END-OF-LIFE CHALLENGES FOR FLEXIBLE PACKAGING: MULTILAYER FILMS, BARRIER STRUCTURES AND POUCHES

摘要

1. Flexible packaging, particularly multilayer barrier and pouchrnpackaging, has significant advantages and is expanding rapidlyrn2. It is ecologically advantageous due to low use of materials andrnenergy, low carbon footprint (GHG), and reduction in food wastern3. It is under attack by environmental groups because of difficulty ofrnmechanical recycling, so that it presently mostly ends up in landfillrn4. Industry is responding strongly to this with programs to educaternconsumers on sustainability advantages and to obviate landfillingrnby:rn4.1. Development of improved collection, marking and sorting methodsrn4.2 Development of economic new recycling and recovery methodsrnincluding delamination processes and conversion to energy, fuelrnand downstream chemicalsrn4.3 Development of new monolayer materials and package designsrn5. Implementation of these various potential routes will depend onrnlocal and national logistical, economic and political situations, notrnjust technological factors.