BOBST, along with its project partners, has launched a new generation of ‘hero samples’ that represents a significant achievement in the mission to deliver solutions utilising a new generation of polymers.

Project partners that played an essential role in achieving this milestone include: Dow, Brückner Maschinenbau, Hosokawa Alpine, Elba, Sun Chemical, Michelman, Indopolu and UFlex.

After several different samples of mono-material standup pouches (MDO PE, BOPE, BOPP and CPP) were launched at K 2019, the partners involved continued their research to progress the samples even further, to ensure all industry requirements are met in terms of processability, barrier, safety and optical quality.

“Finding sustainable alternatives to non-recyclable plastics is one of the most important challenges of our times,” BOBST R&D director Nick Copeland said.

“It is a particular challenge for flexible packaging such as that used for food packaging, where the high barrier protection against oxygen and water that prevents deterioration is currently provided by multi-layer, multi-material packaging, which cannot be recycled. This next generation of high barrier mono-material structures brings us one step closer to being able to provide completely recyclable solutions to replace non-recyclable packaging.”

BOBST’s ‘Generation 2.0’ samples include:

• New ultra-high and high barrier full polypropylene laminated pouches, printed in gravure and recyclable, with the option of an AluBond metallised barrier or transparent AlOx (aluminium oxide) barrier layer and solvent free barrier adhesive and/or topcoat.
• The first ever UV flexo combined with digital inkjet printing for AluBond metallisation, full polypropylene laminated bags with barrier performances – using a solventless adhesive again for a mono material pouch designed for recycling.
• UV low migration flexo printing, providing barrier with AluBond metallisation, on full low-density polyethylene laminated pouches.
• CI flexo water-based printing on full MDO-PE laminated pouches with AluBond metallisation, providing ultra-high barrier using a high barrier solventless adhesive.

“Brückner is convinced that the future will continue to belong to plastics if they are used and reused sustainably,” said Helmut Huber, COO Sales & Project Management, Brückner Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG. “As part of a circular economy, the undeniable advantages of plastic can be combined absolutely well with the sustainability goals of a modern society. Regarding the discussions about recycling targets for plastic packaging, we see mono-material packaging structures clearly on the rise.”