Mono-material packaging is a growing trend in the packaging industry. These packages consist of only one type of material, which makes them easier to recycle than multi-material packages.
What are the essential factors when working with monomaterials in packaging?
Mono-materials are a growing trend in the packaging industry, as they offer a more sustainable solution than multi-material packaging. According to INVpack, a leading designer and manufacturer of multi-line stickpack and sachet forming, filling and sealing equipment, as well as a founding member of Barcelona Packaging Hub, several monomaterials are highlighted in the packaging industry. These include paper, polypropylene, polylactic acid and biobased polyethylene, among others. These flexible materials, such as films, feature multilayer structures containing polyethylene and polypropylene, known mainly as Mono PE and Mono PP.
A package is considered monomaterial if the film contains more than 90% of a single type of polymer..
However, the adoption of monomaterials in the packaging industry is not a simple task, as it involves the industry adapting to the particularities of this new material. A crucial aspect to consider is the temperature required for sealing, as well as the pressure and time required, since monomaterials are less stable when exposed to heat. When monomaterials must interact with external elements such as plugs, the sealing process becomes more demanding due to the differences in sealing temperature between the material and the plug.
The benefits of the application of monomaterials in the packaging industry
The packaging industry wants to benefit from the application of mono-materials in its production. These materials offer several advantages: reduction of production costs and energy use, reduction of packaging waste and, most notably, improved recyclability. As they are not composed of different materials, they eliminate the need for complex sorting processes, resulting in the possibility of recycling them with little time and energy.
Barcelona Packaging Hub, founded in 2019 is a network of companies dedicated to the manufacture of innovative and high quality machinery for the packaging industry. The associates that are part of the entity, seek to provide solutions to market demands through the development of machinery compatible with the treatment of mono-materials, with the aim of continuing its commitment to the environment and a more sustainable production.
The packaging industry has implemented new practices to promote the use of monomaterials, and a prime example is Volpak, a company specializing in HFFS solutions for the packaging industry, and one of the founding companies of the Barcelona Packaging Hub. The company has a laboratory where manufacturers and converters can test the machinability of new materials under development. Most of the machines manufactured by Volpak are designed to work with recyclable materials, either mono-materials or paper materials (Full Paper).
Monomaterials: the future of packaging is already present
The challenge for the industry is to achieve the same protection barriers that multilayer packaging has, the market demands it and the industry must respond. By regulation, from 2030 all packaging used must be recyclable or reusable.
Synchropack, founding member of Barcelona Packaging Hub and a specialist in state-of-the-art solutions for packaging automation, says that trends in the flexible packaging sector will be marked by new monomaterials and the development of these. Increasingly, film manufacturers are focusing on sustainability and the circular economy. That is why monomaterials, monoplastic and flexible paper will continue to be part of new developments.
However, their widespread adoption still faces some challenges, such as production speed, sealing properties, adhesion and sealing with fitting accessories. Continued innovation in these areas is key to overcoming these challenges and making monomaterials a viable option for a wide range of applications.
Lucas Palma, general manager of Barcelona Packaging Hub, says, “We know the way forward to steer partners towards more efficient production. Monomaterials are, and will be, a turning point to lead the packaging industry towards sustainability.
