Plastic products made of several types of polymers are non-recyclable and present one of the barriers to a real circular economy. Flexible mono material packaging changes the rules of the game and delivers product protection alongside environmental protection.   

Over the centuries, the human-to-environment relationship has grown from a circular one to a linear one. In the past, what our ancestors used to take from nature was returned to nature at the end of its life.

Civilization developed along with newly synthesized materials that allowed technology to flourish, using materials that nature is unable to assimilate even over a long period of time.

Then plastic emerged on the scene and grew to become an important raw material, which only served to exacerbate this process. The combination of such a versatile, inexpensive and convenient raw material, with industrial-scale production, led to the huge accumulation of non-biodegradable waste. This waste is found almost everywhere on the planet and poses a danger to the environment as well as to plants and animals. A study conducted in recent years and published in the journal PLOS One presented another negative effect of plastic waste seeping into the environment. The study showed that methane greenhouse gas is released in the disintegration process of plastic into micro particles, thus accelerating global warming.

We all know that this is unsustainable. Nonetheless, despite the disadvantages, a sweeping halt of plastic use is impractical. Plastic products are part of the modern lifestyle, and there is hardly an area in which they do not bring a benefit, whether in packaging solutions for protecting food, in disposable medical supplies, medical instrumentation or in transportation, agriculture and construction applications. As such, the solution is found in responsible use and in giving new life to products at the end of their life cycle that are intended for disposal.

Not every plastic product is recyclable

Plastic recycling appears to be the right solution, however this is not a simple one. Quality recycling is based on sorting and separation of waste into different polymer streams. When plastic packaging is made up of a mixture of various polymers, their separation is complex and is often impossible. Moreover, the recycling of a mixture of polymers that are incompatible results in low-grade recycled material that is not usable for most applications.

It is important to note that in some industries, for example the car industry, it is logical and even beneficial to use complex plastic materials, even though they are not recyclable. The plastic products are lightweight, replace some metal parts, and significantly reduce the weight of the car and the energy costs entailed in its use.

However, when it comes to disposable, degradable products that are used on a daily basis, multi-layered packaging creates great damage. Mechanical recycling cannot be used for this packaging, and if it does not cause damage by seeping into the environment, the solution at the end of its life cycle is landfill disposal or energy recovery. Moreover, packaging products are produced in huge quantities. In fact, 60% of household waste contains packaging, and anyone who wants to change the way we treat the environment must understand that innovative thinking is imperative. Only this will ultimately lead to disposable packaging products that will be recyclable and will create new value at the end of their life cycle.

The solution – mono material packaging

Polysack has extensive years of experience in the development and manufacture of PE mono material films. The uniqueness of these films is in their processing process. They are stretched in one direction (Machine Direction Orientation – MDO), a process that gives them special properties, both mechanical and optical. In the beginning these films were used for different applications: twist film for candy packaging (confectionery) or shrink sleeves for bottles. With the growing awareness of the need to protect the environment, we understood that our help could be much broader: with flexible mono material packaging. The technical and professional knowledge we accumulated enables us to manufacture films with a mixture of properties that are suitable for a range of packaging applications, while fully maintaining the film’s recycling properties.

Planning that pertains to all product life cycle stages – even after end-of-use

Use of mono material films opens the door to environmentally friendly packaging that will change the familiar rules of the game. Up until now marketing and functionality considerations dominated packaging development, ignoring what happens at the end of the packaging product lifetime. However, sustainability and recycling considerations are now leading priorities.

Use of our PackNCycle films, that are all comprised purely of PE, is a significant step in promoting circularity. We invite you to use our interactive tool to find the most suitable mono material packaging solutions that meet your needs. Our professional team will also be glad to answer your personal inquiries and to provide support and guidanc