Winning with paper

As more and more consumers prefer eco-friendly packaging, Constantia Flexibles has risen to the challenge and pioneered a wide range of recyclable packaging solutions under the Ecolutions brand. EcoPaper is the latest Ecolutions innovation, transforming a dull relic of the past into a state-of-the-art solution for the future. Although we have significantly updated the look and feel for today’s consumers, consumers instantly recognize paper as a natural, sustainable material and have easy access to established recycling streams.

Consumers have made themselves clear. A 2018 study we conducted with marketagent found that 80% of consumers prefer more eco-friendly packaging, 54% take the packaging into account when selecting food products, and most are willing to pay a 15% premium for recyclable, compostable packaging. As the world’s third largest flexible packaging producer, we feel a strong sense of responsibility towards both the environment and consumers. We have made it our goal to drive change within our industry and champion more sustainable packaging solutions. As our world evolves, so too should our packaging. That’s why we’re so proud of our consumer-friendly EcoPaper – the latest in a long line of environmentally conscious solutions from Constantia Flexibles.

Back in November 2018, Constantia Flexibles launched a new range of eco-friendly packaging products under the Ecolutions brand. One of the main goals was to meet strict sustainability and recyclability standards, but we also wanted to reduce the carbon footprint and environmental impact of the packaging process as a whole. Products in this line include aluminum-based solutions like the EcoCover peelable lid and the EcoAluTainer containers. The monopolymer PE-based packaging in the EcoLam range was another key breakthrough, which is being produced at the new Ecoflex plant in India – our first site dedicated solely to fully recyclable packaging.

Multi-faceted, easily-recyclable packaging

The most recent addition to Ecolutions is a paper-based range of packaging called EcoPaper, which is suitable for food products with low to moderate barrier requirements and available for flowpacks, sachets, pouches, and doybags. The advantages for consumers, retailers, and manufacturers are obvious. At first glance, consumers intuitively recognize paper as a natural product with a low environmental impact. Both consumers and retailers have easy access to a well-established paper recycling system. And thanks to the strict certification standards of NGOs like the Forest Stewardship Council, our clients can rest assured that the wood fiber we use comes from sustainably managed forests.

Most importantly for our clients, this versatile material can be used on conventional flow wrappers and vertical baggers without sacrificing speed or efficiency. Existing packaging lines can be modified for EcoPaper with only minor adjustments, and special tools for this purpose are already being offered by many leading machine manufacturers. The paper is available with a smooth surface in a variety of finishes to enable excellent print quality of bright colors, half tones, bar codes, and text. However, some manufacturers may prefer to let the rough surface shine through and draw attention to their use of a natural, eco-friendly material.

Whatever the motivation, EcoPaper offers clear benefits for food and non-food products across a variety of industries in addition to its contribution to the circular economy. Get in touch with us to find out what it can do for you.