NextFlex
Recyclability, always improving product performances
We have developed NextFlex to find a suitable alternative to conventionally used material, in accordance with the EU Directive on the “European Strategy for Plastics in the Circular Economy”. Research and commitment have led us here with a new product line of sustainable and recyclable forming and non-forming (thermoformable) films and vacuum pouches.
A new product line that supports circular economy and meets the requirements of brand owners, packaging directives, resin producers, retailers and consumers.
Less weight – less waste
Compared to the standard vacuum bagging material on the market, which has a thickness of 90µ and is typically made up of five layers, NextFlex reduces the film thickness by 10µ (-11%) using a special 11 layer structure that achieves a final thickness of 80µ.
Due to the MonoPolyolefine structure of NextFlex (PP-EVOH-PE) and its performance raw materials, it reduces the density by 6% when compared to similar PA structure.
Increases barrier properties – preventing unnecessary food waste
Compared to conventional films, NextFlex shows better performance in food storage due to a higher gas and oxygen barrier. Polyethylene, known for its moisture barrier properties, compose both sealing layers resulting in a general improvement of water vapour transmission in the total absence of polyamide (hygroscopic).
In vacuum packaging, an increased oxygen barrier ensures better food preservation, reducing the growth of aerobic bacteria or fungi and preserving organoleptic properties. Also for MAP packaging, NextFlex films show far better performance for the preservation of the protective gas atmosphere.
Recyclable – suitable for circular economy
NextFlex approaches circular economy through a design studied to encourage recycling, using only compatible materials that can be recycled together.
Conventional films, based on polyamide and polyethylene, are incompatible for end-of-life co-transformation in a recycling plant, making the packaging recoverable only by incineration. Instead of polyamide NEXTFLEX uses polypropylene, obtaining a polyolefin structure that is as homogeneous as possible and perfectly suited to be co-transformed into the value streams of existing plastic recycling plants.
The O2 barrier, obtained before through a percentage of Polyamide (15 to 20%) with NextFlex films is achieved by adding a thin layer of co-processed ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH).
The value of the latter is less than <5% and, as a formal copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol composed mainly of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen, there is no way to interfere with PE streams of value/value flows.
