Mono-materials EU PPWR 2030
Table of Contents
Mono-materials - the future of packaging or a necessity imposed by the EU 2030?
Mono-materials in flexible packaging are no longer a “future concept.” For manufacturers of food, cosmetics, and chemicals, this topic is increasingly landing on the desks of purchasing departments — not for marketing reasons, but because of regulatory and operational requirements.
According to the draft EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), from 2030 all packaging placed on the market is expected to be recyclable. In practice, this means the need to switch to mono-materials or structures that are equivalent in terms of recyclability.
The key question is:
Can mono-materials be implemented without the risk of downtime and loss of packing quality?
What are mono-materials in flexible packaging?
Mono-materials are packaging solutions made from one type of raw material, most commonly:
PE – polyethylene
PP – polypropylene
Unlike traditional multi-material laminates, such as PET/ALU/PE, mono-material structures are designed to:
- be recyclable in existing recycling streams,
- meet PPWR requirements,
- maintain the functionality required in the food industry.
One thing is key: mono-material does not mean no barrier.
Properly designed structures can still provide protection against oxygen, moisture, and aroma loss.
Mono-materials and the reality of packing lines
From a production perspective, the biggest risk is not the material change itself, but failing to test it properly.
Poorly selected mono-materials may cause:
- problems with film handling,
- unstable seals,
differences in stiffness, - reduced line efficiency.
That is why the implementation of mono-materials must start with machine tests.
Where do mono-materials already work today?
Mono-materials for dry bulk products
Coffee, dried fruit, dietary supplements — mono-material barrier films with EVOH or barrier coatings can effectively replace aluminium laminates while maintaining:
- oxygen barrier,
- aroma protection,
- packing stability.
Mono-material doypacks
Doypack pouches made entirely from PE or PP:
- meet recycling requirements,
- maintain tightness,
- can be tested on existing packing lines.
Mono-films for collective packaging
In the cosmetics and chemical industries, mono-materials are already used today as collective packaging films with high-quality flexographic printing, without complicating the material structure.
Summary - mono-materials
Contact our technology team and send us your specification – we will prepare a recommendation for the material and process configuration.
Order mono-material samples for machine testing.
Check the possibility of implementing mono-materials.
