Billerud has developed a recyclable, heat-sealable paper designed to replace plastic in packaging applications with high demands for sealing performance and recyclability. At Billerud we embed sustainability in everything we do and when developing new high performing packaging materials, we know we have a joint interest with converters and brand owners to replace plastics with fossil-free materials. While ConFlex HeatSeal has already been successfully introduced in the bedding segment by a major Swedish furniture brand, its potential extends far beyond into further applications in industrial and hygiene packaging. “With ConFlex HeatSeal, we offer a commercially viable, heat-sealable paper that supports businesses to transition away from plastic. It delivers strong sealing performance and recyclability within existing paper recovery systems and works within slightly modified converting processes where Billerud provides transition support. It’s great to see how we live our purpose to make high performance packaging materials for a low carbon society through innovation,” comments Robert Torstensson, Vice President Business Area Paper, Billerud.

Mondi is supplying zooplus with a pre-made FlexiBag Recyclable and BarrierPack Recyclable form-fill-and-seal (FFS) reel material, which are both certified recyclable by the Institute cyclos HTP which specialises in the classification, assessment and certification of recyclability of packaging. While seeking greater recyclability for its packaging, the online retailer was not willing to compromise on any performance properties, including barrier protection, or aesthetics. Mondi’s materials provide all the necessary barrier properties to protect against the unwanted transmission of moisture, oxygen and odours with a high premium look and feel. Mondi’s expertise made it possible to maintain the desired aesthetics on the packaging, so that the previously metallised highlights on the label and in the eyes of the wolf are also recyclable.

Life-cycle assessments take time and money. Are the benefits worth the effort? It was a question that came up during a presentation at MD&M West.  Adam Wozniak, Director of Sustainability at Ravago North America, and I were talking about how to make plastic packaging easier and more profitable to recycle in the session “Designing for Circularity: Transforming Plastics from Problem to Packaging Solution.” We tackled the topic of plastic packaging circularity from a general sustainability perspective, as well as in this era of extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws. We kept the scope broad because not all brand owners will be selling into states that have EPR regulations. But the work being done in writing these EPR laws can help anyone. In a word, Wozniak says, yes. LCAs are valuable in several ways. Specifically, I asked, “If the law has already done the work [of identifying appropriate packaging materials for sustainability], do you need LCAs?” Wozniak answered, “In general, LCAs … help expose the underbelly of processes, too. So not only are you evaluating your systems … what you’re also doing with life-cycle assessments is your evaluating your supply chain. You’re evaluating who you source products from and understanding furthermore any impacts logistics have, impacts that the manufacturing has. “… regardless of extended producer responsibility, I think life-cycle assessment is going to be here to stay. It’s going to continue to become more of a common practice.