Mespack and Amcor Collaborate to Develop 2L Stand-Up Pouch

Mespack and Amcor have successfully developed a recycle-ready 2L stand-up pouch, specifically designed for home care products like soaps, cleaners, and laundry detergent. The partnership combines Mespack’s packaging machinery and Amcor’s packaging materials to overcome the technical challenges associated with scaling up to larger flexible packaging formats using recycle-ready materials.

Following a successful set of trials, the new sturdy and drop-resistant 2L stand-up pouch is now available for the Home Care market.

Cutting-edge technology for more sustainable solutions 

Until now, the largest formats for pouches using more sustainable materials were limited to volumes between 1 and 1.5 liters. Extending capacity to 2 liters was important for consumers but presented a new set of challenges. Durability was a key concern for the Home Care industry, particularly in ensuring drop resistance and leak prevention.

Amcor and Mespack R&D teams collaborated to make iterative adjustments to machine parameters and film structures and produce a new 2L pouch that meets performance expectations in terms of sustainability, durability, and functionality.

Trials were conducted on Mespack’s highly versatile and state-of-the-art H570 machine, specifically designed to accommodate more sustainable materials. Using a newly developed metal alloy and precise temperature control, the H570 ensures the exact temperature required for sealing recyclable materials, which is crucial for larger format pouches. The H570 also produces leak-proof packaging in several ways, including precise adjustments to ensure perfect seals across all jaws and spout preheating technology which ensures the quality and integrity of the spout seal.

The new 2L pouches are made using Amcor’s AmPrima^® recycle-ready solutions — providing a more sustainable packaging option that offers quality, durability, performance and speed on brands’ filling machines. AmPrima also meets the European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) requirements for recycling design, and can optionally include post-consumer recycled (PCR) content.

Guillem Lloret, Innovation Director at Mespack says: “This achievement marks a significant milestone not just for Mespack and Amcor, but for the entire flexible packaging industry. By pushing the boundaries of what is possible with more sustainable materials, we are moving closer to a more eco-friendly future. The successful validation of the 2L pouch is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation. We look forward to seeing this packaging solution adopted across the Home Care industry and beyond.”

Geoffrey Gendebien, Marketing Manager for Home and Personal Care at Amcor says: “As consumers and regulators ask for more environmentally-friendly products, we continue to drive innovation in everything we do. The recycle-ready 2L spouted stand-up pouch is a great example of where collaboration, technology, and material development has created a new packaging option that was previously not possible.

“Flexible spouted pouches use less plastic than containers and bottles. They also enable consumers to refill the bottles they already have over and over again, resulting in a lower packaging carbon footprint. Refill pouches can also appeal to cost-conscious consumers looking to offset inflation. The significance of this packaging innovation for home Care brands and their customers is brilliant to see.”

Berry Global Brings Circular Packaging Solutions to Homecare Market

Berry Global recently extended its B Circular Range of standard packaging solutions designed for circularity, with the introduction of a wide selection of products for the household and homecare market. The move provides a cost-effective solution for brands and retailers in the sector seeking to further enhance their sustainable packaging offering.

A total of 35 items are available covering triggers, screw, child-resistant and flip-top closures, and jars, along with specialty products such as screw-on nozzles and brush applicators. They can now be produced with post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic in amounts ranging from 30% to 100%, while many have been designed for improved recyclability, for example by developing all plastic trigger sprays which contains no metal parts.

Certain packs within the range that are manufactured with polypropylene can also be specified with Berry’s proprietary CleanStream^® domestically recovered, mechanically recycled plastic, which is suitable for contact-sensitive applications.

In addition, the expansion of the B Circular Range into household and homecare, alongside the existing products already available for personal care applications, opens up opportunities for brands operating across both markets.

“A Euromonitor report last year highlighted that 71% of brands intended to use ‘sustainable packaging’ claims in their new products launches, and this is a trend that we believe will continue throughout 2025 and beyond,” said Sarah De La Mare, Product Line Director – Closures & Triggers, Berry Global CPI. “Our B Circular packaging solutions help brands to deliver the more sustainable packaging now being demanded by the majority of consumers without compromising on performance, aesthetics, or functionality.”

The B Circular Range combines Berry’s design and engineering skills with the company’s global scale, which gives it access to regular and reliable supplies of high-quality circular resins. All products are designed in line with two key rules of the circular economy – design out waste and pollution and keep product and materials in use. As well as the use of PCR and improved recyclability design, which is in line with RecyClass and Association of Plastic Recyclers guidelines, this also includes the development of reusable and refillable packs; lightweighting technologies; and the use of renewable resources, such as forestry residue and used cooking oils, to replace fossil fuel feedstocks.

“With the extension of the range, we are helping more companies, both large and small, achieve their sustainability commitments and bring solutions that contribute towards a circular economy faster to market,” concluded Sarah De La Mare.

Innovia Films Launches Shrink Sleeve Made from Recyclable Polyolefin Material

Innovia Films, a material science pioneer and major producer of BOPP films, has announced the wider launch of the next generation shrink sleeve made out of recycling-friendly polyolefin (PO) material, which is suitable for household packaging applications.

High-shrink version allows the transition from unsustainable sleeves

“The improvement of this high-shrink version of our RayoFloat™ shrink sleeve enables our customers to switch from PVC or PET-G shrink sleeve that are detrimental to recycling, to a recycling-proof and more sustainable option made from polyolefin. This material is certified by recyclers and has been endorsed by RecyClass in Europe and APR in the United States,” says Lucija Kralj, Business Unit Director Labels EMEA.

“Polyolefin material was traditionally thought to have lower shrinkage compared to other materials. However, with up to 73% controlled TD shrinkage, the new generation sleeves are now compatible with most packaging formats, particularly bottles, in the market. The shrink sleeves feature a high-gloss finish, excellent clarity, scuff resistance and are compatible with both steam and hot air shrink tunnels, says Jonathan Hewitt, Global Strategic Innovation Projects Manager.

The sleeve is also available in a low-density white version. RayoFloat™ WAPO is an opaque film that contributes to the light blocking properties of the shrink sleeves that later can be applied to containers for light sensitive products. This was developed for light-sensitive products such as dairy, supplements or vitamins. Enabling brands to switch from a white HDPE bottle or opaque PET bottle that are generally not recycled back into food grade packaging to a transparent PET bottle that is widely food grade recycled. The light blocking barrier is moved to the printed sleeve itself.

How does the sleeve perform in recycling?

The sleeve is crafted from a low-density polyolefin material that floats, facilitating the essential sink/float separation process in PET recycling. During this process, the heavier PET flakes sink to the bottom of the container, while the floatable sleeve material rises to the top, where it can be easily collected and removed. This efficient separation results in high-quality, clean PET flakes suitable for recycling back into food grade packaging for the dairy and other industries.