Glenroy unveils eco-friendly flexible packaging portfolio backed by Life Cycle Assessments

29 Apr 2021 --- US-based flexible packaging company Glenroy is releasing a portfolio of environmentally sustainable packaging products branded Glenroy Sustainable Packaging. 

The new portfolio helps brand owners in the food, pharmaceutical, pet food, nutraceutical, personal care and household products industries achieve lower emissions, while providing recyclable and post-consumer recycled (PCR) solutions.

The recently-released first line of Glenroy Sustainable Packaging features recyclable pouches and film laminations that qualify for the How2Recycle store drop-off label, a recycling program for flexible plastics made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) running at stores like Target, Walmart, Lidl and Wegmans.

Ken Brunnbauer, marketing manager at Glenroy, tells PackagingInsights the project was achieved through effective collaborations and sourcing. 

“There weren’t really any challenges. We worked with our suppliers and partners to secure the proper materials for the layers. For the store drop-off recyclable products, we collaborated with the Sustainable Packaging Coalition to meet their How2Recycle label requirements.”

“We joined the How2Recycle label program and worked with their team on the analysis of the structure to ensure it met their requirements for inclusion in the store drop-off bins.”

Circular economy solutions
Also available in the portfolio are PCR pouches and film laminations made with up to 53 percent recycled content, plus the eco-friendly pre-made Standcap Pouch in a PCR format with up to 48 percent recycled content.

The Standcap Pouch produces fewer GHG emissions through use of PCR.The Standcap Pouch is an alternative to rigid plastic bottles used for dispensing sauces like ketchup. Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) have shown the design trumps traditional bottles on carbon emissions, fossil fuel usage, landfill space and water usage. 

“Glenroy is dedicated to being an active participant in the circular economy by finding ways to make our flexible packaging more eco-friendly,” comments Evan Arnold, vice president of business development at Glenroy. 

“The Glenroy Sustainable Packaging portfolio offers recyclable and PCR options for brands in most industries to not only meet their stated sustainability goals but also provide flexible packaging options their consumers can feel good about.”

LCA comparisons 
Highlighting the environmental benefits of the new portfolio, Brunnbauer points to LCAs showing the differences in impact between the Standcap Pouch and standard HDPE bottles. 

For a chocolate syrup product, the LCA found the pre-made Standcap Pouch results in lower greenhouse gas emissions (-41.8 percent), with an additional (-45.0 percent) reduction through the incorporation of PCR.

Additionally, the HDPE bottle manufacturing process of blow molding requires heating, resulting in additional emissions compared to the less energy-intensive extrusion and lamination process of multilayer pouches.

The fossil fuel needed to make the pre-made Standcap Pouch is cut by nearly half (-45.9 percent) compared to the rigid HDPE bottle, while the use of PCR results in an additional reduction (-51.5 percent). This is because the rigid bottle employs nearly double the amount of packaging material to hold almost the same amount of chocolate syrup. 

“As a part of the flexible packaging industry, we are focused more than ever on delivering sustainable, flexible packaging solutions for our customers, retailers and consumers,” says Steve Nichols, vice president of sales and marketing at Glenroy. 

“Our lightweight, flexible packaging already offers an eco-friendly impact compared to alternative package formats, but adding recyclable and PCR flexible packaging options increases the positive environmental impact exponentially. We’re excited about the future of flexible packaging.”

By Louis Gore-Langton