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ecovio® (PBAT,PLA)
ecovio® for flexible packaging

Performance Polymers

ecovio® for flexible packaging

Certified home compostable ecovio® for flexible barrier packaging

BASF’s new portfolio of certified home compostable ecovio® meets the increasing sustainability needs of flexible barrier packaging: more end-of-life options, no generation of persistent microplastics. 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 and home compostable, 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) while at the same time increasing sustainability and advancing a circular economy. 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!

What are the sustainability 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.
  • Packaging made of ecovio® can be organically recycled in industrial or home composting without generating persistent microplastics.
  • 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

» 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 persistent microplastics when composted

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

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
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More information
Click here and download data sheets, certificates, brochures, technical articles and more.
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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

ecovio® PS1606

ecovio® 70 PS14H6

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
**  Incorporates the biomass balance method for ecovio® 70PS14H6

*** 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

Metpack and BASF cooperate to demonstrate certified home-compostable, coated paper for food packaging
  1. Read more
Certified home-compostable ecovio® for extrusion coating on paper and board of food packaging
  1. Read more
BASF and BillerudKorsnäs cooperate to develop home-compostable paper laminate for flexible packaging
  1. Read more

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!
 

Contact us today!

Discover more!

Mix and match: certified home compostable ecovio® portfolio for flexible barrier packaging
  1. Download the flyer
New ecovio® portfolio for flexible packaging: multiple barrier options combined with organic or paper recycling
  1. Read the news release

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ecovio® is a versatile and high-performance biopolymer. Its particular advantage: It is certified compostable and partly bio-based.
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ecoflex® 
ecoflex® is the first certified biodegradable and compostable biopolymer on a fossil basis. It has been on the market for more than two decades.
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