MATERIALS | PLASTIC POUCHES


pouch, formerly made from PET/PE, is now all-PE. EcoLam Plus can include up to 40% household PCR while avoiding conditions such as ‘fish eye’, odour, opacity and gels that are commonly associ- ated with the use of recyclate, he said. A grade with 35% recyclate has been used to create a stand-up pouch with zipper. The PCR content within the sealant layer is up to 80%, he said. Feature of the pack include a wide sealing window (105-140C), properties comparable to that of a mono-PE pouch and the ability to run it on the same lines. The company has also developed a mono-PP


Above: Constantia says its Ecolutions monomaterial range has helped create more sustain- able pouches


coating the outside with high-temperature OPV. “Challenges are application-specific, but may be


addressed by structure and processing adjust- ments,” he said. Typically, trade-offs will need to be made when switching from a material like BOPET to MDO PE. He said that might involve a slightly higher haze, lower modulus (and other strength characteristics) and reduced barrier – though features such as yield and MD break strength are comparable. “MDO PE can provide comparable performance


in key areas while enabling mono-material solu- tions,” said Breese. The company’s MDO PE film grades have


replaced BOPET in multiple pouches, as they deliver sufficient rigidity and low shrink. Their higher modulus and tensile strength allow higher efficiency pouch-making than competitive HDPE grades, he added.


Oriented advantage At the equivalent conference in Vienna, Austria – held last December – Nicolas Reinhardt, a product manager at Constantia Flexibles, told delegates how its Ecolutions range has helped create more sustainable plastic pouches. Its EcoLam is a family of mono-PE laminates with


raised heat resistance that can be applied to a variety of packaging types – and relies heavily on oriented PE (oPE). It can also be adapted to deliver varying barrier properties: while its standard EcoLam has a water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) of around 2, its EcoLam High Plus has one-tenth of that; similarly, oxygen transmission of EcoLam High Plus is much improved. While EcoLam comprises PE and oPE, EcoLam Plus adds barrier oPE, and EcoLam High Plus also includes metallised and aluminium oxide layers. EcoLam Plus has been used to create stand-up pouches with a fragrance release concept – for the packaging of Comfort liquid laundry detergent. The


20 FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | July/August 2026


retort laminate designed for recycling. It boasts a WVTR of <0.1 and an OTR of <1. The barrier properties are introduced using PP-SiOx. It also has heat resistance and microwave compatibility – while being available in different shapes and sizes, with the option to add features such as zips and spouts. “It withstands high temperature during sterilisa-


tion, ensuring food safety,” said Reinhardt. Its EcoVer all-PP spouted pouches have been used to package baby food, beverages and fruit puree. Laminates are supplied on reels and converted into pouches. “It is compatible with a standard industry spout due to a wide operational sealing window,” he added.


Mono materials At Chinaplas in Shanghai recently, Reifenhäuser showcased several mono-material films for making pouches. The company has achieved process-stable


production of a 14-micron MDO-PE film, which it presented at Chinaplas in the form of a market- ready all-PE stand-up pouch. The technology behind it, Evo Ultra Stretch, is a patented MDO unit positioned directly at the take-off of the blown film line that stretches the film from its first heat. Evo Ultra Stretch delivers extra value when


EVOH is used for barrier films. The stretch process enhances the material’s barrier effect, allowing less to be used. This makes production costs arcompa- rable to conventional films. At the same time, Reifenhäuser’s flat film experts showed a cast all-PP stand-up pouch with high oxygen barrier – which showcased both recyclabil- ity and functionality. The MDO process delivers added value for end customers with the so-called ‘Easy-Tear’ effect: the packaging can be torn open in one direction as if along a ruler and resealed using internal clips or zippers. Until now, these features in stand-up pouches were typically achieved through laser perforation, which can affect the packaging’s structure and barrier


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IMAGE: CONSTANTIA FLEXIBLES


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