Mondi has introduced a fully-recyclable plastic laminate for pre-made pouches and form fill seal (FFS) roll stock.
The BarrierPack Recyclable plastic laminate, which has been validated for existing industrial recycling streams, is designed to reduce plastic waste while retaining the quality or functionality of plastic.
In addition to supporting the circular economy, the new material provides sustainable alternatives for flexible laminates with positive environmental outcomes.
It features performance properties equivalent to conventional materials.
Mondi Consumer Goods Packaging technical account manager Carl Stonley said that the BarrierPack Recyclable laminate is a leap forward for sustainable packaging.
Stonley said: “In addition to being fully recyclable, it offers exceptional mechanical properties and is ideal for a range of packaging style formats.
“Constructed using two layers of PE film, BarrierPack Recyclable is a highly functional, flexible, packaging material that’s easy to open and reclose for consumer convenience.
“It’s functional in that the material is stiffer, stronger and lighter than a conventional PET/PE laminate of the same thickness and it can be formed directly on FFS machines, as well as used for pre-made packaging.”
Developed using two layers of PE film, the BarrierPack Recyclable features moisture barrier properties. The material can be used for a wide range of applications, such as dry food, food ingredients, personal care and pet care applications.
CeDo Recycling, a Netherlands-based manufacturer of own label and branded household disposables, has validated the full recyclability of the BarrierPack Recyclable laminate following trials.
CeDo Recycling managing director Ton Emans said: “The European Commission announced a strategy in January 2018 to ensure that all plastics packaging is recyclable by 2030.
“This innovation shows that flexible plastic packaging can become truly circular. Flexible material designed for recycling is key to enabling circularity to safeguard precious resources in Europe.”
Mondi is planning to launch the laminate at the Packaging Innovations trade show which is scheduled to be held in Birmingham, UK, later this month.
Image: Mondi’s new BarrierPack Recyclable laminate. Photo: courtesy of Mondi.