Amcor launches recycle-ready liquid food pouch as consumer recycling appetite grows

09 Dec 2021 --- Amcor is unveiling its first high-barrier, high-speed, recycle-ready liquid pouch solution for complex packaging formats. The AmPrima PE Plus combines critical machinability performance and barrier characteristics for shelf-stable liquid foods product protection.

“We know in today’s world of high-performance equipment, rigorous quality testing and consumer-driven environmental consciousness, developing a recycle-ready solution that delivers on all attributes is crucial,” comments Brian Douglas, marketing director at Amcor.

“Our proprietary, oriented structure has a demonstrated ability to run on commercial converting and filling equipment at the same machine speeds as non-recyclable material, putting it in a different class from other conventionally-oriented, recyclable film options.”

Consumer recycling perceptions
Amcor became the first major packaging supplier to pledge to make all its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025.

According to Innova Market Insights, 45% of global consumers believe packaging suppliers can be pivotal in solving the plastic pollution crisis. Meanwhile, 29% and 17% believe plastic has good or excellent recyclability, respectively.Amcor’s research found 76% of consumers would like to recycle more.

At the same time, Amcor’s research revealed consumers worldwide want to recycle more. The survey of 12,000 consumers in six countries indicated 76% would like to recycle more than they do now.

The research found recyclability is the packaging environmental sustainability attribute consumers care most about, above reusability and the type of materials used.

Challenging category recyclability
AmPrima PE Plus recycle-ready solutions provide brand owners with packaging supporting recyclability in “historically challenging” categories.

At the same time, AmPrima PE Plus innovation delivers highly durable hermetic edge and fitment seals, performing well under abusive manufacturing, distribution and usage conditions.

The high-barrier flexible film also provides superior heat resistance as a more sustainable alternative to standard metalized or foil-based structures.

Amcor Flexibles North America previously launched a high-speed AmPrima PE Plus production line for plastic film recyclability.

AmPrima PE Plus heat-resistant recycle-ready solutions for pouches deliver value in multiple ways:

• Pre-qualification of the film by How2Recycle in the US for applications meeting the clean and dry requirement.
• Sealing and spout insertion without distortion due to the heat-resistant outer web.
• Ability to match current run cycles per minute achieved with a non-recyclable oriented polyester laminate.
• Product quality and flavor preservation with high-barrier properties comparable to AlOx or metalized films.
• Excellent durability for distribution, including puncture and scuff resistance.
• A 22% reduction in carbon footprint for AmPrima PE Plus heat-resistant pouches compared to a 3ply foil solution even when the used packaging is landfilled. Once recycled, the reduction increases to 49%, Amcor indicates.
• Verified by Asset – Amcor’s proprietary life cycle assessment tool certified by the Carbon Trust.

Amcor in the news
In other recent developments, the packaging giant opened a greenfield packaging facility in Tuas, Singapore, as a dedicated healthcare facility for addressing growing market demand for medical packaging in the region.AmPrima PE Plus is designed for shelf-stable liquid foods.

Amcor Rigid Packaging designed a container that collapses in a controlled way to maximize its width, enhancing the recyclability of small PET bottles. The new technology overcomes the common issue of smaller bottles, like 50 mL liquor bottles served on airplanes, becoming lost in the recycling process due to their size.

The company also launched a technology enabling brands to drive consumer engagement through online experiences by customizing closure liners, including the underside of bottle caps, with digital enhancements.

PackagingInsights explored the key trends in soups and sauces packaging with leading flexible packaging suppliers ProAmpac, Amcor and Huhtamaki and carton pack giant SIG earlier in the year.

By Joshua Poole

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