The Business Unit Functional Chemicals has developed the plasticizer, Ultramoll® IV, in response to amendments to a European Union directive reducing the migration limits for certain polymer additives in food packaging. As of July 2007, food-wrapping foils may only be marketed if they contain particularly stable plasticizers.

Food-wrapping foils manufactured with Ultramoll® IV comply with the current limits, are also exceedingly flexible and keep foodstuffs fresh for long periods of time due to their impermeability for air and vapors. The new plasticizer is suitable for all types of food and is manufactured from easily available and partly sustainable raw materials.

Although Ultramoll® IV has been developed for keeping foodstuffs fresh, new applications are identified daily in areas where migration stability is essential. It is used, for example, in PVC gloves worn in the sushi preparation in Japan and as an additive to printing ink for food packaging. Other possible applications are dirt-repelling roofing or screw-top seals.