Debuting at PACK EXPO is Printpack’s first flexible pouch, the Preserve™ PE Advanced Recycled Content Polyethylene Pouch. Not only is it recyclable after use, but it also contains 30% post-consumer recycled material obtained through advanced recycling technology. The pouch is the result of a partnership between Printpack, Pregis, and ExxonMobil, where Printpack’s machine direction oriented PE printed film is combined with Pregis Performance Flexibles Renew™ series sealant film made with ExxonMobil Exxtend™ advanced recycled resin technology. Used in combination.
Preserve PE Advanced Recycled Content is the latest addition to Printpack’s Preserve sustainable packaging platform. “This includes a portfolio of eco-friendly structures Bill Barlow, Sustainable Innovation Manager at Printpack, said: “Preserve Recyclable PE Packaging The solution offers many advantages of current flexible packaging, including ease of transport, product-to-package weight ratio, reduced carbon footprint, and several barrier options. increase.”
The Preserve Recyclable PE line addresses brand owners’ growing demand for single-material, flexible packaging that can be recycled at the store drop-off. As Barlow shares, last year Printpack was part of the largest in-store drop-off recyclable PE launch for the snack bar market, working with General Mills and the Nature Valley brand.
While there are now quite a few options for flexible films that can be taken into stores and recycled, there are limits to mechanical recycling and FDA guidelines for food contact.
“We’ve had real success with mechanically recycled PCR content up to about 30% recycled content in the final package, adding high levels of mechanically recycled content,” says Barlow. says Mr. “Furthermore, mechanical PCR still has some aesthetic issues such as gels, degraded material, fibers and other contaminants, which are difficult to mask with flexible packaging.”
Using resins made with advanced recycling processes eliminates these problems completely. This is because the resins produced by this process are the same as those produced with virgin plastic. In addition, Barlow points out that advanced recycling technology has made the possibility of creating flexible film packs with PCRs of 90% and above a reality.
ExxonMobil’s Exxtend Advanced Recycling Technology Breaks down plastic waste into its molecular building blocks while removing contaminants. These are the molecular building blocks that form the raw materials for making the same products made from virgin fossil raw materials.
According to Barlow, ExxonMobil approached Printpack about the project in August, and the company didn’t hesitate to welcome it. “We see both Pregis and ExxonMobil as strategic partners for polyethylene resins and films in the flexible packaging market, and we see the opportunity to work with such companies that share a similar sustainability vision as ours. I was looking for
“We cannot meet the demands of sustainability alone. We turned it around in less than a day. It takes a real team. Effort.”
Exxtend cyclic polymers are certified according to the ISCC PLUS (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification Plus) program. The resin is attractive to Printpack and Pregis because it can be offered in a range of PE grades and allows the development of flexible packaging films that meet the same performance requirements as traditional packaging structures, Barlow said. “Ultimately, with this technology, you don’t have to compromise on performance, and that’s what makes it attractive,” he says.
of Pleis The sealant film contains 45% advanced recycled materials. When laminated to Printpack’s PE film, the entire pouch structure contains 30% recycled content. The resulting construction is also pre-certified for the How2Recycle store drop-off label and meets the Association of Plastics Recyclers (APR) flexible packaging design guidelines. “To my knowledge, this is the first recyclable polyethylene pouch on the market that employs advanced recycling technology and certified circular resin,” Barlow said.
As with most advanced recycling technology on the market today, the products are limited as these companies work to expand production. Barlow said Printpack hopes to bring major brands on board soon to help commercialize new films and increase volume. “From ExxonMobil he has material available for Printpack and Pregis, and plans to expand that after the first quarter of next year,” he says. “Ultimately, we need to have a brand that can do this and actually get some amount of commitment. Knowing that really helps with future investments and capital expenditures.”
