Berry Global and VOID Technologies have announced a partnership to commercialise a new sustainable film for pet food packaging.

The film is said to have been designed to provide superior strength, toughness, and puncture resistance, offering an all-polyethylene (PE) solution that is suitable for store drop-off recycling programmes.

The partnership combines VOID's patented VO+ technology, which includes the use of its 1300 Series PE Voiding Agents, with Berry Global's expertise in film formulation and machine direction orientation (MDO) process knowledge.

This synergy results in the creation of cavitated microscale air pockets within the film, which not only reduce the plastic density but also enhance the film's opacity without the need for pigments.

The VO+ cavitated film structure is claimed to significantly improve the solution's toughness, making it ideal for demanding applications in flexible packaging.

This leads to the production of higher-yield PE-based films that are more sustainable and offer technical solutions for monomaterial recycle-ready packaging.

The films also maintain compliance with direct food contact standards in North America and Europe.

Berry Global and VOID Technologies are committed to expanding the impact of their collaboration by exploring other market applications.

Berry Global Product Management - Flexible Packaging director Caleb Triplett said: “As brand owners and consumers continue to reach for sustainable packaging solutions, Berry believes that partnerships are a key part of our value proposition.

“Collaborations, like the one with VOID, enable Berry to meet the growing demand for high-performance and sustainable film solutions with robust technologies.

“Pet food applications present unique challenges due to demanding physical and organoleptic requirements, and this highlights the individual capabilities of both Berry and VOID, but more importantly, the power of our combined expertise.”