The winner of the German Packaging Award in the sustainability category, specifically for Recyclability/design for Recycling, is a de-inkable, recyclable, mono-material polyethylene pouch with barrier properties. This small but innovative pouch was produced through a unique value chain collaboration between Siegwerk, ExxonMobil, Henkel, Kraus Folie, and Windmöller & Hölscher.

A combination of innovative solutions allows for pouches that provide a high oxygen barrier, outstanding package integrity, and excellent shelf-appeal. It produces an almost colorless recyclate after the removal of printing ink and the oxygen-barrier coating layer.

The pouch represents a breakthrough industry innovation. Siegwerk´s deinking and delamination primer technology was applied on a Windmöller & Hölscher Miraflex II, a flexo printing press with a downstream unit. Oxygen-barrier properties were achieved using single-component barrier coatings from Siegwerk (Cirkit OxyBar BC 1582) and from Henkel (Loctite Liofol BC 1582 RE).

The pouch is comprised of ExxonMobil’s latest generation of performance polyethylene in combination with Exact™ — materials in the sealant layer. The MDO-PE films were developed by ExxonMobil and Kraus Folie, employing ExxonMobil HDPE and Enable™ performance polyethylene, and produced on its Varex II extrusion line with an inline MDO unit.

To learn more about the awards and the ceremony taking place September 13, visit www.verpackung.org.