TotalEnergies, Windmöller & Hölscher, and Mitsubishi Chemical Group’s collaboration led to high barrier recyclable packaging, contributing to materials circularity

TotalEnergies, Windmöller & Hölscher and Mitsubishi Chemical Group announced the successful proof of concept of a fully recyclable high-barrier stand-up pouch suitable for food-grade applications.

The partners have developed fully recyclable high-barrier packaging to replace multi-material structures, in line with brand owner commitments to 100% recyclable packaging by 2025. Composed of 98% polyethylene and less than 2% EVOH, required for barrier properties, the new solution exhibits identical performances without any compromise on recyclability, allowing it to enter available recycling streams and thus contributing to addressing the challenge of plastics end-of-life.

It consists of a Machine Direction Orientation (MDO) film and a sealing film, laminated together by Dettmer Verpackungen GmbH & Co. KG. The machine manufacturer B&B Verpackungstechnik GmbH then transformed this structure into a stand-up pouch that could be used for demanding applications, such as coffee packaging. The MDO-PE film recipe, composed of Total Energies Supertough, and unique Lumicene high-density PE together with Mitsubishi Chemical Group’s Soarnol, was running on VarexII equipment at the Windmöller & Hölscher EXPO for four days during the 2022 K show and was successfully welcomed by attendees.

“The replacement of non-recyclable multi-material packaging is key to ensure the circularity of plastic materials, bringing more qualitative items on the market to be used as feedstock for the recycling industry. We are committed to accelerating the circular economy by integrating eco-design principles into our product development process, in line with our ambition of producing 30% recycled and biopolymers by 2030,” said Olivier Greiner, vice president - polymers Europe & orient, TotalEnergies.

"With this product study, we are very pleased to showcase another missing piece in the puzzle toward a truly circular economy. Our leading knowledge and cutting-edge technology for the production of barrier and MDO-PE films as well as the excellent cooperation between all partners have made this possible," said Jonas Schmidt, head - product management, Windmöller & Hölscher.

“We are happy to participate in this joint project, offering innovative and sustainable packaging to the industry. Thanks to the combination of chosen barrier materials, together with excellent machine technology, the needs of high water-vapor-, oxygen- and aroma-barrier are achieved. Furthermore, the structure can be declared by definition as a mono-layer solution, and it is also fully mechanically recyclable," explained Domenico De Angelis, general manager - sales soarnol, P&C MMA business group EMEA, Mitsubishi Chemical Group.