While pearlised biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) has displaced paper for opaque white packaging, labels, and confectionary wrappers since the 1980s, it is challenging to recycle as it is very difficult to separate from flexible PE packaging.
VOID Technologies has launched its VO+™ PE 1300 Series Voiding Agents to serve the rapidly growing demand for recyclable opaque films. The resulting voided polyethylene (PE) film structures are compatible with existing PE recycling streams and meet the requirements for a wide range of recycle ready packaging applications such as laminates, wicketed bags, labels, and flow wraps.
VO+ PE 1300 Series is being used to develop voided machine direction oriented (MDO) HDPE films that offer a combination of low density and high opacity that is not feasible with mineral pigments like TiO2. The innovation positions a new PE-based recycle-ready alternative to pearlised BOPP, which is not widely recyclable and offers a significant growth opportunity for PE film converters.
The two materials are highly incompatible, and post-use BOPP can essentially function as a contaminant in the more common PE flexible packaging recycle streams. Even if BOPP could be successfully separated from PE flexibles, there are almost no dedicated recycling streams for flexible PP packaging, meaning the material would likely be lost to landfill.
VO+ PE 1300 Series offers a PE alternative to pearlised BOPP that is compatible with existing PE recycling streams including pre-qualification as recyclable via Store Drop-Off (in the US). According to How2Recycle®, in the US, ‘Store Drop-Off is the only recycling option for flexible packaging at scale, and is only available to polyethylene flexible packaging.’
VO+ PE 1300 Series is based on a sophisticated formulation, using polymeric cavitation agents, eliminating the need to use minerals that are abrasive on expensive equipment. This next-generation VO+ formulation offers a broader MDO operating window, excellent bubble stability, and higher throughputs.
VO+ PE 1300 Series is compliant with direct food contact standards in North America and Europe and has passed key recycling standards outlined by the Association of Plastic Recyclers and RecyClass.
VOID TECHNOLOGIES
https://www.voidtechnologies.com
