The new materials are expected to meet the needs of the frozen food industry, with an aim to make the packaging 100% recyclable in the paper stream

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Walki launches new recyclable packaging materials for frozen food products. (Credit: Walki Group Oy)

Finland-based packaging materials supplier Walki has unveiled a new range of recyclable packaging materials for the frozen food segment.

The new materials are expected to meet the needs of the frozen food industry, with an aim to make the packaging 100% recyclable in the paper stream.

Walki’s new range includes Walki EVO Seal and Walki Opti Seal which are recyclable paper-based packaging intended for pillow pouches for frozen food.

Walki EVO Seal has a dispersion coating that acts as a barrier against water vapour and grease, whereas Walki Opti Seal has a PE-extrusion coating that has been optimised for better recyclability.

According to the firm, both materials are suitable for all kinds of frozen food, including vegetables, seafood, and bakery products.

Walki product development head Andreas Rothschink said: “The dispersion coating makes WalkiEVO Seal recyclable in the waste-paper stream without any separation process, while the minimised PE-coating on WalkiOpti Seal makes it suitable to be recycled with paper with an acceptable fibre yield.”

The new portfolio also includes Lamibel MDO-PE, a film-based material for pillow pouches.

It is made from reverse printed MDO-film and solvent-free laminated with low sealing LDPE to minimise the film’s thickness and maximise the performance by replacing other sorts of materials such as PP or PET films.

Walki said that the Lamibel MDO-PE is an ideal material for all types of packaging such as doypack, flowpack, pouches and all kinds of frozen food like vegetables, sharp-edges seafood and bakery.

Rothschink added: “This combination of two PE-films makes the packaging fully recyclable in the plastics stream.

“The stretched film has better optics with high stiffness and mechanical properties than standard PE. The film can also be transparent, allowing the consumer to see the product.”

Walki also launched a board-based tray, Walki Pack Tray, suitable for frozen ready-made meals, designed to replace aluminium, plastic or plastic-coated trays.

The material of the tray is 100% PET free and recyclable in the paper stream.