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Recyclable Bag-in-Box Packaging for Water
AMHERST, NH [May 3rd, 2021]
Scholle IPN also announced that the bag-in-box packaging passed the Association of Plastic Recyclers’ FPE-CG-01 testing, which evaluates the compatibility of flexible packaging with film-to-film recycling processes. The package is the first bag-in-box format to pass this testing protocol. The testing was completed by Plastics Forming Enterprises (PFE).
Scholle IPN’s new flexible bag-in-box format reduces plastics use by up to 80% per liter of water and has up to 63% less greenhouse gas emissions in production when compared to traditional water bottles.
PFE tested a bag made with two layers of film and a PE closure. The outer layer, made of Scholle IPN’s RecShield®, is a barrier film specifically designed to keep unwanted flavors from migrating through the film into the water. The inner layer consists of Scholle IPN’s proprietary film technology, known as 2Pure™, which contains scavenging technology that protects the taste of the packaged water.
Teresa Bernal-Lara, Ph.D., Film Development Manager for Scholle IPN, said of the recyclability testing protocols, “A new film technology cannot simply be put out in the world and touted as recyclable—it must go through testing to be recognized as such. The testing performed by PFE compared an all-polyethylene film and closure to Scholle IPN’s innovative RecShield® and 2Pure™ option along with a polyethylene spout and tap. The samples were reduced to flakes which were then extruded into pellets and successfully re-blown into film that can be used to produce new flexible packaging, a truly circular solution. Scholle IPN’s water packaging performed beyond the minimum threshold for compliance set forth in APR’s Critical Guidance Protocol for PE Film and Flexible Packaging (FPE-CG-01) and we have received a letter of recognition from APR for this achievement.
“Delivering liquid products in the best, most efficient way possible is what Scholle IPN does,” stated David Bellmore, Director of Global Film and Package Development for Scholle IPN. “Our bag-in-box bag and tap make up less than 5% of the overall package weight—with corrugate making up the balance. According to the EPA, corrugate packaging is recycled at a 96.5% rate while PET and HDPE bottles are recycled just 29% of the time. That means our package will not only offer a recycle-ready bag and tap, but around 95% of the overall package by weight is likely to be recycled. Environmentally speaking, plastic water bottles simply don’t match up with bag-in-box.”
Link to full article by Packaging World https://www.packworld.com/design/flexible-packaging/product/21415280/scholle-corporation-recyclable-baginbox-packaging-for-water
About Plastics Forming Enterprises
Plastics Forming Enterprises, LLC was founded in 1984 and has played an instrumental role in advancing the recycling industry in North America, and beyond. PFE has consulted on the development of some of the world’s largest and most innovative PET recycling facilities, associated with over 70% of the U.S. PET processing capacity during the industry’s early growth. PFE has worked with hundreds of clients across the value chain, ranging from resin manufacturers, material converters, recyclers, brand owners and trade groups to ensure products create value in the recycling system. In addition to driving innovation in PET recycling, PFE offers similar expertise for all commodity resins, in both rigid and flexible packaging. From supporting the development of testing protocol to demonstrating recyclability and consulting on design for recycling, PFE has had a hand in furthering the recyclability of a significant number of products utilizing the PFE plastics recycling pilot process facility and supporting testing laboratory.