Recyclability and high performance with mono-PE barrier technology
Two technological excellences at the service of packaging experts: RKW and SAES Coated Films offer innovative solutions of high barrier films for recyclable flexible packaging 100% polyethylene.
Flexible plastic packaging is a lightweight and efficient format that meets the principles of the circular economy, but the widespread use of multi-material barrier structures inhibits its recyclability.
The multiple characteristics of the materials negatively affect the purity and, therefore, the value of the recycled plastic. At around 900k t in Europe, or 20% of flexible household packaging, the incidence of multi-material packaging is a considerable issue for EU recycling targets.
RKW and SAES Coated Films have taken up the challenge, developing a high barrier film for functional mono-material packaging.
Monomaterial and high barrier for stand-up pouches
RKW’s Horizon® MDO PE (Machine Direction Oriented PolyEthylene) film, with high transparency and stifness, is ideal as a printable outer layer in laminated structures with other heat-sealable PE films.
The use of MDO technology makes the film suitable to replace PET or PP in many multi-material applications in the flexible packaging market.
The barrier is guaranteed by Coathink®, the water-based coating deposition technology developed by SAES.
The coating is often even less than one micron, which can be equivalent to 1 or 2% of the total weight of the pack, according to international guidelines for the recyclability of plastic packaging.
Horizon MDO PE film coated by Coathink finds application in laminated 100% PE flexible food packaging, where high oxygen protection is required, preserving the shelf life of the food product with OTR values (at 23 °C, 0% RH) lower than 1.5 cc/m2 x 24h.
For oxygen and moisture barriers, the combination of SAES coating and metallization technologies applied to MDO PE Horizon allows the design of mono-material structures without the use of aluminum foil.
Recently, this type of film has been used to produce zippered stand-up pouches for cereal- based products whose overall barriers have OTR values below 1 and WVTR (38°C, 90%RH) values below 3 g/ m2 x 24h.
These products are examples of the technological readiness of RKW and SAES Coated Films to meet the most current market needs, enabling the design of flexible packaging that is both functional and sustainable.
