5 Sustainable BOPP Packaging Trends for 2020

This year’s trend in the packaging industry revolved around circular economy and will only continue to dominate the 2020 market as more and more businesses look for sustainable and more environmentally friendly options for packaging.BOPP film manufacturers of BOPP laminated bags are leading the way when it comes to producing packaging solutions that meet the needs of the market and its demands for sustainability and cost-efficiency.

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‘Reduce, reuse, and recycle’ remains the mantra of the packaging industry. Below are only some of the most sustainable packaging solutions that support this concept:

1. Packaging solutions designed for recycling
   In today’s race for sustainability, more recycling pretty much equates to greater development. In order for packaging to be recycled, it has to meet a list of requirements that include separability, labeling and coloration, and cleanliness. BOPP film manufacturers are endeavoring to fulfill these requirements with their new packaging designs, ensuring products that are made for recycling.
2. Packaging solutions designed for reuse
   Although more challenging to envision and actually fulfill than recyclable packaging,reusable packaging is also becoming more visible in the market, changing the way that packaging is handled—from being torn open and then thrown away to be able to withstand sterilization, washing, and eventual reuse.
3. The bioplastic movement
   Another trend on the rise when it comes to packaging is the use of more bioplastics as an alternative to fossil-fuel-based materials. Bioplastics, although commonly equated with compostable and biodegradable materials, are not necessarily biodegradable and compostable. They are instead helpful in reducing production’s carbon footprint, which can likewise have significant effects on sustainability.
4. Reduced packaging
   Reducing packaging to bare essentials is also a solution that many manufacturers and business owners are looking into to ensure greater sustainability. This is especially true when handling bulk food items and other products that don’t require excessive packing material. This said it is crucial to choosepackaging methods that safeguard product quality and safety above all.
5. The consumer factor
   Communicating with consumers on how to best use and reuse packaging is also crucial when it comes to increasing the sustainability of packaging materials. When consumers are educated on how to use, dispose of, and/or recycle packaging, your efforts to provide sustainable packaging solutions will truly pay off.

At Cady Bag, you will find packaging solutions that are sustainable and cost-efficient. The company specializes in a wide range of polypropylene plastic products, including BOPP laminated bags and leno packaging, as well as coated fabrics and building products. They have a global sales network that serves consumer packaging needs on many levels.

When choosing the best packaging for your product, there are many factors to consider. You want to make sure your product will be kept fresh, and your label can be clearly printed on the packaging. You also want to lessen your carbon footprint whenever possible. BOPP Bags (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene Bags) from Western Packaging are useful for many types of industrial and agricultural product packaging. In addition to BOPP recycling being easy, these bags are cost-effective and also weigh less than other packaging alternatives.

What are BOPP Bags?

Biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) is a stretched polypropylene film that is applied as an additional layer to a woven polypropylene bag. Polypropylene or polypropene is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer that has high impact resistance. BOPP is a durable material that is used to package products such as:

Fertilizers

Grass seed

Rock salt

Pesticides

Rice

Minerals

Concrete mix

Sand

Bird seed

Pet food

Deer corn

Other animal food products. 

BOPP is trusted for packaging heavy items because it does not tear easily and is waterproof. BOPP packaging is strong and durable. It is manufactured by weaving and then laminated using organic materials. Its strength is due to the use of high-quality materials in its manufacture.

The film on BOPP packaging allows for clear and customized printing to be applied to both sides of the bag and on the gussets. These woven bags hold up to the wear and tear of loading and transport. The strength of BOPP bags keeps your product safe from contaminants, microbes, and airborne pollution. You don’t have to worry about anything getting in or out of your BOPP bag once it is sealed.

The Differences Between BOPP, OPP, and PP 

OPP and PP bags are also used for packaging and are often confused with BOPP. All three have the basic polymer, polypropylene, in common but they are manufactured differently. BOPP, Polypropylene (PP), and Oriented Polypropylene (OPP) each have different characteristics and uses. 

The Benefits of Using BOPP Bags

There are many benefits to choosing BOPP bags over other options. They keep your product fresher for longer and will not break during the shipping and handling process. The crystal-clear coating means that you can see your product and verify its freshness. Other BOPP uses that make it a good choice for your business are:

Durability

Water-Resistance

Compatibility with automated bagging systems

Easily customizable

UV light resistance

Recyclable

Is BOPP Plastic Recyclable?

Many people ask, “Is polypropylene eco-friendly?” BOPP plastic bags are environmentally friendly even though they are not biodegradable. It is able to be reused and recycled. It can actually be recycled many times over while still maintaining its value. Eliminating waste and recycling boosts revenue and decreases your company’s carbon footprint. This is why biaxially oriented polypropylene recycling is a huge benefit to using BOPP plastic bags.

The Environmental Working Group rates polypropylene as a low to moderate hazard. The dope-dyed method of printing bags does not require water and thus requires no wastewater disposal. This is a cost saver for your business and better for the environment. 

BOPP Plastic is Cost-Effective

BOPP woven sacks are easy to obtain at a relatively low cost. Their integrity and strength keep your product safe and reduces loss due to seepage. Your product will have a longer shelf life as BOPP bags keep moisture out as well as protects from sun damage. BOPP plastics weigh less than paper bags as they use few layers. Weighing less means more affordable shipping costs. using fewer layers than paper bags, BOPP options weigh less which saves on weight and shipping costs. 

