TekniPlex Consumer Products will exhibit a variety of solutions showcasing its commitment to sustainable packaging innovation at FachPack 2024 in Nuremberg, Germany. The company’s booth will showcase solutions from mono-material and lightweight liners to recyclable outer gaskets and PCR-derived dip tubes, among other solutions.
At FachPack, TekniPlex will debut the ePress Seal liner, a pressure-sensitive seal utilising expanded polyethylene (EPE). The ePress Seal is more flexible and resilient than polystyrene (PS) foam, offering greater resistance to compression and better maintaining its shape to provide longer lasting gasketing properties. Lightweight and easy to remove, the liners are suitable for dry foods, herbs and spices, and nutritional supplements.
ePress Seal is recyclable in regions where the polyethylene (PE) recycling stream is available, making it more widely recyclable than conventional PS. Notably, PS is singled out by the European Union’s SUP directive, with major member nations like France banning it from packaging as soon as 1 Jan 2025.
ePress Seal is the newest addition to TekniPlex’s ProTecSeals Recyclable Liners portfolio. Suitable for a wide range of bottles and jars, most ProTecSeals solutions are ideal for packaging products such as vitamins, supplements, protein powders, peanut butter and other non-reactive, non-acidic dry products.
Another liner solution on display is the Luxe Seal, an embossed liner that can feature brand owners’ logos, protects sensitive ingredients, and extend product lifespans toward the goal of reducing returns and waste. Another item, the Sniff Seal, combines fragrance diffusion and product protection with a permeable and protective layer that allows consumers to experience a product essence without compromising packaging integrity. The seal can remain intact throughout the supply chain and potential return processes, eliminating the need for product opening.
TekniPlex will also highlight its range of outer gaskets for water-sensitive aerosol products. Recyclable in regions where thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) recycling streams are available, the solutions represent a TPE alternative to traditional rubber outer gaskets. The gaskets offer increased water vapour resistance compared with standard nitrile constructions, providing reduced waste through strong product protection. Suitable for products in a wide array of markets, the gaskets assemble and adhere on mounting cups for simplified manufacturing.
Another solution will be dip tubes derived from post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials. An alternative to virgin plastic dip tubes, the PCR components are suitable for both pressurised and non-pressurised pump packaging. A means of improving sustainability without affecting product performance, the tubes are available in a low-density polyethylene (LDPE), a high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and a polypropylene (PP) versions.
“Our ‘Sustainability And’ philosophy helps us consider both product performance and eco-friendliness in the solutions we develop and bring to market,” said Aurélie Emond, VP of integrated performance solutions for TekniPlex Consumer Products. “For us, enhancing functionality is part and parcel of our sustainability approach, because to be truly sustainable a solution must be high-performing and accepted by brands and consumers. In addition to reducing environmental impact, meeting changing consumer demands, and complying with stricter regulations, elements like more recyclable materials, components derived from PCR, reduced product waste and lightweighting also can lead to cost savings, enhanced brand image, better conservation of resources, and a competitive edge for brands.”
