The new fully recyclable high-barrier stand-up pouch is suitable for food-grade applications and intended to replace multi-material structures
The high barrier stand-up pouch for food items. (Credit: TotalEnergies)
TotalEnergies, Windmöller & Hölscher and Mitsubishi Chemical Group have announced a proof of concept of a fully recyclable high-barrier stand-up pouch for food-grade applications.
The high-barrier packaging is intended to replace multi-material constructions such as metalised BoPP/PE or metallised BoPET/PE.
The new solution demonstrated equal performance without sacrificing recyclability, enabling it to join existing recycling systems and helping to address the issue of plastic end-of-life.
Made of 98% polyethylene and less than 2% EVOH, the product is in line with the brand owners’ promises of 100% recyclable packaging by 2025.
TotalEnergies Polymers Europe & Orient vice president Olivier Greiner said: “The replacement of non-recyclable multi-material packaging is key to ensure the circularity of plastic materials, bringing more qualitative items on the market to be used as feedstock for the recycling industry.
“We are committed to accelerating the circular economy by integrating eco-design principles into our product development process, in line with our ambition of producing 30% recycled and biopolymers by 2030.”
The packaging solution is made up of a sealing film and a machine direction orientation (MDO) film that has been laminated by Dettmer Verpackungen.
The structure was then modified into a stand-up pouch by the machine manufacturer B&B Verpackungstechnik so that it could be used for applications like coffee packaging.
The MDO-PE film composition, which included Mitsubishi’s Soarnol and TotalEnergies Supertough as well as unique Lumicene high-density PE, ran on a Varex II machine at the Windmöller & Hölscher EXPO for four days during the 2022 K exhibition.
Windmöller & Hölscher product management head Dr Jonas Schmidt said: “With this product study, we are very pleased to showcase another missing piece in the puzzle towards a true circular economy.
“Our leading knowledge and cutting-edge technology for the production of barrier and MDO-PE films as well as the excellent cooperation between all partners have made this possible.”