Scholle IPN launches first APR-certified bag-in-box for water package recyclability

29 Apr 2021 --- Scholle IPN is announcing its bag-in-box packaging for water has passed the Association of Plastic Recyclers’ “PE Film and Flexible Packaging Critical Guidance” (FPE-CG-01) testing, which evaluates the compatibility of flexible packaging with film-to-film recycling processes. 

The global flexible packaging supplier says the package is the first bag-in-box format to pass this testing protocol. The testing was completed by Plastics Forming Enterprises (PFE).

The company’s new flexible bag-in-box format reduces plastics use by up to 80 percent per liter of water and produces up to 63 percent less greenhouse gas emissions in production compared to traditional water bottles.

The solution features a recycle-ready, all-polyethylene (PE) structure, including bag film, spout and dispensing tap, and can be produced in sizes ranging from 2 L to 23 L for retail or home-office delivery markets.

Certified circularity
PFE tested a bag made with two layers of film and a PE closure. The outer layer, made of Scholle IPN’s RecShield, is a barrier film specifically designed to keep unwanted flavors from migrating through the film into the water.

Plastics Forming Enterprises tested a bag made with two layers of film and a PE closure.The inner layer consists of Scholle IPN’s proprietary film technology – known as 2Pure – which contains scavenging technology protecting the packaged water’s taste. 

“A new film technology cannot simply be put out in the world and touted as recyclable – it must go through testing to be recognized as such,” says Dr. Teresa Bernal-Lara, film development manager at Scholle IPN.

“The testing performed by PFE compared an all-PE film and closure to Scholle IPN’s innovative RecShield and 2Pure option along with a PE spout and tap.”

“The samples were reduced to flakes, which were then extruded into pellets and successfully re-blown into film that can be used to produce new flexible packaging, a truly circular solution.”

Letter of recognition
Scholle IPN’s water packaging performed beyond the minimum threshold for compliance outlined in APR’s “Critical Guidance Protocol for PE Film and Flexible Packaging,’’ receiving a letter of recognition from APR.

“Our bag-in-box bag and tap make up less than 5 percent of the overall package weight – with corrugate making up the balance,” explains David Bellmore, director of global film and package development at Scholle IPN.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), corrugate packaging boasts a 96.5 percent recycling rate while PET and HDPE bottles are recycled at 29 percent. 

“That means our package will not only offer a recycle-ready bag and tap, but around 95 percent of the overall package by weight is likely to be recycled. Environmentally speaking, plastic water bottles simply don't match up with bag-in-box,” says Bellmore.

Ross Bushnell, Scholle IPN president and CEO, adds: “Source reduction is a powerful step in the mitigation of our carbon footprint. By reducing the amount of plastic required to get our customer’s liquids to their end-market, we ensure there is less waste throughout the product life cycle.”

“Our new flexible water packaging provides for recyclability where possible while also ensuring critical source reduction that saves our Earth’s diminishing resources for future use.”

Edited by Joshua Poole

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