citrate, 
glyceryl triacetate, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol diisobutyrate; 
polyethylene oxide or 
polyethylene glycol; d) from 0.3 to 2.5 % by weight of a C12-22 
fatty acid or salt; e) from 0.25% to 3% of an emulsifier 
system having a 
hydrophilic lipophilic balance value between 2 and 10. The barrier film may be co-injection moulded with 
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or 
polylactic acid (PLA) for blow moulding into beverage bottles, with polyethylene (PE) or 
polypropylene (PP) or biodegradable polymers for high gas-barrier containers or closures, or may be co-extruded with polyethylene, 
polypropylene or 
polylactic acid for thin film packaging applications or for blow-moulded containers.