Constantia Flexibles has won the Green Packaging Star Award for its mono-material packaging solution EcoLamHighPlus. The packaging solution from the Viennese packaging manufacturer is recyclable and has a high oxygen and water vapor barrier that is even comparable to multi-material solutions.

When it comes to packaging, sustainability and product safety often do not go hand in hand. That is why Constantia Flexibles is continuously investing in the development of environmentally friendly, recyclable materials that also provide maximum protection for the packaged goods. Mono-material solutions are the perfect way to combine the two, as they are easy and cost-effective to recycle (circular economy) and can also provide a high barrier function when processed professionally. With EcoLamHighPlus, the packaging company has developed a mono-material laminate that is not only recyclable but also has a barrier function comparable to multi-material laminates. For this innovation, Constantia Flexibles received the Green Packaging Star Award yesterday at the award event.

The mono-material packaging has a particularly high barrier to oxygen and water vapor, close to that of a PE-PET-aluminum (triplex) composite. This makes it an ideal fit as a sustainable alternative for various applications such as packaging for wet wipes, nuts, baby food, fruit juices, and coffee. Constantia Flexibles chose PE as the laminate base because it can be recycled in a well-established recycling stream and there is already a market for recycled material (PCR). It therefore remains part of the circular economy. To demonstrate recyclability, the laminate was certified according to the RecyClass validation process.

Launched in 2008, the Green Packaging Star Award is presented annually by Kompack magazine and the Austrian Research Institute for Chemistry. It recognizes companies for their sustainable packaging solutions and improved packaging processes. The best environmentally friendly products, corporate philosophies and production processes in the packaging industry are honored in four categories. By winning the Green Packaging Star Award, Constantia Flexibles also qualified for the WorldStar Award, presented by the World Packaging Organization (WPO).

“Sustainability is the core value that guides us in everything we do. We realized very early on that in the long run, multi-material laminates would have to be replaced by mono-material laminates to facilitate a circular economy. With EcoLamHighPlus, we have succeeded in developing a mono-material solution that meets all our customers’ requirements,” says Pim Vervaat, CEO of Constantia Flexibles. “We are particularly proud to receive the Green Packaging Star Award for this innovative packaging solution. It is an important contribution to reducing the carbon footprint of everyday consumer purchases.”