Cigarette Packaging Material for Moisture and Flavor Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional paper-based cigarette packaging materials cause forest damage due to wood treatment, harm human health with bleaching agents, and suffer from high moisture permeability leading to moisture and flavor loss in tobacco, as well as poor dead-fold properties.

Innovation Solution

A packaging material composed of polyolefin and calcium carbonate, with specific density and whiteness properties, providing biodegradability, harmlessness to humans, and improved moisture resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If paper is used as packaging material, then the packaging can be produced from wood pulp, but it causes forest damage and requires mechanical or chemical treatment of wood

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepackaging material productionVSAvoidforest damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material composition parameters by using polyolefin resin (60-95 wt%) combined with natural fibers (5-40 wt%) instead of traditional wood pulp. This parameter change eliminates the need for mechanical or chemical wood treatment while maintaining packaging functionality, thereby preventing forest damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material combining polyolefin resin with natural fibers such as hemp, flax, or bamboo. This composite approach replaces wood pulp-based paper while retaining the benefits of natural, biodegradable materials. The composite structure provides both environmental friendliness and suitable packaging properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Illumination intensity

If paper contains bleaching agents to achieve whiteness, then the packaging appearance is improved, but it causes skin irritation and environmental harm

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovewhitenessVSAvoidskin irritation
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes harmful bleaching agents from the packaging material composition. Instead of using chemical bleaching, the invention achieves whiteness through the inherent properties of the polyolefin resin and selected natural fibers, or through alternative physical whitening methods that do not involve harmful chemicals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses inherently white or naturally light-colored polyolefin resin and natural fibers that do not require harsh bleaching. The material is designed to be disposable and biodegradable, eliminating the need for persistent chemical treatments and reducing long-term environmental and health impacts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of manufacture

If paper is used as inner liner, then the packaging can be made, but the high moisture permeability causes excessive absorption of moisture and flavor from tobacco

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinner liner productionVSAvoidmoisture and flavor loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the moisture permeability parameter by using polyolefin resin as the base material, which has inherently lower moisture permeability compared to paper. The addition of hydrophobic natural fibers further reduces moisture absorption. This parameter change prevents excessive moisture and flavor absorption while maintaining packaging functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different material properties to different functional requirements: the polyolefin resin provides moisture resistance, while the natural fiber components provide biodegradability and structural integrity. This local quality differentiation allows the inner liner to simultaneously achieve moisture barrier properties and environmental friendliness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of manufacture

If paper is used as outer package, then the packaging can be produced, but the high moisture permeability makes it easily wet by water

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveouter package productionVSAvoidwater resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the water resistance parameter by using polyolefin resin, which has hydrophobic properties and inherently resists water penetration. The combination with water-resistant natural fibers enhances this property, making the outer package reliable in humid or wet conditions while maintaining ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material system where polyolefin resin provides water resistance and structural stability, while natural fibers provide biodegradability and cost-effectiveness. This composite structure achieves both water resistance and environmental friendliness, overcoming the limitations of traditional paper-based outer packages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

5Quantity of substance

If paper is used for cigarette packaging, then the packaging can be produced from renewable resources, but the manufacturing process causes environmental damage through wood treatment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverenewable resource usageVSAvoidenvironmental damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material source parameters by using polyolefin resin derived from petroleum or bio-based sources and agricultural waste fibers instead of wood pulp. This parameter change eliminates the need for deforestation and harmful wood treatment processes while maintaining the use of renewable or sustainable materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and eliminates the harmful wood treatment processes from the packaging manufacturing chain. By using alternative raw materials that do not require mechanical or chemical wood processing, the invention removes the source of environmental damage while preserving the benefits of renewable resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4707198A1Cigarette packaging material and cigarette case including same
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 KT&G CO LTD
  • EP4707198A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4707198A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4707198A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention relates to an eco-friendly cigarette packaging material having excellent physical properties. According to one aspect, provided are: a cigarette packaging material comprising polyolefin and calcium carbonate; and a cigarette case including the cigarette packaging material.