Innovia Films

Innovia Films is a major producer of Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP) films for packaging and labels, and are focused on the circular economy, recycling and improving the recyclability of pack structures.  This usually involves looking at pack formats to see if the protection it offers can be achieved in a more sustainable way.

Most laminates in the food packaging industry are formed using the best properties from two or more different materials to achieve the desired barrier and sealability of the pack.  A common laminate is polyester (PET) and Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE).  The polyester used on the outside provides pack stiffness and LDPE, the inner layer offers pack sealability and hermeticity.   This mixed material laminate cannot be easily recycled, and it is usually downcycled into lower grade materials, incinerated

r landfilled.   By using mono materials, such as all polypropylene (PP) constructions, upcycling can be fully achieved.

Innovia has developed two new polypropylene films specifically aimed at replacing alternative films commonly used in laminates.  The first, BOPP Propafilm™ CHS has been designed to replace PET and a cast PP Propacast™ KF to replace LDPE.

Propafilm™ CHS offers improved thermal resistance and shrinkage properties compared to conventional polypropylene films. The films enhanced functionality allows the film to be used in new application areas, and it has been particularly successful as the outer film of laminate structures used in pouch applications including retort.

Propacast™ KF is a low temperature sealing film, giving excellent seal strength and hermeticity which when laminated to other polypropylene films, such as Propafilm™ CHS creates an ideal structure for pouches. In the UK this structure would be recognised by OPRL as fully recyclable. 

This format would offer a very good moisture barrier.  However, to provide an oxygen barrier, EVOH would need to be added to the structure.  This can be achieved using one of Innovia’s films from their Strata range, e.g. Strata SL. Providing the content of EVOH in the overall final pack structure is less than 5%, then full recyclability will be maintained.

Mono material laminates, as proposed above, can be used in a wide variety of pack formats including lidding, flow wraps, sachets, and VFFS and in several market sectors including confectionery, baked goods, snacks, and fresh foods.