Contact Us Today

Contact us at Western Packaging to inquire about a custom BOPP bag order for your business. 

Our team’s extensive experience with agricultural plastics and machinery allows us to deliver high-quality shipping and packaging supplies. Our products include FIBC bulk livestock feed bags, BOPP bags, woven poly bags, stretch film, hay sleeves, and more. Western Packaging is committed to providing the best solutions whether you need grain bags or wholesale bulk bags.

BOPP film shredding and recycling

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Economic and sustainable: BOPP recycling

Robust plastic shredders from WEIMA are versatile and flexible. Thanks to individual components that can be adapted to every application, such as the rotor, its cutting knives, the drive, the material feed as well as the material discharge, you always achieve the optimal shredding result.

BOPP waste can be fed directly in any form. Manual material preparation or pre-cutting is not necessary. The machine can be loaded by forklift, wheel loader, manually by hand or conveniently and automatically via a conveyor belt.

BOPP Film for Food and Tobacco Packaging and Labels

Recyclability  

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Polypropylene can be readily recycled.  It can be sorted and mixed with the existing PP recycle stream.  It is more resistant to degradation during mechanical recycling compared with other polymers e.g. PE, which gives much greater potential for future high value products.   Most plastic packaging is technically readily recyclable, but there are still large quantities of mixed plastic packaging which is problematic if the industry is to avoid down cycling. A key requirement is therefore the use of mono-materials. A perfect example of this is in wet petfood pouches where complex laminates of PET/Foil/CPP are used. An all-polypropylene version of this structure is now possible.   

Certified Recyclable

Working with Interseroh, an Independent German recycling and consulting company, we have confirmed the recyclability of all our uncoated, acrylic coated, Strata and Encore range of BOPP films.  All have achieved the ‘Made for recycling’ certification.  

This certification provides us with independent validation that our polypropylene films are fully recyclable and can be classified as ‘recycle ready’, or recyclable in countries which have the infrastructure to recycle polypropylene.

Interseroh analyse and evaluate the packaging based on sound criteria along the entire after-life processes (collection, sorting, recycling and processing).  The result of this analysis is a scale which determines whether the packaging is non-recyclable through to very good.

Collection  

Of course, the first stage of recycling is collection where many polymeric packs, e.g. flexibles, have been left behind in favour of more easily collected materials such as PET bottles.  

However, attitudes to the collection of valuable flexible films are changing.  In June 2021 OPRL (on-pack recycling label, a not-for-profit company) announced that from January 2022 PP films will join PE film in bearing the ‘Recycle with bags at large supermarkets’ label.    

The OPRL label scheme is recognised by the UN Environment Programme as international best practice, because it delivers a simple, consistent, and UK-wide reuse and recycling messages on consumer packaging.  OPRL members come from all parts of the packaging supply chain, from design to manufacture to brand/retailer.  

In store collection points are growing as more UK major retailers such as Tesco, Sainsburys, Coop and other supermarkets join the scheme.  

The flexible plastic fund is incentivising flexible plastic recycling as quickly as possible.  

Chemical and Mechanical Recycling  

Chemical recycling of polypropylene is a rapidly developing technology which reduces the use of fossil raw materials and is food contact compliant, while maintaining all the properties of fossil-based films. However, from a Global Warming Potential perspective, it does not have as good a carbon footprint as mechanical recycled polypropylene.  

The need to include recycled content into BOPP products is a serious challenge as food compliant mechanical recyclate is not currently available and PP cannot be classed as a functional barrier to many of the current contaminants present in recycled PP, i.e., even putting the post-consumer recyclate (PCR) into a buried layer in the film will not make it food compliant.  

Chemical recycling unfortunately is not the answer to all the problems. There is a very limited amount of material available, although this is growing, and is currently expensive. This will improve with increased competition and economies of scale.   The holy grail for the industry is to get a more cost effective, food compliant route from mechanical recycling which will have a significantly reduced carbon footprint than that of a chemical recycled polypropylene.  

Innovia has product options for BOPP flexible films with both chemically recycled or mechanically recycled polymers under the Encore range.

Designing for Recyclability  

All aspects of pack design need to be considered carefully to enhance recyclability.  

In the USA the Association of Plastics Recyclers (APR) have produced a design guide for plastics recyclability.  This is to help package designers measure each aspect of a package design against industry-accepted criteria to ensure it is truly recycling compatible including labels. The guide highlights the benefits of using compatible materials and adhesives to improve recyclability.  

Polypropylene (PP) labels on polyester (PET) containers and bottles with wash off adhesives has been identified as their preferred option, whilst paper labels have been identified as detrimental/problematic.    PP has a density that is less than water which enables PP pressure sensitive labels to float in float/sink reprocessing, a system that is fundamental to recyclers.  Innovia Films is the market leader for PP pressure sensitive facestock films with a wide range of products.    

Our Product Managers, Global Sales and Technical Services Teams are very knowledgeable and can assist our customers to make the right choices to improve their pack formats to increase recyclability.

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