K 2025: Dow, Macchi and ITP develop recycled mono-PE pouch prototype
Key takeaways
- Dow, Macchi and ITP developed a mono-PE pouch prototype with over 50% chemically recycled content.
- Collaboration combines Dow’s PE resins, Macchi’s multilayer extrusion technology, and ITP’s expertise in film production, printing, lamination, and pouch-making.
- The solution, compliant with upcoming EU PPWR recycling targets, will debut at K 2025.
Dow, Macchi and ITP have jointly introduced a prototype of a mono-PE pouch made from more than 50% recycled material for flexible packaging. The solution is recyclable and suitable for food packaging, providing a barrier to gas and moisture. The recycled material in the pouch is derived from chemical recycling.
The three companies will officially present their new solution at the K 2025 trade show in Düsseldorf, Germany, (October 8–15) at the Dow and Macchi booths.
The value chain collaboration involved ITP managing film substrate selection, printing, lamination, and pouch-making. Meanwhile, Macchi provided the high-performance multilayer extrusions technology, and Dow provided the advanced PE resins offering processability and functional performance.
Shaping the plastics industry future
ITP produces PE films for food and industrial packaging and Macchi manufactures blown extrusion lines. Dow supplied PE resins which include its Affinity polyolefin plastomers and Bynel adhesive resins.
Anthony Michael Caprioli, CEO at Macchi, says: “This synergy, born from the combined research and expertise of three leaders in their respective fields, represents a key milestone in shaping the future of the plastics industry.”
Carlo Poggi, managing director at ITP, adds: “Through this collaboration, ITP highlights its expertise in PE extrusion to provide high-performance films with advanced recycled content, fully compliant with upcoming EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) requirements and ready to meet future market challenges.”
Boosting recycled content
PPWR mandates a 10% recycled content target for food contact packaging by 2030.
The companies say their solution with chemically recycled content demonstrates the possibility of including high volumes of recycled material into such packaging, without compromising safety. They argue that this cannot be achieved with the current, conventional mass-scale mechanical recycling.
Recently, Dow developed film processing tech to remove fluoropolymer PE from packaging and recyclable resin for flexibles, and it partnered with Brivaplast and TecnoGi to repurpose perfume caps for cosmetic packaging production.
