UFlex has partnered with Mespack and Hoffer Plastics to develop a sustainable solution that will ease out the complexities of recycling attached with hot-fill pouches. To address the issue of full recyclability of pouches, the three companies have jointly developed a turnkey solution that not just enables 100 per cent recyclability of hot-fill pouches with its new mono-polymer structure but also the spout caps thus bringing many ecologically responsible brands closer to reaching their sustainability goals.

Commonly, hot-fill pouches are used to pack ready-to-eat food segment allowing sterile packaging of a range of fresh, cooked, or semi-cooked food, juices and drinks, and is used as an alternative to traditional industrial canning methods. The utility of hot-fill pouch has exceeded the expectations of consumers due to the functionality of easy storage and direct consumption of food content after heating it within the pack itself.

The newly designed recycle ready single material PP-based hot-fill pouch combines the strength of OPP & CPP layered laminate structure designed by UFlex offering enhanced barrier properties, easy heat seal-ability and longer shelf life for unrefrigerated food storage; Sealed with patented closures from Hoffer Plasticsin the form of tamper evident strong seal spout caps; and produced with mechanical integrity of Mespack HF-series fill and seal machine that allows efficient fill through the spout of pre-made pouches. The new design offers 100 per cent easy recyclability of the laminate and spout cap as well within existing PP recycling streams and infrastructures. These pouches, manufactured at UFlex India plant, will be exported to American markets and will be majorly used for packing edible products such as baby food, food puree, pet food etc.

Thanks to Mespack technology, the HF Series is completely developed and designed to work with recyclable materials, and due to the continuous through the spout filling, up to 15 per cent of the headspace is reduced by eliminating the wave effect.

“With our future-ready approach that focuses on circular driven packaging, we are trying to offer products that widen our sustainable footprint in the ecosystem," commented Luc Verhaak Vice President-Sales at UFlex Packaging.

“One of our Mespack promises is to focus on developing innovative equipment for sustainable packaging solutions to preserve the environment and reduce the carbon footprint”, states Guillem Clofent, Managing Director of Mespack.  “To do so, we follow three main strategies- Reduce usage of raw materials, replace them with more recyclable solutions, and adapt our technology to these new recyclable, biodegradable or compostable materials. ‘’

"Sustainability has always been a critical focus and driving force at Hoffer Plastics", said Alex Hoffer, Chief Revenue Officer at Hoffer Plastics Corporation. "Now more than ever, creating products that are fully recyclable and circularly designed from the onset are not just in demand, but will shape the future of our industry and the environment.’’