- Certified compostability acc. to international standards like EN 13432, ASTM D6400, AS 4736, GBT 41010
Performance Polymers
ecovio® for flexible packaging
Certified home compostable ecovio® for flexible barrier packaging
BASF’s new portfolio of certified home compostable ecovio® (acc. to NF T51-800) meets the increasing sustainability needs of flexible barrier packaging: more end-of-life options, less plastic contamination in compost. It enables manufacturers of flexible packaging and brand owners to tailor barrier performance and end-of-life according to:
- Application: packaging for food and beverage (F&B) and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), with high oxygen and moisture barrier
- Substrate: ecovio® can be combined with fiber like paper, board, molded fiber or with biopolymers
- Processability: extrusion coating, blown film, cast film, sheet extrusion, and machine direction orientation (MDO), biaxial orientation (BO) lines used for PE, PP, PE
- Regulatory framework: organics or paper recycling
- Certification: certified industrial (EN 13432) and home compostable (NF T51-800), global food contact approvals
The certified industrial and home compostable ecovio® grades can be combined with each other to manufacture barrier structures based on paper or plastic via extrusion coating or film lamination as well as ultra-thin biaxially stretched films, enabling the whole packaging to be as high-performing as established packaging solutions based on polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The food-contact approved portfolio is suitable for a wide range of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) packaging of different foodstuffs and other ingredients.
» High-barrier flexible packaging with ecovio® – always the right fit for your packaging needs!
Benefits, applications and end-of-life of ecovio® for flexible barrier packaging – what are you interested in?
What are the benefits of certified home compostable ecovio® for flexible barrier packaging?
Depending on the substrate and packaging design, certified compostable ecovio® supports different end-of-life options, enabling the whole packaging item to be sustainable:
Paper- and board-based packaging: can be recycled via paper recycling with high fiber recovery OR it can be organically recycled (home or industrial composting) when the packaging is soiled with food residues (depending on available recycling methods in your community or country).
Packaging made of ecovio® can be organically recycled in industrial or home composting without contributing to plastic contamination in compost.
Depending on the grade, ecovio® is available with bio-based content of up to 80%.
Based on renewable resources: ecovio® is also available as 100% certified biomass-balanced - an easy drop-in solution with identical material properties, performance, machine processability, same biodegradation certificates, thus reducing the use of fossil feedstocks and lowering the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) of flexible packaging items when compared to the use of the respective standard ecovio® grade
» ecovio® supports organics recycling of food residues and food-soiled flexible packaging which increases the diversion of food waste from landfill and incineration avoiding associated greenhouse gas emissions.
Based on its extensive biodegradation know-how, BASF applies state-of-the art analysis tools to prove that certified home compostable ecovio® creates no plastic contamination when composted.
Read the technical article here
Read the technical article here
Do you need more information on paper as one part of the solution to flexible packaging waste?
Which are the properties of ecovio® for flexible barrier packaging?
» Ready-to-use for different packaging needs!
Barriers: What does the ecovio® toolbox offer?
The ecovio® toolbox comprises ready-to-use solutions for different flexible packaging processing technologies, offering adjustable barriers (also acting as sealant layer) and biaxially stretched films.
Excellent barrier properties against:
- Grease, oil and waxes with e.g., KIT values >12 acc. to TAPPI T559
- Liquids, even at high temperatures and boiling water
- Oxygen and moisture for highly sensitive foods and FMCGs
- Acidic fillings: preserving package integrity and enabling shelf life equivalent to conventional packaging
You have the choice: High oxygen/moisture barrier combined with certified home compostability (NF T51-800)
Via extrusion coating
Via extrusion lamination*
Via Adhesive lamination*
*Also possible on film substrates, with thin ecovio®-based high-barrier film.
Ultra-thin biaxally stretched films:
- New home compostable ecovio® 70 TS2206
- Excellent mechanical and optical properties (haze down to ~3)
- Enables very good adhesion of barrier coatings
- Thickness of only a few µm is possible
What kinds of applications can be manufactured with certified home compostable ecovio® for flexible barrier packaging?
Based on the excellent technical performance of ecovio® many flexible packaging applications are possible:
- Pouches and sachets in different sizes
- Trays and boxes
- For hot, cold, dry, solid, liquid or fatty foods
- From coffee, salty snacks, cereals, chocolate bars via ice cream, sauces, ketchup and mayonnaise to meat, fish and cheese as well as shampoo and body lotions.
The ecovio® grades can be used to create barriers for a wide range of FMCG packaging of different foodstuffs and other ingredients:
- Food and beverages
- Personal care
- Healthcare articles
- Pet food
» Flex your packaging design: mix, match, and choose the right barrier with ecovio®.
Portfolio overview: what different ecovio® grades can be used for flexible barrier packaging?
You think you have to decide between plastic and paper when it comes to flexible barrier packaging? With different ecovio® grades for established processing technologies and barrier needs, you can use both!
Grades for extrusion coating
| Properties | ecovio® 50 P1606 | ||
Standard grade | High-performance grade | High-performance grade HC | |
| Industrial compostable (IC)* | IC (up to ~250 µm) | IC (up to ~600 µm) | IC (up to ~400 µm) |
| Home compostable (HC)* | – | – | HC (up to 60 µm) |
| Renewable resources content | 55 % | 75 % | up to 100 %** |
| Adhesion to paper/board*** | medium-high | high | high |
| Processing performance | No difference between grades | ||
| Coating weight range | Comparable to PE | ||
| Barrier properties**** | No difference betweeen grades | ||
* TÜV Austria certification
** bio-based content combined with certified biomass balance approach (acc. to ISCC Plus and RedCert2)
** bio-based content combined with certified biomass balance approach (acc. to ISCC Plus and RedCert2)
*** is contingent upon the fiber substrate and equipment
**** includes liquid, grease, OTR, and WVTR
Grades for lamination
- ecovio® 40 FS22M1
- ecovio® 70 TS2206
» More flexibility. More end-of-life options. One ecovio® toolbox for high-barrier packaging.
What are the processing advantages of ecovio® grades for flexible barrier packaging?
ecovio® offers versatile processing, possible on existing manufacturing equipment, on paper or plastic, all in mono- or multi-layer for established processing methods:
- Extrusion coating, films or sheets
- Lamination via extrusion, adhesives or heat
Overview: processing technologies with ecovio® for flexible barrier packaging
News
How can you design a flexible packaging item as one home compostable solution?
One-stop shop: BASF’s ecovio® can also be used to manufacture flexible packaging items including certified compostable reclosable zippers, degassing valves – please contact us! And if you need certified compostable and/or paper-coated coffee capsules for packaging your coffee, please visit our website on
ecovio® for rigid packaging
How to keep pace with evolving recycling legislation on flexible packaging in different countries?
With its expertise in advocacy and market development, BASF can support you in keeping pace with regulations like the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). With BASF’s certified compostable biopolymer ecovio® you can take the next step towards high-performing solutions in your flexible packaging portfolio and reach your company’s sustainability targets at the same time!
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