The global use of plastic products has far exceeded expectations and has polluted the entire planet. Therefore, recycling and reuse are urgent priorities. Examples of recycling and regeneration exist for rigid packaging, such as bottles, cans, and boxes. However, we can't find many solutions for recycling composite flexible packaging materials.
The global use of plastic products has far exceeded expectations and has polluted the entire planet. Therefore, recycling and reuse are urgent priorities. Examples of recycling and regeneration exist for rigid packaging, such as bottles, cans, and boxes. However, we can't find many solutions for recycling composite flexible packaging materials.
The plastic characteristics such as lightweight, high malleability, and resistance to oil and water. In a low-carbon sustainable lifestyle, it still plays a significant role. The main point is how to use it properly.
Following the United Nations'「"New Plastics Economy Global Commitment"」，proposed in 2018, emphasis is placed on how to make plastic packaging reusable and reduce the extraction and use of new plastics.
Therefore, reducing the design of single-use plastic products and promoting the use of recycled plastics has gradually become a global consensus. Countries have also begun to establish policies regarding the use of recycled materials. For example, by 2025, the Netherlands requires that 35% of plastic packaging be made from recycled materials, while the United Kingdom and France require that 30% of plastic packaging be made from recycled materials.
Only products from the full PE or full PP property materials are recyclable for reuse.
In the current processing mode, a temperature-resistant (including barrier properties) material and a heat-sealable material are required to achieve convenient processing and ensure that the food does not spoil easily after being packed by the customer. However, these materials will be restricted in the future because they are not recyclable. Only products with full PE or full PP property materials can be recycled and reused circularly.
Why are discussions about the full PE or full PP property materials being raised now?
That's because the full PE or full PP property materials are easily permeated by water vapor and oxygen, making it difficult to preserve the original flavor of the food, and there are significant challenges in the process.
How did All Packing overcome and solve these difficulties?
For heat-resistant PE or PP materials, suppliers have been continuously developing methods to block water vapor and oxygen. Initially, the raw materials had an oxygen transmission rate of 7900 cc/m²/day and a moisture transmission rate of 24-48 g/m²/day. Now, they have been developed to achieve an oxygen transmission rate of below 1.5 cc/m²/day and a moisture transmission rate of below 1.5 g/m²/day, which is a significant breakthrough. Suppliers are continuously striving for further improvements.
Achieving the state where cookies can be packed without becoming soft or losing flavor.
However, the following seven issues still arise. Come see how we overcome them!
Uneven edges after tearing.
It's tough to tear
The easy-tear pocket zipper is very easy to tear.
- If full PE or PP recyclable roll products are delivered to food packaging factories, the factories must modify their machinery to accommodate these materials. In some cases, they may even need to invest in new types of machinery to meet the demands of the full-PE and all-PP material era. Among them, the all-PP properties are more challenging to automate because they require higher heat-sealing temperatures, which increases the risk of deformation. The physical properties of PP make the bags more prone to breaking (high rigidity and stiffness cause easy cracking with repeated folding). Therefore, older packaging machines may not be suitable, making processing difficult and reducing production efficiency to around 50%.
- Bag-making products are becoming increasingly popular. Our factory handles the difficult and complex processing procedures. Customers only need to seal the opening after receiving the products, making them ready for sale.
4-layer zipper insertion
8-layer bottom sealing
Breakthrough achieved in developing full-PE property material, such as easy-tear pocket zipper flat bottom bags.
Over the past three years, we have diligently searched and collected technical information on the full-PE property materials. We conducted practical tests, analyses, and improvement iterations. Through analyzing each failure, we discovered that wisdom lies within every setback. With perseverance and determination, we finally overcame the challenges and developed easy-tear pocket zipper flat-bottom bags using the full-PE material. These bags overcome sealing difficulties at the 4-layer zipper insertion and 8-layer bottom sealing.
High standard testing ensures zero leakage.
After testing it with a high-standard packaging sealing tester, we have achieved bags that are completely leak-proof. All the hard work was worth it. As far as we know, these high-level bags are not popular in the market. Even simple structures like 2-layer pocket zipper stand-up pouches or three-seal pouches are rare. Currently, only common zipper bags or three-seal pouches are widely available.
Completely leak-proof.
Leakage may occur at the 8-layer bottom sealing.
Leakage may occur at the 4-layer zipper insertion.
High-standard packaging seal tester.：
Using compressed air through vacuum equipment to generate negative pressure, this instrument tests flexible packaging materials' sealing strength, composite material strength, and gas leakage resistance. It provides the most reliable testing for the integrity of plastic-sealed packaging.
Testing principle：
The instrument creates a vacuum environment, while the packaging bag contains pressure equivalent to 1 atmosphere. As the external pressure decreases, the pressure inside the bag is greater than the external pressure, causing the packaging to expand. When the external pressure is lower, the expansion pressure is stronger. By observing this phenomenon, the packaging can be placed underwater to determine whether there is any leakage under this force.
The EU's foresight in using the full PE or PP property material to save the planet is commendable. Over the past three years, research and development in the global industrial, governmental, and academic have made significant progress. believe it can be achieved soon. The highlights of the Inter Pack Düsseldorf, Germany, in May 2023 and the Pack Expo in Las Vegas, USA, in September 2023 were the determined efforts to promote plastic recycling and a circular economy, thus protecting the Earth's environment. It all starts with us, and we hope for a cleaner earth in the near future.
The EU's foresight in using the full PE or PP property material to save the planet is commendable. Over the past three years, research and development in the global industrial, governmental, and academic have made significant progress. believe it can be achieved soon. The highlights of the Inter Pack Düsseldorf, Germany, in May 2023 and the Pack Expo in Las Vegas, USA, in September 2023 were the determined efforts to promote plastic recycling and a circular economy, thus protecting the Earth's environment. It all starts with us, and we hope for a cleaner earth in the near future.