Project Plastic Fix: UFlex joint president talks circularizing multi-layered flexible plastic packs
Jeevaraj Pillai, joint president of new product development and flexible packaging at Uflex.
22 Dec 2022 --- Flexible plastic packaging is notoriously difficult to recycle, and few countries have real systematic solutions for circularizing these materials. However, flexible plastic remains crucial to preserving food shelf life and preventing the greenhouse gas emissions that result from spoilage.
PackagingInsights sits down with Jeevaraj Pillai, joint president of new product development and flexible packaging at Uflex, about the company’s recent presentation to the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW), about how its R&D can provide answers to the circularity pitfalls seen worldwide.
“Our chairman and managing director, Ashok Chaturvedi, shared his experience and best practices from the UFlex group in recycling multi-layered mixed plastic waste (MLP) with the attendees at the AEPW board meeting in New York, US. The presentation included a virtual walkthrough of the UFlex recycling facilities in India, Poland and Mexico,” Pillai explains.
“As one of the largest flexible packaging players globally, we are cognizant of our responsibility and have led by example by putting post-consumer plastic to better use.”
“We are constantly creating a robust portfolio of innovative and sustainable offerings, where material is sourced responsibly; products can be recycled or find second life post consumption.”
Collection and sortation are some of the key issues facing flexible plastic circularity, according to Cflex.Overcoming recycling challenges
Pillai explains Uflex endeavors to share its expertise in recycling multi-layer mixed plastic waste with the rest of the world and “to encourage central and state governments, policymakers, non-profit organizations and consumer groups to create the right plastic waste management ecosystem and invest in conducive policies and supporting infrastructure.”
“In India, we have been working closely with the central and local state agencies to replicate recycling projects in other Indian cities,” he says.
“We hope that the presentation and the subsequent media outreach will help create a collaborative platform for companies, legislators, civic authorities and entrepreneurs to work toward recycling and upcycling plastic waste across global regions.”
Essential policy aid
While UFlex is one of the leading global players in flexible packaging, private enterprises cannot solve the circularity problem without governmental help, asserts Pillai.
“We take our responsibility toward building and contributing to a plastic circular economy seriously. Having said that, systemic changes in consumer behaviors, investments by central and state government bodies toward building the right waste management ecosystem and incentives for entrepreneurs and all related parties to work toward a shared vision is a concerted effort and requires several stakeholders to work together.”
“We will continue to raise awareness about recycling, play the role of a facilitator in these strategic alliances and discussions, and make progress on our sustainable journey,” he continues.
“Reiterating our chairman’s commitment from the AEPW board meeting, we would be happy to lend our technical expertise and know-how to any interested party that would like to replicate and scale the recycling efforts in their community or organization.”
Monomaterial problems 
Advanced recycling has faced criticism recently following studies showing pyrolysis is highly energy intensive.Monomaterial designs and refills are viable options for a few packaging needs, but by “no means” are they a feasible substitute for flexible packaging in its entirety, asserts Pillai.
“The monopolymer packaging materials mostly being considered are based on either PP or PE. The following issues make them far-fetched in their implementation:
- The properties of the hetero-polymer packaging laminate used today are hard to achieve through mono-polymer options.
- The raw material for mono-polymer packaging materials is expensive.
- It is not possible to up-cycle the mono-polymer material by mechanical recycling. Hence it will follow the same fate as that of hetero-polymer packaging material without adding any value.
- Monopolymer packaging is proposed to be upcycled by chemical recycling to convert into monomers to create circularity. The infrastructure for chemical recycling has yet to be made readily available.
- They are expensive. The incremental cost prevents this from being used for packaging the low-price point end-products
Advanced recycling issues?
Recently, various studies have shown that the use of advanced recycling technologies such as pyrolysis is hugely energy intensive – leading critics to dismiss proponents for “greenwashing” and call on policymakers to prioritize mechanical recycling and require the industry to revert to monomaterial designs.
However, Pillai says Uflex is “not aware of any such criticism.” He says, “the biggest challenge we face is collecting and sorting plastic waste, especially MLP.”
“It would be simple if we could get PCR from a materials recovery facility or any other municipal body. We have a complete recycling solution for mixed plastic waste and supply or access to this waste is the biggest challenge.”
By Louis Gore-Langton
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COMPANY DETAILS
A-107-108, Sector - IV
Noida
201301
India
www.uflexltd.com
enquiry@uflexltd.com
Tel: +91-120-4012345
Fax: +91-120-2556040ACTIVE MATERIALS
Ancillary Equipment; Aseptic; Bio-Based; Biodegradable; Business; Caps & Closures; Compostables; Consumer Insights; Design & Branding; E-Commerce; Fiber-Based; Flexible Plastics; Labels & Labeling; Machinery; Marketing; Other Materials; Other Packaging; Other Technologies; Packaging Machinery; Policy & Regulation; Printing & Pre-Press; Recyclable; Research & Science; Reusables; Sustainability
ACTIVE CATEGORIES
Over the last three decades, UFlex has earned an irreproachable reputation defining the contours of the ‘Packaging Industry’ in India and overseas. Since its inception in 1985, it has turned into an over billion dollar turnover company with 9000+ workforce focusing on trust, value creation for customers, quality innovation and customer satisfaction. UFlex has grown from strength to strength with large manufacturing capacities of packaging films and packaging products providing end-to-end solutions to clients across 150 countries spanning USA, Canada, South America, UK, Europe, CIS countries, South Africa and other African countries, Middle East and the South Asian countries. It enjoys a formidable market presence and is today India’s largest flexible packaging materials and Solutions Company and a leading global polymer sciences corporation.
