In May, at the upcoming Plastics Recycling Show Europe (PRSE) in Amsterdam on 19-20 June, Borealis will showcase a new mono-material bag containing more than 95% PP, which offers a number of benefits for blown and flat-head extrusion processes. In addition, as a mono-material product, it can help meet the ambitious recycling and waste reduction targets set by the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), as well as the parameters for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programmes.
Working together to accelerate plastics recycling
High barrier packaging is used to preserve and protect foods that are sensitive to moisture, oxygen, flavour and light, such as dry ingredients and powders, coffee and snacks. Producers and consumers benefit from the extended shelf-life and reduced food waste that these convenient high-barrier pouches provide. In the extrusion lamination process, cast films of PP and BOPP (biaxially oriented polypropylene) are laminated together to create mono-material laminates with advantageous properties such as high barrier and sealability.
Using conventional adhesive lamination equipment, manufacturers have been able to produce laminated pouch materials with around 90% PP. However, by combining their respective expertise, Borealis and its partners were able to increase the PP content to over 95%. When processed in dedicated PP mechanical recycling streams, this single-material pouch produces higher volumes of high quality recyclate suitable for use in non-food PP flexible packaging. It is therefore the ideal format to achieve the main objectives of PPWR: improving recyclability, growing the market for recycled content and reducing packaging waste.
Various partners who were able to combine their solutions with Borealis' polyolefins contributed to the success of this solution: Mitsui Chemical Group, a chemical manufacturer; Jindal Films, which specialises in the production of BOPP films; Profol, known for its innovative PP films; and Huhtamaki Flexible Packaging, whose innovative laminates contributed to the new mono-material pouch.
