Walki expands its portfolio of fully recyclable monomaterials for the food industry
An astonishing 30% of produced food is being wasted, standing for nearly 9% of global CO2 emissions. With the right food packaging, these figures can be substantially reduced. Walki has launched recyclable monomaterial solutions to propel the world towards a circular future.
To help customers take on a circular future, Walki offers fully recyclable laminates for the food industry.
“Certain type of food such as meat, sausages and cheese, require a good barrier in order to preserve the food throughout the shelf life. This has been our main focus, also when developing these new materials in order to make sure the food does not go bad, further adding to CO2 emissions”, explains Håkan Sabel, R&D Manager at Walki
The food content might also come in challenging shapes such as sharp edges, requiring a sturdy enough barrier to make sure that the packaging is not torn.
Different types of polymers and multilayer structures have been the go-to solutions.
“As EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation is coming into force, stipulating that all food packaging must be recyclable by 2030, the food industry needs to find ways to make recyclable polymer solutions for these challenging food products”, explains Jonas Skuthälla, Head of Business Line Flexible Packaging at Walki.
Wide portfolio of laminate solutions
Walki has a wide portfolio of recyclable laminate solutions that cover most needs such as flowpack, standup pouches, pillow pouches, topfilms and lidding films. Now the company has innovated a recyclable, flexible baseweb for thermoforming.
“Meat and sausages are typically packed in a thermoformed baseweb with a top film. Walki can now also offer these thermoforming as monomaterials”, explains Sabel.
Walki offers its solutions either in PE or PP. While PE is usually preferred due to its suitability for most recycling facilities, PP is a good choice for applications that need to withstand higher temperatures during production, such as stand-up pouches. Both are easily recyclable and PA-free.
“By choosing monomaterial PE or PP, we can make food packaging that can be fully recyclable in the plastics stream without compromising on the core function of the packaging, that is to protect the product, prolong shelf life and minimise food waste”, says Jonas Skuthälla.
All films can be printed in flexo and digital or supplied as transparent.
Customers are preparing for a circular future
There is a big interest among customers in the food industry to switch to recyclable solutions.
“While the final details in the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation are yet to be decided upon, customers want to be prepared for a circular future”, says Jonas Skuthälla.
Fact box: Westpak and Flexipack part of Walki
Walki Westpak and Walki Flexipack are two Finnish companies that have worked for several years as an integrated supply chain. Walki acquired both companies in August 2022 to complement its portfolio for challenging food products that typically demand a polymer solution. Walki Westpak’s and Walki Flexipack’s joint portfolio is wide and contains solutions for most packaging needs in the food industry.