ProAmpac presents post-consumer recycled retort pouches for human and pet food applications

28 Apr 2022 --- ProAmpac is launching high-performance retort pouches containing post-consumer recycled (PCR) material in response to increasing market demand. The ProActive PCR Retort pouches are EU and FDA compliant for food contact in retort applications and suitable for human and pet foods.

The pouches offer 30% PCR content or more by weight, reducing the use of virgin resins in the packaging. These innovative pouches also comply with the recently enforced UK Plastic Packaging Tax. 

The tax places a £200 (US$251) per metric ton levy on producers or importers if they do not include a minimum of 30% recycled content in plastic packaging. The legislation is expected to impact around 20,000 businesses.

“These pouches, coupled with our Recycle Ready Retort RT-3000, deliver on ProAmpac’s promise to innovate more [environmentally] sustainable retort packaging solutions. To help customers meet their [environmental] sustainability goals, ProActive PCR Retort pouches reduce the use of virgin resins and include high amounts of PCR while delivering the same packaging performance and filling line efficiency,” explains Adam Grose, chief commercial officer at ProAmpac.

High-definition graphics
Additionally, ProActive PCR Retort pouches have the same high-definition graphic quality as the standard retort pouches. Both graphics and package performance work to preserve brand identity and product freshness while advancing environmental sustainability objectives.

The ProActive PCR Retort pouches are designed for human and pet foods.“ProActive PCR Retort pouches provide a superior barrier and maintain their hermeticity during filling, retorting and distribution,” says Hesam Tabatabaei, vice president of global product development and innovation at ProAmpac.

“These innovative pouches offer excellent flex crack resistance and easy-open tear functionality. Engineered using ProAmpac’s advanced material science expertise, ProActive PCR Retort pouches preserve the same filling line efficiency, shelf life, mechanical performance and pin-hole resistance as standard retort pouches.”

Microwavable pouches
ProAmpac also recently introduced a monomaterial film for microwave vegetable steaming. The PE-based solution fulfills the market requirements for a recyclable packaging option that withstands the demands of a microwave heating environment. 

ProActive Recyclable R-2000S is a patent-pending PE-based film designed to run on high-speed form/fill/seal equipment and is pre-qualified for store drop-off recycling. It is designed to excel in all performance requirements, particularly optimal stiffness and dimpling resistance for enhanced shelf presence.

“The film can be recycled through the existing PE recycling streams across the US. The collection system is primarily at retail store drop-off locations found locally in most communities across the US,” Nathan Klettlinger, director of global marketing at ProAmpac, told PackagingInsights.

By Joshua Poole