Smurfit Kappa is set to release Vitop Renew, a new version of its bag-in-box Vitop tap solution, which it says is made from bio-based PP resins using chemical recycling, and composed of 53% recycled and renewable content.
According to the company, Vitop Renew uses an approach already taken with the bag inside the box, which is reportedly manufactured of E-recycled film EVOH and contains raw materials produced by plastic chemical recycling.
During the production process, Smurfit Kappa says that difficult-to-recycle materials are treated by pyrolysis. While the resins from pyrolysis apparently have identical properties to virgin polymers, meaning they can be used for applications such as direct food contact packaging, the company adds that it does not intend for chemical recycling to replace mechanical recycling.
Thierry Minaud, CEO Smurfit Kappa Bag-in-Box, comments: “Such recycled resins are still only available in very limited capacities, their production requires innovative approaches, big investments and strong market demand.
“Bag-in-Box already consists of 75% recyclable, renewable and biodegradable materials due to the paper-based box element of the design”.
Pascal Reina, R&D Director, Smurfit Kappa Bag-in-Box, adds: “Bag-in-Box is proven to be the most resource efficient packaging for liquids, with an unbeaten product to packaging ratio.
“These bio-based or chemically recycled products are certified through the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification Plus (ISCC PLUS) scheme, by using the mass balance approach, they can be used as traditional polymer products.”
Earlier this year, Smurfit Kappa expanded its Bag-in-Box range with the new E-Compact 60, which has a thinner, 60-micron EVOH film and apparently enables a 16% bag weight reduction. The company’s three-litre Bag-in-Box packaging design was also the first of its kind to be awarded Amazon’s ‘Frustration-Free Packaging’ (FFP) certification
