By Sage M. Schissel, Ph.D., applications specialist, PCT EB and Integration, LLC Sustainable practices, including material reduction and the use of bio-based, recyclable or compostable materials, are forefront in the minds of both consumers and the packaging industry. This especially is true for flexible packaging, which traditionally has consisted of multilayer, … [Read more...] about Attainable sustainable: Using electron-beam tech in compostable flexible packaging: Part 1
2022 Quarter 1
Metallized-PE films: Challenges & opportunities to meeting market needs for recyclable, high-barrier flexible packaging
By Dante Ferrari, president, Celplast Metallized Products, Ltd., and Zheng Tian, Ph.D., scientist, Flexible Products Group (FPG), Applied Materials, North America Currently, the only path to have flexible packaging recycled in North America is via Store Drop-Off programs, which require these packages to be predominantly based on polyethylene (PE). For many barrier … [Read more...] about Metallized-PE films: Challenges & opportunities to meeting market needs for recyclable, high-barrier flexible packaging
Role of vacuum coating in sustainable flexible packaging
By Fabiano Rimediotti, senior technologist; and Raffaele Guadagno, process & technology specialist, Nordmeccanica-Vacuum Div. Thin films deposited by vacuum coating, with their unusual properties of being extremely thin and relatively impervious to the diffusion of gas, water vapor and aromas, lend themselves to being ideal components for future recyclable packaging. … [Read more...] about Role of vacuum coating in sustainable flexible packaging
Achieving a true circular economy for plastic packaging
By Tom Dunn, managing director, Flexpacknology LLC “Sustainable packages” will not solve our plastic waste problem. Empty plastic food packages are a big part of that waste. When today’s bread-bag film reappears in the market as a new bread bag next month, we have an effective “circular” solution. When ground-up, empty bread bags reappear as part of composite plastic/sawdust … [Read more...] about Achieving a true circular economy for plastic packaging
Shifting markets, broad rangeof new legislative efforts meanit’s time to “Unite for Flexibles”
By Alison Keane, Esq., CAE, IOM, president and CEO, Flexible Packaging Assn. (FPA) Introduction Supply-chain disruptions, workforce and raw-material availability and price were the stories of 2021 and will continue at least through Q2 2022. Much will depend on the prevalence and trajectory of the COVID-19 virus and its variants, which no one can predict; however, … [Read more...] about Shifting markets, broad rangeof new legislative efforts meanit’s time to “Unite for Flexibles”