More Sustainable Packaging coming for Europe

A new report, ‘Sustainable Packaging in Europe: the drive for change’, launched today at the Rethinking Materials Innovation and Investment Summit in London by material technologies business, Aquapak, shows that the European packaging industry is shifting the balance of materials it plans to use in the future and is investing in more sustainable options.

The report, based on unique research with sustainable packaging experts in the UK, Italy and Germany 1 , reveals that 62% expect their company to increase their budgets for investing in sustainable packaging material over the next five years, with a further 23% expecting to see budgets increase dramatically.

This rise in funding is reflected in the predicted increase in use of multi material (a combination of paper and plastic), new polymers and paper over the next five years, whilst the use of polyethylene is set to decline.

The study shows that when it comes to the three of the most common packaging materials, the majority (83%) of respondents expect to increase the use multi material across their product portfolios and almost three quarters (72%) will make more use of paper over the next five years.

When it comes to innovative new materials, 69% and 65% anticipate a greater use of new polymers such as PVOH and bioplastics respectively in their packaging material. These trends are similar over a ten-year horizon.

The data shows it is the use of polyethylene which is set to see a decline over the next five years, with 45% of respondents seeking to use less of the material across their product portfolios.

When it comes to the most important attributes of the packaging material used, product protection is the key feature, with barrier properties, extending the shelf life and functionality – ease of use for the end-consumer, regarded as more important than recyclability.

Commenting on the findings, Mark Lapping, Chief Executive Officer, Aquapak, said: "Our research shows that the European packaging industry is moving towards more sustainable materials such as paper and new polymers as they focus on the circular economy. However, it is also clear that the job packaging has to do is paramount, with product protection and functionality a priority. The good news is that new barrier film technologies exist, offering both performance and environmental responsibility at scale."

Aquapak has developed Hydropol TM , a polymer based on PVOH, which can be successfully coated on to both paper and board, with proven gas and grease barrier properties, with additional functionality such as heat seal and increased paper sheet strength can also be imparted, making it suitable for a range of packaging uses such as bags and pouches.

Aquapak has already proven that Hydropol coated paper is 100% repulpable in standard pulping systems and can be fully recycled and it proven to give real improvement when set against current regulations which allow the ‘recyclable’ label to be used if there is up to 15% unrecyclable material in the product. If littered Hydropol is biodegradable, compostable, as well as being non-toxic and marine-safe.

For more information visit www.aquapakpolymers.com

1 Research carried out by leading research company Pure Profile with 150 sustainability and packaging experts across the UK, Italy and Germany (50 in each market) in March 2023.

About Aquapak

Aquapak develops and manufactures a range of adaptive polymer-based material technologies that deliver both performance and environmental responsibility at scale. For example, it has developed Hydropol, an enabling technology for the circular economy, which is biodegradable, compostable and marine-safe, and used in a range of packaging materials. Aquapak's HQ and manufacturing centre is in Birmingham, UK, with its main geographical markets in the US, EU and Asia.

www.aquapakpolymers.com

About Hydropol TM – Accelerating the transition to the Circular Economy

Hydropol™, developed and produced by Aquapak, can be made into a highly functional oxygen barrier film for complex packaging which is capable of replacing the most widely used oxygen barrier ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), as part of a multilayer structure. However, with its additional properties of strength and sealability and the fact that it is water- soluble, non-toxic and marine safe, means that it offers new opportunities going forward to produce complex barrier packaging which could be recycled or is fully biodegradable, leaving no trace or plastic pollution should they enter the environment.

As an enabling technology, Hydropol™ can be used on its own or in combination with other materials to enhance recyclability, compostability and end-of-life options. Its material properties allow for scalability into diverse types of products and its solubility makes it easy to separate from other materials when recycling. For example, it can be extrusion coated and laminated onto paper or board giving strength and barrier properties against oxygen, oil and grease then made into alternative mailing bags, dry pet food sacks, window patch boxes and packets etc.

To dispose, consumers can simply put the packaging into their household paper waste.

The Hydropo layer is formulated to ‘wash off’ (dissolve) during the paper repulping process and then either biodegrades in the waste water system or turned into clean energy if the plant has an AD system.

Who is using Hydropol?

Consumers and businesses are increasingly concerned about plastic pollution and environmental sustainability. Packaging producers need solutions. Aquapak has partnered with a growing base of clients in apparel, fashion, hospitality, healthcare, food packaging, logistics packaging, industrial, nonwovens, and other packaging.

What is Hydropol made from?

The base plastic is currently used for dishwasher tablets, ingestible pill casings and soluble stitches. Hydropol TM ‘s resistance to low temperature solubility and high barrier to elements adds functionality, providing a wider range of uses. It can be recycled, re-pulped, composted and is distinctively compatible with anaerobic digestion. Furthermore, if unintentionally released into the natural environment, Hydropol TM – which is non-toxic and marine safe – will dissolve and subsequently biodegrade, leaving no trace.

What is Hydropol being used for?

Extrusion coatings and laminates for paper/board applications are commercially available and in customer production trial stages, including a number of home delivery and ecommerce applications, packaging for dried pet food, snacks, cooked meat and convenience food applications.

Blown film products commercially available and made from Hydropol TM include garment bags, ESD bags, organic waste disposal bags and laundry bags for infection control. These can be disposed of at home by the consumer in hot water or added to the recycling where they dissolve during the recycling wash processes.

Other applications under development with customers and development partners include injection moulded parts such as golf tees, nonwoven fibre for applications such as flushable wet wipes and cellulose combinations for thermoformed trays.

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Sustainable Packaging