PureCycle and Innovia Films trial recycled BOPP solution for food pack

PureCycle Technologies has announced the production and trial evaluation of white, cavitated biaxially oriented PP (BOPP) film in partnership with Innovia Films, a manufacturer of packaging, graphics, and label films. 

The film was manufactured using PureCycle’s PureFive Choice resin, and the film is said to contain more than 40% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content. This solution is set to be marketed to brand owners interested in introducing recycled content to their own white, cavitated BOPP applications. 

PureCycle adds that the PureFive resin is positioned to assist converters and brand owners in meeting regulatory requirements such as EPR in the US and the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.

Pete Dias, PureCycle senior director of Market, Product, and Application Development, says: “This is a step forward for PureCycle and for the flexible packaging industry. This film can be found all over your grocery store, whether it’s in the candy aisle, an ice cream freezer, or on snack shelves.”

“Brand owners have been searching for a way to incorporate certified recycled content without compromising performance or appearance. By working with Innovia, we have demonstrated that our PureFive resin for film is up to that challenge and strengthens our conviction that PureCycle can serve as a foundational PCR supplier for the global flexible packaging market.”

Innovation for flexible packaging

White, cavitated BOPP film’s opacity, light weight, and printability can make it the material of choice for many food-contact applications, including candy wrappers, ice cream novelty wrappers, snack packaging, and roll-fed labeling, according to PureCycle.

The film’s structure delivers a paper-like feel and a surface suitable for printing. It is also said to maintain the mechanical performance and moisture barrier, which is important for food-contact applications.

The companies say that the successful production of this film type using PureFive resin marks a commercial expansion of what is possible with PCR PP in demanding flexible packaging applications.

The PureFive Choice resin grade used by Innovia is a specially formulated one-pellet solution engineered for film applications.

According to the companies, during the trial process, the PureFive Choice resin yielded comparable processing results to the virgin PP resins used in commercial films. Testing revealed that the films made using varying percentages of PureFive Choice resin delivered comparable mechanical, barrier, and sealing properties to films made with virgin PP resin.

Chris Freshwater, market manager at Innovia Films, says: “Our research and development specialists are always looking to improve the sustainability of our products. PureCycle’s dissolution recycling technology is a game-changer. Not only are we introducing PCR content to our films, but we’re doing so with an energy-saving recycling technology.”