Constantia Flexibles adds sustainable packaging portfolio

Quoting figures from World Bank and the UN, Constantia Flexibles noted 2.12 billion tons of waste is produced every year. In 2050, it is anticipated 3.40 billion tons of waste will be generated in cities alone. The supplier’s own research, conducted by marketagent, found that 80 percent of end consumers prefer eco-friendlier packaging over a regular one and would pay up to 15 percent more for recyclable and compostable packaging.

Such stats have fuelled its development of Ecolutions, designed to meet modern sustainability requirements, reduce the carbon footprint of packaging, focus on recyclability and decrease the impact on the environment, according to Constantia Flexibles. They are also engineered to offer performance characteristics required to ensure protection of the packaged products.

EcoLam is a lightweight, mono PE laminate that is fully recycle-ready due to its mono-material structure. In addition, its carbon footprint is claimed as around 32 percent smaller than that of comparable products. EcoLamPlus and EcoLamHighPlus have additional barrier properties against moisture, oxygen, aroma and mineral oils.

Asian Paints, India’s largest DIY manufacturer, has switched all its DIY products from PET/PE to EcoLam. In addition, dry pet food, laundry products including powders, tabs and capsules can be packed in EcoLam. EcoLamPlus is identified as being suitable for meat, cheese and dairy products in pouches due to its oxygen and moisture barrier properties. As EcoLamHighPlus provides an additional high barrier against both moisture and oxygen, it is suitable for products such as salad dressings and coffee beans.

Constantia’s eco-friendly portfolio also extends to lidding with EcoCover. This is intended as an option for lids of yogurt cups, other food and pharma products.

When replacing one million standard aluminum lids with EcoCover, Contantia Flexibles noted that savings can be achieved equal the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by approximately one passenger car driven for one year. This corresponds to a reduction of the carbon footprint of up to 50 percent, which can be achieved by downgauging of the aluminum thickness. Although the thickness of the aluminum layer is reduced, the material can still be identified as aluminum and sorted for aluminum recycling. In combination with UV flexo printing, the production of EcoCover can also be completely solvent free. The product is also characterized by a high corrosion resistance, a wide sealing temperature range and easy peeling properties.

For applications such as pet food, the EcoTainerAlu is an alumini-around foil container system that uses a new, water-based coating system for the container as well as for the punched lid. This removes the emission of VOCs. In addition, no chromated foil is used for this packaging product and it is recyclable via the aluminium recycling stream.

Constantia Flexibles CEO Alexander Baumgartner said: ‘As the world’s fourth largest flexible packaging producer, we know about our responsibility towards the environment as well as the requests of the end consumers. Thus, our goal is to drive a change in the industry for more sustainable packaging solutions.’

Baumgartner added: ‘Our packaging line for more sustainability will continue to be extended. At the moment, we are working on compostable solutions for small packagings such as stick packs, which hardly can be recycled.’