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Integrated within its core business profile of Flexible Packaging & Packaging Films are allied businesses like Aseptic Liquid Packaging, Engineering, Cylinders, Holography and Chemicals which further gives UFlex a superior edge over competition. It has a vast production capacity for Biaxially Oriented Polyethylene Teraphthalate (BOPET), Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP) films, Cast Polypropylene (CPP) films, facilities for Printing & Coating Inks, adhesives, Holography, Metallization & PVDC coating, Gravure Printing Cylinders, Gravure Printing, Lamination and Pouch formation.
UFlex serves as one-stop-shop flexible packaging solution provider serving varied sectors spanning FMCG, Consumer Product Goods, Pharmaceuticals, Building Materials, Automobile and much more. The company offers technologically superior packaging for a wide variety of products such as snack foods, candy and confectionery, sugar, rice & other cereals, beverages, tea & coffee, dessert mixes, noodles, wheat flour, soaps and detergents, shampoos & conditioners, vegetable oil, spices, marinates & pastes, cheese & dairy products, frozen food, sea food, meat, anti-fog, pet food, pharmaceuticals, contraceptives, garden fertilizers and plant nutrients, motor oil and lubricants, automotive and engineering components etc. Since COVID-19 pandemic, it has also been manufacturing consumer facing products like N-95 masks and sanitizers.
UFlex enjoys a global reach with unhindered speed making it truly multinational. Headquartered in Noida (National Capital Region, New Delhi), it has state-of the-art manufacturing facilities for packaging films in India, UAE, Mexico, Poland, Egypt, USA, Russia, Hungary & Nigeria. It has a new packaging films plants coming up in Dharwad in South India. In India, its plants are located in Noida & Jammu for packaging products and allied businesses & in Sanand for aseptic liquid packaging. UFlex manufacturing facilities enjoy ISO & HACCP accreditations and its products are approved by FDA.
Some of UFlex’ clients on the global turf include P&G, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Nestle, Mondelez, L’Oreal, Britannia, Haldiram’s, Amul, Kimberly Clark, Reckitt, Dabur, ITC, Perfetti, GSK, Agrotech Foods, Mars Wrigley, Amcor, Mondi, UPM Raflatac amongst others.
The company is a winner of various prestigious awards for its products’ excellence, innovation and sustainability from reputed forums like Dow, AIMCAL, WPO, FPA, and more. UFlex became the ‘first company in the world to recycle mix plastic waste’ for which it earned recognition at Davos Recycle Forum in 1995.
UFlex has over thirty years of experience in polymer technology. Setting milestones of success and innovation, the company is known for manufacturing and supplying products, delivering customised flexible packaging solutions and services across the globe to become an inextricable part of customers’ life.
Being a trend-setter in plastic waste recycling, UFlex stands committed to the industry by providing its technical know-how in sustainable packaging solutions thus help creating a circular economy through its global sustainability campaign ‘Project Plastic Fix’.
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Flexible Packaging Business: Flexible Packaging Laminates | Pre-fabricated Pouches | FlexiTubes | Pharmaceutical Packaging | FlexFresh™Modified Atmospheric Packaging | Big Bags | N-95 Masks | Injection Moulded Products
Packaging Films Business: BOPP Films | BOPET Films | CPP Films | Metalized Films | Alox Coated Films | Asclepius™PCR Films | Speciality Films | Polyester Chips
Engineering Business: Packaging Machines | Converting Machines | Recycling Machines | Specialty Product Machines
Aseptic Liquid Packaging Business: Brick Packs | Pillow Packs | Trio Packs | Ultra Lean, Crown and Square Packs| Holography Packs | Embossing Packs | Lens Effects Packs | Foil Stamping Packs | Aseptic Liquid Filling Line
Chemicals Business: Printing Inks | Ink Binders | Laminating Adhesives & Coatings | Specialty Chemicals as Polyols
Cylinders Business: Electromechanical Engraved Printing Rotogravure Cylinders | Embossing Rotogravure Cylinders | Robotic Laser Engraved Rotogravure Cylinders | Specialised Rotogravure Cylinders | Flexo Elastomer Plates and Sleeves
Holography Business: Holograms | Security Documents | Holographic Aluminium Lidding Foil | Holographic PVC Blister | Holographic Films | Holographic Thermal Films | Paper & Board Transfer | Hot Stamping Foils | Sequins Films | Glitter Films | Hot Melt Foil Films | Registered Lens Technology
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