軟包装のモノマテリアルパッケージ

抄録

Mono-material flexible packaging is an eco-friendly form of packaging designed to be readily recycled. Guidelines regarding the recycling of PP or PE flexible packaging have been released by some consortiums, e.g., CEFLEX, APR, and RecyClass. In Japan, a law for recycling plastic materials has been enforced by the Ministry of Environment based on the cycle strategy of plastics, followed by the enactment of 3R+Renewable. Most plastic packaging is composed of multiple materials that require barriers and heat sealing. Although aluminum foils or gas barrier films are typically used in food packaging, each of their layers are difficult to separate, which hinders their individual recycling. A PP mono-material standing pouch with a zipper has been developed by DNP. The packaging, which incorporates more than 90% PP, satisfies the CEFLEX guidelines on material recycling. Conversion technology is used to prevent the barrier deterioration caused by mono materialization. When it is used for packaging black tea, it maintains the flavor of black tea leaves for a significant duration owing to the high gas barrier afforded, which is similar to that of aluminum foils. Hence, by replacing the conventional three-layer structure, which includes an aluminum foil and a two-layer structure, the packaging weight and CO₂ emission can be reduced by 13% and 33%, respectively.