Innovative stand-up pouch designed for recyclability successfully piloted for retail
HORGEN, Switzerland – A successful joint development between Dow, brand owner RB, and converter Drukpol.Flexo has led to the creation of a new resealable pouch designed for recyclability and end-of-life disposal into existing recycling streams. Using Dow’s polyethylene (PE) films, the stand-up pouch was designed for RB’s FINISH perfume-free dishwasher detergent line.“The innovative mono-material pouch is yet another example of the power of collaboration,” said Karin Katzer, marketing director End Use for Dow’s Packaging & Specialty Plastics business. “Through our Pack Studios network and design for recyclability solutions, we are helping brand owners move to a circular economy and deliver on their sustainability commitments.”
Dow, RB and Drukpol.Flexo worked together to overcome the challenge of creating a mono-material, PE-films based packaging that can be produced on existing equipment and enable extra functionalities like zippers, easy opening, and the right mix of stiffness and flexibility. The development team was able to address this challenge through Dow’s portfolio of innovative technologies including AFFINITY™, DOWLEX™ and AGILITY™.
“RB is committed to reducing, reusing and recycling materials in our packaging. We constantly search for solutions to address plastic waste and believe that plastic packaging designed for recyclability is the way forward,” said Krzysztof Krajewski, head of Packaging Innovation at RB. “With this innovative mono-material pouch, we are able to offer consumers easy to use packaging with enhanced features. Our new packaging is supported by existing recycling waste management systems and because the packing is lighter in weight, we are also able to reduce transportation costs and emissions.”
Drukpol.Flexo contributed to the innovation with their converting expertise, supporting RB with assistance required for their packaging lines. “We are excited about the outcome of this collaboration with Dow and RB and look forward to continue working together to help the industry close the loop on plastic packaging,” said Kamil Ziemak, vice president at Drukpol.Flexo. “The packaging is not only designed for recyclability, but also offers a high-quality customer experience with respect to performance like look, feel and ease-of-use.”
The new packaging was tested with the “0% perfume-free green line” of FINISH dishwasher detergent at German retailers and online through Amazon and received 4+ stars consumer feedback on product features and quality.
Explore this solution at K 2019
Dow will be showcasing this solution as part of their design for recyclability portfolio and a broad range of products enabling a transition to a circular economy on their stand (K48, Hall 8a) at K 2019, the world’s largest plastics and rubber trade fair from 16-23 October in Dusseldorf, Germany. We’ll be there to listen, learn, discuss and be inspired: www.dow.com/k2019
About Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics
Packaging and Specialty Plastics (P&SP), a business unit of Dow (NYSE: DOW), combines core strengths of R&D, worldwide reach, broad product lines and industry expertise to deliver high performing technologies for end use markets in food packaging, personal hygiene, infrastructure, consumer goods and transportation. P&SP is one of the world’s largest producers of polyethylene resins, functional polymers, and adhesives, and is a leading innovator and collaborator across the value chain on sustainable application development and circular economy life-cycle design for plastics. www.dow.com/packaging
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines one of the broadest technology sets in the industry with asset integration, focused innovation and global scale to achieve profitable growth and become the most innovative, customer centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company. Dow’s portfolio of performance materials, industrial intermediates and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of differentiated science-based products and solutions for our customers in high-growth segments, such as packaging, infrastructure and consumer care. Dow operates 113 manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employs approximately 37,000 people. Dow delivered pro forma sales of approximately $50 billion in 2018. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information, please visit www.dow.com or follow @DowNewsroom on Twitter.
For further information, please contact:
Uta Uenal
Dow
+41 44 728 3671
uuenal@dow.com
Sergio Di Gesù
Porter Novelli
+32 2 413 03 40
sergio.digesu@porternovelli.be
Image Source: Reckitt Benckiser