Verification of Supply Chain Certificate Validity and Scope Schedules
Verify certificate status against public scope schedules to ensure product group codes, grammages, and converting sites explicitly cover every delivered batch.
ICP-MS Heavy Metals
Analytical Testing
Analytical testing procedures measure trace levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, and chromium in paperboard packaging using high-temperature plasma extraction. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, commonly known as icp-ms heavy metals testing, identifies elements based on their mass-to-charge ratios after ionization. This procedure governs compliance with international food contact standards, establishing the safety boundaries for materials used in retail food boxes.
It applies to both virgin pulp and recycled fiber substrates to prevent toxic migration.
Laboratory Procedure
Samples of the paperboard are first digested in concentrated acid under high pressure to dissolve the organic matrix. The resulting liquid is then aerosolized and introduced into an argon plasma torch operating at high temperatures. These conditions convert the atoms into single-charged ions that enter the mass spectrometer for rapid counting.
This measurement detects contamination at the parts-per-billion level, providing higher precision than traditional wet chemistry or atomic absorption methods. This precision is necessary because consumer brands demand absolute proof of safety for food packaging, leaving zero tolerance for chemical contamination in their supply chains.
Safety Verification
Packaging converters use these reports to certify that their folding cartons are safe for direct food contact. Regular testing helps mills monitor the quality of their incoming wastepaper shipments. In doing so, it ensures that recycled fibers do not contain old industrial contaminants.
This laboratory monitoring protects the integrity of the supply chain and prevents costly product recalls.