Naturally - Our sustainable film packaging

When using film packaging, it is important to harmonise the intended use with the sustainability of the film material. There are many points regarding the pros and cons of the individual possible film types. We are the ones who critically examine every film - including the current alternatives. In the case of films, a general distinction must be made between

  • Recyclability
  • recovery from renewable raw materials
  • biodegradability
  • home compostability

It should be borne in mind that a film made from renewable raw materials is not generally biodegradable. And - the other way round - a biodegradable film does not have to consist purely of renewable raw materials. We offer some options here:
Film types (for more details please click on the films)

  • Bio-PLA: from renewable raw materials, biodegradable, recyclable
  • Green PE: from renewable raw materials, recyclable, not biodegradable
  • LDPE regranulate: from LDPE waste, recyclable, not biodegradable
  • Polyethylene and polypropylene films in 1A fresh quality, recyclable, not biodegradable
  • Home compostable films: are still in the development phase.

It may sound provocative to some, but we also call our polyethylene (LDPE/MDPE/HDPE) and polypropylene (OPP/CPP) films sustainable. They are 100% recyclable and thus fulfil the highest objective of the German Packaging Act in force since 01.01.2019. Yes, these films are made from fossil raw materials - but the CO2 balance of the films is very favourably influenced by recycling. In addition, films can be recycled umpteen times - in contrast to paper, where the limit of non-recyclability is reached quite quickly. In comparison to renewable raw materials, agricultural land is not used for films but for food.

Compared to paper, glass and metal, the use of energy and increasingly precious drinking water (!) for the production and recycling of PE and PP films is relatively low. In addition to the discussion about the CO2 balance, the increasingly scarce drinking water must not be neglected. Paper production and paper recycling are very water-intensive. In addition, the conversion of wood into paper is very chemical-intensive.

Bio-PLA - naturally renewable from maize starch. Good transparency, crackling and biodegradable.

Crude oil as a base material for film packaging is becoming scarcer - corresponding alternatives are needed as substitutes. One aspect of sustainability is a good CO2 balance. Bio-PLA is obtained from starch (mostly maize starch). The CO2 absorbed by the plant during growth is released again in similar quantities during any final thermal use or industrial composting. With its properties, Bio-PLA is a special alternative to OPP (obtained from fossil raw materials) and cellophane (obtained from wood).

We purchase our Bio-PLA raw material from the European market leader.

Bio-PLA is available as: Flat bags with/without flap, blanks, funnel bags, without alternative with printing (seedling or Vincotte "OK biobased 4 Stars" logo)

Fields of application: e.g. as packaging for stationery products (greeting cards, writing paper, etc.), confectionery, bakery products, textiles, potted plants and cut flowers, fruit and vegetables.

Suitable for direct food contact - yes

Recyclability - yes

Biodegradability - yes, according to DIN EN 13432 under industrial composting conditions.

Properties: Good transparency, non-extensible, somewhat brittle, very stable side seams, printable. Bio-PLA offers a good barrier effect against fats/oils/mineral oils. Due to its low gas and oxygen permeability, Bio-PLA also has a good aroma barrier. The water vapour permeability is high.

Green-PE ("I'm Green") - naturally renewable from sugar cane. Transparent, elastic and recyclable.

Crude oil as a base material for film packaging is becoming scarcer - corresponding alternatives are needed as substitutes. Another aspect of sustainability is a good CO2 balance.
Green PE is the petroleum-free version of polyethylene. The ethylene for this is obtained from sugar cane. Green PE can be recycled just as well as the well-known petroleum-based polyethylene film - this has a particularly positive effect on the CO2 balance of this film.
The CO2 absorbed by the plant during growth is released again in similar quantities during any final thermal use. With its properties, Green-PE is a special alternative to LDPE and CPP (obtained from fossil raw materials). We obtain the Green-PE raw material from the world market leader.

Green-PE is available as: Flat bags with/without flap, bottom fold bags, header bags, blanks, funnel bags, all versions without alternative with printing.

Fields of application: wherever classic LDPE is normally used - e.g. bags for magazines, mailings, stationery, clothing, textiles, tools, etc.

Suitable for direct food contact - yes

Recyclability - yes

Biodegradability - no

Properties: transparent (slightly cloudier than classic LDPE), elastic, very stable side seams, printable.

LDPE regranulate - made from LDPE waste. Transparent, stretchable and recyclable.

A means of saving raw materials and improving the CO2 balance is the recycling of films - here in the case of LDPE. LDPE film waste is reprocessed, regranulated and processed into new films. In order to ensure a uniformly good and clean quality, we only use high-quality regranulates for our films.

LDPE regranulate is available as: Flat bags with/without flap, bottom fold bags, header bags, blanks, funnel bags, all versions without, alternatively with printing.

Fields of application: wherever fresh LDPE is used - e.g. bags for magazines, mailings, stationery, clothing, textiles, tools etc.
Bags made of LDPE regranulate are not suitable for food packaging.

Suitable for direct food contact - no

Recyclability - yes - just as good as fresh LDPE for recycling

Biodegradability - no

Properties: : comparable properties to fresh LDPE, transparent (slightly cloudier than fresh LDPE), elastic, very stable side seams, printable.

Polyethylene (PE) - stretchable and recyclable.

Polyethylene is the classic raw material among film packaging. In the sum of its properties, this film is used as an all-round film for many different products.

Create cycles! Taking into account existing take-back systems with appropriate raw material recycling (such as the dual system in Germany), polyethylene film packaging is much better than its general current reputation in the media. The film can be recycled countless times, which has a very positive effect on the CO2 balance of this film and meets the objectives of the current packaging law.

Polyethylene is available as: LDPE, MDPE and HDPE. Soft LDPE is usually used for film packaging. In addition to colourless transparent, the films can also be supplied in a coloured version.

Film packaging made of polyethylene is also available from us as: Flat bags with/without flap, gusseted bottom bags, inverted flap bags, header bags, blanks, funnel bags, carrier bags.
all versions without alternative with printing.

Fields of application: widely used - e.g. bags for magazines, mailings, stationery, clothing, textiles, tools, etc.

Suitable for direct food contact - yes

Recyclability - yes

Biodegradability - no

Properties (LDPE): transparent, elastic, very stable side seams, printable.

Polypropylene (PP) - transparent and recyclable.

Polypropylene (PP) is available as:

OPP plain and OPP coex.

Fields of application: Bags for paper products, greeting cards, textiles, time steps etc. .

Suitable for direct food contact - yes

Recyclability - yes

Biodegradability - no

Properties: highly transparent (crystal clear), non-stretch, crackling, printable.

Polypropylene (PP) is also available as:

CPP (= PP Cast).

Fields of application: Bags for textiles, time steps, stationery products etc. .

Suitable for direct food contact - yes

Recyclability - yes

Biodegradability - no

Properties: beautiful transparent, stretchable, printable.

Create cycles! Taking into account existing take-back systems with corresponding raw material recycling (such as the dual system in Germany), polypropylene films are considerably better than your general current reputation in the media. PP can be recycled many times over, which has a very positive effect on the CO2 balance and meets the objectives of the current German Packaging Act.

Polypropylene packaging is available as: Flat bags with/without flap, gusseted bottom bags, inverted flap bags, header bags, blanks, funnel bags, etc.
All versions without, alternatively with printing.