Forces Join for PE-Based Barrier Bag

Forces Unite for PE-Based Barrier Pouches Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics (NYSE: DOW), HP Indigo, Reifenhäuser customer, Cadel Deinking and Karlville announced the successful delivery of the first-of-its-kind pouch-to-pouch mechanical recycling. This work is enabled through a unique value chain effort. The approach uses a multi-stage process to contribute to the circular economy for digitally printed pouches. Starting with a polyethylene (PE)-based barrier food pouch designed for recyclability, the project team developed a high-quality dishwasher-safe MDO-PE1 pouch containing 30 percent recycled content and itself suitable for recycling, using mechanical recycling and ink removal. In the next step, the team is working on a digital product passport pilot to allow recording of packaging properties related to recycling and to make the pouch identifiable for high-quality recycling within post-consumer waste management.

Optimal recycling designed from the start

Delivering a high-quality PE pouch requires several steps in a coordinated process where each team member applied their experience and capabilities in collaboration. Ralf Wiechmann, Head of Film Innovation at Reifenhäuser, said, "Requirements for plastic packaging products have never been this complex. We not only ensured that films and packages are economical and functional, but also modified and developed our Reifenhäuser customer production lines to meet the large demand for recyclable packaging based on single-material structures." Source