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| Image: Etimex |
ArtaPlast AB is one of the leading manufacturers of packaging and medical technology in Northern Europe, specializing in the production of injection-molded plastic components. With a wide range of innovative solutions, the company has established a strong reputation, particularly among food and medical technology companies worldwide.
ArtaPlast has maintained a close partnership with ETIMEX for over 20 years, during which the company has been utilizing the PP film VISTALID® for its so-called 1-Seal® solution.
A simple and easy-to-handle packaging solution without additional sealing film
Given ArtaPlast’s strong focus on innovation and sustainability in its daily operations, an upgrade to a fully recyclable packaging solution was a logical step as early as the beginning of the 2000s. The Swedish-based company formulated the requirement to manufacture both the lids and cups of its packaging exclusively from polypropylene (PP) to enhance recyclability, while eliminating the need for an additional sealing film made of aluminum or plastic. The aim was to streamline the packaging process by eliminating the need for an additional sealing step. Seamless integration into existing filling lines was also to be ensured.
A fully recyclable packaging with perfect suitability for IML
In order to put the customer‘s requirements into practice, a film was needed that was both sealable and peelable while also being perfectly suited for in-mold labeling (IML).
The ETIMEX development team quickly identified VISTALID® as the optimal solution. The product was ultimately deployed in a white-opaque version with a thickness of 100 or 120 mµ.
The VISTALID® film is overmolded with polypropylene at ArtaPlast using injection molding. This makes the film suitable as part of a sturdy snap-on lid, for example, suitable for dairy products, pâtés, or spreads. The key innovation here is that the need for an additional aluminum sealing film was eliminated, as the reinforced VISTALID® film not only closes the packaging but also seals it.
This modification not only enhances the sustainability of the solution but also meets the requirements of the PPWR. The savings in procurement and storage processes that this solution brings are also significant. Another advantage of the new packaging solution is its heat resistance, enabling pasteurization in autoclaves, hot filling, and heating the final product in a microwave.
From the Scandinavian market to Central Europe with the new mono PP solution
With the mono-PP solution VISTALID® from ETIMEX, ArtaPlast now has a sustainable solution that is fully recyclable without any aluminum components. The mono-material packaging made of PP is highly suitable for circular recycling and can also be produced with up to 30% PCR material. As such, it already meets the expectations of the PPWR for 2030 today. Additionally, the new packaging is far more convenient for the end customer to handle. This applies both to opening and closing the packaging, as well as disposal - the 1-Seal® solution can simply be tossed into the recycling bin without having to remove an aluminum lid. These are extremely convincing arguments - also for ArtaPlast, which now wants to expand the product from Scandinavia to the German and Central European market.
