Siegwerk and Borouge are joining forces to develop recyclable, single-material packaging solutions.
This collaboration aims to replace complex, multimaterial packaging with simpler designs that are easier to recycle.
The current standard for flexible packaging often involves multiple materials, making traditional recycling difficult.
Siegwerk and Borouge believe that switching to monomaterial packaging is key to improving recyclability and promoting a circular economy.
“The majority of flexible packaging still consists of mixed materials and because of this multimaterial structure, it is challenging to recycle it in the conventional recycling streams,” said Stephane Bertaux, head of Brand Owner Collaboration and Circular Economy for Southeast Asia at Siegwerk Thailand.
“Here, the switch to monomaterial packaging is an essential lever to ease the recycling of packaging and thus enhance its circularity.”
However, single-material designs can present challenges.
Maintaining features such as reliable seals, strength, and temperature resistance requires innovative solutions.
“Enabling monomaterial structures using Borouge’s performance polyethylene [PE] products with the combination of innovative ink and coating technologies can achieve the desired packaging outcomes,” said Anton Wolfsberger, a packaging and circular economy marketing leader at Borouge.
“Upcycling is becoming possible through mechanical recycling, resulting in high-quality recyclates to further boost circularity and lower carbon footprint versus currently used multimaterial packaging, which are mostly incinerated.”
The partnership will focus on codeveloping solutions such as a recyclable stand-up pouch.
This pouch will use Borouge’s Borstar technology-based PE and Siegwerk’s oxygen barrier coating and deinking primer.
Siegwerk and Borouge are already working with converters to develop high-barrier monomaterial packaging with advanced oxygen and moisture vapour transmission rate control.
This collaboration highlights the importance of cooperation throughout the packaging supply chain.
By working together, Siegwerk and Borouge aim to develop solutions that accelerate the shift towards a circular economy.
