SIBUR and its partners have launched the industrial production of HAGL monomaterial film for sealing trays with ready—made food, a 100% recyclable domestic solution.
The ready—to-eat food market in Russia is growing rapidly, and with it the requirements for packaging, which must be not only aesthetic and safe, but also environmentally friendly. SIBUR's new solution has become the answer to this request: monomaterial HAGL film, developed at the "BIAXPLEN" site in the Nizhny Novgorod region.
The product is made of PP H031 polypropylene, the basis of almost all domestic BOPP films. The monopololefin structure gives the packaging lightness, strength and the necessary protective properties without additional lamination, which simplifies processing and reduces cost.
"The tray and film are a monopolymeric solution that allows packaging to be recycled without sorting," the developers emphasize.
Key advantages of the new product:
- Fully recyclable — the film consists of 100% monomaterial and can be disposed of together with a polypropylene tray;
- Antifog effect - prevents condensation on the inner surface, preserving the presentation of the product;
- Reliable sealing and easy opening;
- High transparency and compatibility with printing equipment for branding;
- Import substitution — the material is designed to replace double-layer PET/PE films and non-recyclable laminates.
It is estimated that up to 70% of all prepared food in Russia is sold in hermetically sealed polymer trays today. The new solution has already been tested at the production of the leading manufacturer of food packaging "Georg Polymer", and the interest in it is confirmed by the largest players in the ready-to-eat market.
""Ilya Tolstov, Head of the "Flexible Packaging Materials" department at Georg Polymer, confirms the quality and commercial benefits of the new product:
"About 30% of the company's sales are made up of ready-made food, and we are interested in ensuring that packaging helps preserve the properties and freshness of the product, as well as meets the aesthetic and social needs of the customer."
The development is directly related to the tightening of environmental regulation. In 2024, amendments to the law "On Production and Consumption Waste" came into force: manufacturers of containers are required to ensure their disposal, create recycling facilities or pay an increased environmental fee. By 2027, 100% of packaging should be recycled.
That is why manufacturers are increasingly switching to easily recyclable monomaterials.: This is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution dictated by the demands of multinational companies and large retailers. "Georg Polymer" is already planning to produce the first industrial batch of trays with the new HAGL film in the first half of 2025.
It is important that to switch to new packaging, manufacturers of ready-made food will not need to replace equipment: it is enough to set up existing packaging lines. "Georg Polymer", in turn, offers comprehensive solutions — from trays and films to semi-automatic and automatic sealing lines, fully compatible with the new material.
Source: "SIBUR to Clients" magazine
