The German Packaging Institute said on its website: “This submission to the German Packaging Award has achieved this in an outstanding way. By using a highly effective printed oxygen barrier in combination with a new type of primer for delamination and de-inking, as well as an adhesive certified for recyclability for this process, a mono-PE packaging with an internal barrier and color layer has been produced to meet the highest demands.”
Tilo Quink, head of Henkel Packaging Adhesives, said: “By sharing knowledge and working toward a common goal, we were able to develop an industrially validated oxygen barrier coating that enables mono-material flexible packaging for dry food products. This achievement also underscores the necessity to consider the properties of adhesives and coatings in the design phase of packaging.”
Mono-material package designs are growing in popularity as they are easy to sort, leading to cleaner recycling streams. Smithers forecasts mono-material plastic packaging film consumption to grow during 2023–28 at an annual average rate of 4.5%
However, the main challenge is creating a mono-material package that offers the same performance and functionality as its multi-material counterpart. Henkel and Siegwerk’s single-component oxygen barrier combines the functionality of multi-layer design with ease of recycling.
Other partners involved in the collaboration include ExxonMobil, Kraus Folie and Windmöller & Hölscher.
