Ineos produces ultra-thin, rigid film for recyclable flexible packaging

Ineos, a global petrochemicals manufacturer headquartered in London, has produced an ultra-thin, rigid film for recyclable flexible packaging applications made from 50 percent recycled plastic.

According to a news release from Ineos, the company partnered with Germany-based Hosakawa Alpine to use its machine-direction orientation (MDO) technology to process what it calls Recycl-IN resins, which contain 50 percent recycled plastic to make polyethylene film. Ineos says this new film will be used to manufacture recyclable, single-polymer flexible packaging products that replace hard-to-recycle multimaterial packaging products.

Ineos has invested in a Hosakawa Alpine MDO film line to develop its flexible packaging films made from a single polymer family, which Ineos says increases the recyclability of plastic packaging. Ineos says this packaging solution can help to ensure more packaging contains recycled materials and can be recycled in the future.

RELATED: Ineos invests in technology to design recyclable flexible packaging film

Recycl-IN resins also are certified as providing a 25 percent to 50 percent reduction in carbon emissions when compared with the use of virgin feedstocks, Ineos says.

“We share people’s concerns about plastic waste, showing we can help produce more recyclable end products using large quantities of recycled materials,” says Rob Ingram, chief executive of Ineos O&P Europe North. “Now that we’ve proved the concept, we open the door to exploring the application of Recycl-IN and MDO technology to other flexible packaging products where we can make a real difference.”