Innovia Films develops carbon-neutral label film from bio-sourced resins

22 Sep 2020 --- Innovia Films is launching its first carbon-neutral BOPP label film called Encore C45cn to tackle climate change and reduce the use of fossil resources. The films can be applied to F&B, personal care and household packaging.

Stephen Weber, key account director of labels at Innovia Films, explains that in addition to being carbon neutral, Encore C45cn is a high MD stiffness 45 μm BOPP bubble film for automatic label dispensing performance. This could allow the replacement of standard 50 μm films, giving a further 10 percent material saving.

“Using a thinner 45 μm film and giving more square meters per reel brings other sustainability benefits from reduced transport and reel change over-waste,” he tells PackagingInsights.

The films undergo a “bubble” process during manufacturing.As the first carbon-neutral film in Innovia’s labels range, C45cn is available now for global supply and the company plans to expand this to other films. “We also plan to offer carbon positive and climate positive [films] in the very near future,” Weber adds.

Encore 45cn is certified carbon-neutral on a mass balance and cradle-to-gate basis by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC Plus) program.Encore C45cn applies to food, beverage, household and personal care packaging.

Bio-based feedstocks for labels
In June, Innovia Films introduced the Encore family of highly functional and recyclable BOPP films. The Encore films are manufactured from renewable non-food based raw materials, reducing the use of fossil-based raw materials.

Combining extensive and detailed work on Innovia’s processes to measure and manage the carbon footprint allowed the company to create Encore C45cn. Moreover, working together with its suppliers helped Innovia find “the right renewable bio-sourced resins,” says Weber.

“The renewable materials used are sourced from second generation, bio-based feedstocks such as waste from the wood pulping process. Encore films use the resultant polymer derived from this feedstock to bring new sustainable films to the market,” Paul Watters, product development manager of packaging, previously shared with PackagingInsights.

Toward net-zero emissions
The UN Sustainable Development Goals target a low-carbon, net-zero emissions and circular economy. Innovia Films underscores that the availability of a carbon-neutral film to lower labels’ carbon footprint is a step toward these goals.

“The importance of reducing carbon footprint to reduce global warming is now widely acknowledged by society and the consequences of not doing so will affect us all,” concludes Weber.

By Anni Schleicher