Packaging Solutions
One word, more than any other, is guiding Bag-in-Box (BIB) film purchasing decisions today: sustainability. Whether for wine, fruit juice or dairy products, product and packaging managers, technical engineers and purchasing agents are tasked with finding sustainable packaging solutions.
Fortunately for them, the Mondi Styria plant in Austria has racked up more than 60 years of experience as a leader and technology innovator. When it comes to multilayer technical films that are thinner, lighter and more sustainable – and do not sacrifice any performance properties – the Mondi experts are always extending the boundaries of technological advancement. Now, they are launching a pair of next generation films developed for multilayer BIB products used to package liquid food products and more.
‘We have now determined it is possible to replace the usual 66 or 70 micron polyethylene film with a 50 micron film, and we are the first company to be able to offer such a product,’ explained Günter Leitner, managing director at Mondi Styria. ‘Down-gauging in this manner results in the use of about 25% less material while also reducing transport weight and hence the overall carbon footprint.’
Mondi has also found a way to combine what is the industry standard, two-ply film comprising a 70 micron polyethylene layer plus a 40 micron barrier layer into a mono-layer film that measures only 90 microns thick – a reduction of nearly 20%. Currently, Mondi provides its 70 micron film to customers who combine it with a barrier layer provided by another supplier to get the desired end result.
‘Mondi, once again, is the first and only supplier of technical BIB films able to offer this type of mono-layer product,’ said Günter. ‘Since this thinner film also yields more running metres per reel this leads to enhanced efficiency and productivity for our customers.’
In addition to the previously noted sustainability advantages, this latest innovation greatly simplifies matters for customers, eliminating a step from the converting process, and allowing users to buy and store only one type of film instead of two.
Customers also will benefit from reduced machine set up time due to having to change out only two reels instead of four, and having to change two reels less frequently. All of this translates into greater productivity for the converter.
Additionally, both new films are suitable for both hot fill (up to 85º C) and cold fill applications, again offering increased convenience and flexibility to the users.
‘These advances continue to raise the bar, to the benefit of our customers,’ said Günter, ‘and we will continue to strive to increase the functionality, performance and convenience of our technical films to improve the users’ experience.’
