A New Generation of Mono-Material PE Pouches: An Eco-Friendly Solution for Packaging
The use of packaging materials that are recyclable and eco-friendly is increasingly becoming a priority for many companies. In line with this, a collaborative effort between ExxonMobil, Henkel, Kraus Folie, Siegwerk, and Windmöller & Hölscher has created a completely recyclable mono-material PE pouch that delivers comparable properties to traditional multi-material laminated pouches. Developing this new packaging solution is a breakthrough that addresses packaging waste challenges and supports a circular economy. This article delves deeper into the development of the new pouch, its features, and its benefits.
Delamination and Deinking
The delamination and removal of printing ink and coating from the laminate structure are crucial for a colorless recyclate. It is achieved using Siegwerk’s delamination/deinking primer technology, which is applied to a Windmöller & Hölscher MIRAFLEX, a flexo printing press with a downstream unit. Depending on the requirements, solvent- (SB) or water-based (WB) primers from Siegwerk’s CIRKIT ClearPrime product range are available. Applying industrial hot-washing conditions enables delamination and deinking of the pouch, giving an almost colorless recyclate.
High Oxygen Barrier
The new pouch delivers excellent oxygen barrier properties by using Loctite Liofol BC 1582 RE, a 1-component barrier coating from Henkel, and CIRKIT OxyBar BC 1582 from Siegwerk. The coating can be applied on flexo and gravure presses at industrial machine speeds on various substrates, giving excellent transparency. Cyclos HTP has confirmed its compatibility with recycling and meets Critical Guidance by the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR). To match these requirements, appropriate colored and white inks from Siegwerk were used.
Laminating Adhesive
The new pouch uses Henkel’s new solvent-free, 2-component polyurethane laminating adhesive to improve recyclability, LOCTITE LIOFOL LA 7102 RE /6902 RE. The system has been designed for mono-material structures and has been recognized for its compatibility with recycling as certified by RecyClass.
Package Integrity
Outstanding packaging integrity is achieved using ExxonMobil’s latest generation of performance polyethylene, such as Exceed S and Exceed XP, combined with Exact materials in the sealant layer. The MDO-PE films had been developed by ExxonMobil and Kraus Folie, employing ExxonMobil HDPE and Enable performance polyethylene, and produced on their VAREX extrusion line with an inline MDO unit.
Shelf Appeal
The new pouch features high primer transparency combined with consistent print quality and the ExxonMobil PE-based MDO film’s inherent gloss, which helps deliver the excellent shelf appeal of the final pouch. Deinking primer, print image, and barrier coating were applied in one step using a Windmöller & Hölscher MIRAFLEX with a downstream unit.
The Benefits of the New Pouch
The new pouch has many benefits, including:
1. Eco-Friendly
The new pouch is entirely recyclable and supports a circular economy, reducing environmental waste.
2. High Oxygen Barrier
The new pouch delivers excellent oxygen barrier properties, maintaining the product’s quality and freshness.
3. Outstanding Packaging Integrity
The new pouch has outstanding packaging integrity, protecting and securing the product.
4. Shelf Appeal
The new pouch has excellent shelf appeal, making it an attractive option for customers.
