The Recycling Problem with Traditional Flexible Packaging
Traditional flexible pouches are made of multi-material laminates—layers of different plastics and often aluminum laminated together. While this structure provides excellent product protection, it creates a significant recycling challenge: the layers cannot be easily separated, making the entire package non-recyclable in most municipal systems.
This has put flexible packaging in the environmental spotlight, with brands under pressure to find solutions that don't sacrifice performance.
Enter Mono-PE: The Game Changer
Mono-PE (Mono-Material Polyethylene) pouches are constructed entirely from the same polymer family—polyethylene. This means:
- The entire package can be recycled together
- It integrates into existing LDPE recycling streams
- No complex separation technology needed
How Does Mono-PE Match Traditional Performance?
Early mono-material solutions had limitations in barrier properties. However, modern innovations have closed this gap:
EVOH Barrier Coatings
Thin EVOH (Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol) layers can be added that provide oxygen barrier performance comparable to aluminum foil, while still maintaining recyclability (EVOH content below 5% doesn't impact recyclability in PE streams).
High-Barrier PE Films
New resin technologies create PE films with moisture barrier properties rivaling traditional multi-layer structures.
Brand Benefits of Switching to Mono-PE
- Regulatory Compliance: Meeting upcoming Single-Use Plastics Directive requirements
- Consumer Preference: 74% of consumers prefer packaging labeled "recyclable"
- ESG Reporting: Tangible improvement in sustainability metrics
- Brand Reputation: Leadership position in environmental responsibility
MyPlast's Eco-Series
Our Eco-Series mono-PE pouches are certified recyclable and provide the same barrier performance, printing quality, and shelf appeal as traditional laminates. We help brands make the sustainable switch without compromise.
