Compostable Coated Paper Container With Oxygen Barrier

Abstract

A compostable container and a method of using the compostable container are disclosed. The container comprises a paper layer having oxygen barrier properties. The paper layer may be sized with the oxygen barrier chemical. The container may further comprise an oxygen barrier layer comprising a compostable polymeric material. The compostable container may be used in a method of producing a beverage with a beverage dispensing machine comprising a container receiver arranged to receive a container. In the method, one uses a compostable container of the invention comprising at least one component made from a coated paper with oxygen barrier properties.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a paper layer having oxygen barrier properties,   wherein the container is compostable.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an oxygen barrier layer. 
 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2  wherein:
 the oxygen barrier layer comprises a compostable polymeric material. 
 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3  wherein:
 the compostable polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid, polybutylene succinate, polybutylene adipate terephthalate, polybutylene adipate succinate, polyhydroxy alkanoate and blends thereof. 
 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4  further comprising:
 an additional oxygen barrier layer comprising a metallized coating or a silicon dioxide coating. 
 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1  wherein:
 the paper layer is sized with an oxygen barrier chemical selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polyglycolic acid, and polytrimethylene terephthalate. 
 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1  wherein:
 the paper layer is dry end sized with polyvinyl alcohol. 
 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1  wherein:
 the container includes a cup formed from the paper layer, and 
 a bottom of the cup is either flat or raised. 
 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1  wherein:
 the container includes a cup formed from the paper layer, and 
 a rim of the cup is flanged or rolled. 
 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1  wherein:
 the paper layer has a thickness in a range of 0.075 to 0.500 millimeters. 
 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 2  wherein:
 the oxygen barrier has a thickness in a range of 0.015 to 0.050 millimeters. 
 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1  wherein:
 the container passes ASTM D6400 or ASTM D6868 industrial compostability standards. 
 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 1  wherein:
 an oxygen transmission rate of the container is less than 2 cc·mil/(100 in 2 ·day·atm). 
 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 1  wherein:
 an oxygen transmission rate of the container is less than 0.5 cc·mil/(100 in 2 ·day·atm). 
 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 1  wherein:
 an oxygen transmission rate of the container is less than 0.3 cc·mil/(100 in 2 ·day·atm). 
 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising:
 one or both of: (i) a compostable filter, and (ii) a compostable lid. 
 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 1  wherein:
 the container does not require disassembly after use to be fully compostable. 
 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 1  wherein:
 the container has less than 3% oxygen content inside the container after one year, when initially flushed with nitrogen prior to sealing. 
 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 1  wherein:
 the container includes a cup formed from the paper layer, and 
 a bottom wall of the cup is pre-punctured, pre-scored, or has an iris. 
 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 1  wherein:
 the container includes a cup formed from the paper layer, and 
 a bottom wall includes a hole covered by film or a peel off sticker. 
 
     
     
         21 . A method of producing a beverage with a beverage dispensing machine comprising a container receiver arranged to receive a container, the method comprising:
 using a compostable container comprising at least one component made from a coated paper with oxygen barrier properties.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising:
 (a) arranging the compostable container in the container receiver of the beverage dispensing machine; 
 (b) introducing a liquid into the compostable container via a first opening in the compostable container; and 
 (c) collecting the beverage from a fluid outlet of the compostable container. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein:
 an oxygen transmission rate of compostable container is less than 2 cc·mil/(100 in 2 ·day·atm). 
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein:
 the paper is sized with an oxygen barrier chemical selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polyglycolic acid, and polytrimethylene terephthalate.