AMB develops mono-PET food film series for recyclability and shelf life enhancements

25 May 2021 --- AMB is unveiling a series of monomaterial PET films for optimizing food preservation and reducing retailer and consumer food waste.

The Italian supplier’s TotalMono PET monomaterial films also help producers meet the EU’s more stringent recyclability demands, requiring all packaging to be fully recyclable by 2030.

TotalMono PET bottom films have lower thicknesses compared to multilayer products and require less plastic.

The bottom films are also “extremely” lightweight, driving down energy consumption by requiring less space for transport, trucks on the road and fuel consumption.

AMB’s “all in one place” concept includes all aspects of the packaging process: design, tooling, product specification, film production, print design and application.

The supplier is also offering recycled PET (rPET) in its films. One such example is its BOPET lid film, produced with between 37-60 percent post-consumer rPET.

For the bottom films, rPET uses 50-100 percent post-consumer materials depending on customers’ requirements.AMB TotalMono PET is suitable for fresh and processed meat, dairy and other food products requiring high protection.

Weight reductions
The downgauging of thicknesses leads to a wide range of possible gauges and a significant reduction in weight without compromising performance, the company highlights, offering “outstanding product protection at thicknesses much lower than those of a multilayered structure.”

Moreover, downgauging ensures less plastic is used and more product can be manufactured with the same amount of material.

AMB base and rigid films are available at all standard gauges from 200 my to 800 my with a low or high barrier and include a possible downgauge from APET/PE.

Lid films are available at gauges from 37 my up to 60 my and with a low or high barrier function. All barriers are non-EVOH as EVOH can harm PET recycling and is incompatible with European recycling guidelines, AMB indicates.

Fully printable
TotalMono PET films are fully printable, delivering easy top and bottom printing without changing graphics.

A further feature is the film’s seal strength while at the same time offering a lower seal initiation temperature and the ability to adjust the sealing temperature compared to multilayer solutions.AMB base and rigid films are available at all standard gauges from 200 my-800 my.

Sealing is provided by the lacquer, which also acts as an anti-fog, removing the necessity of applying anti-fog lacquering.

Despite downgauging, the material also offers robust tear resistance during processing.

Shelf appeal
AMB TotalMono PET is suitable for fresh and processed meat, dairy and other food products requiring high protection and fresh optics on supermarket shelves. 

The films optimize shelf optics by displaying products in high-gloss, high-transparency packaging, enabling the consumer to appreciate product quality.

Additionally, the medium to high barrier trays in combination with film solutions provide the security of extended shelf life, making products safer and more attractive.

Edited by Joshua Poole