Unilever opts for Toppan’s mono-material flexible packaging

With the problem of plastic waste receiving significant attention, demand for more eco-friendly packaging continues to increase, and companies worldwide are taking various measures focused on targets for better circulation of plastic resources used for packaging and containers. 

Unilever has announced global commitments for a waste-free world, aiming to halve its use of virgin plastic, help collect and process more plastic than it sells, and ensure that 100 percent of plastic packaging is designed to be fully reusable, recyclable, or compostable. 

Toppan’s recently launched Sustainable-Value Packaging as part of the Topnna S-Value Packaging brand targets added value for society and includes more readily recyclable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) mono-material flexible packaging for individual packages. The company teamed up with Unilever Japan to switch to a mono-material composition for individual packages for liquid toiletry products.

Conventional individual packages combine a PET substrate with materials such as aluminum and polyethylene. Toppan’s mono-material packaging uses a PET-based grade of GL transparent barrier combined with PET sealant. The manufacturing method and material composition ensure oxygen and water vapor barrier performance, provide low adsorption to prevent loss of aroma and quality, and avoid product weight reduction during storage over long periods. According to Toppan, the use of a single material improves recyclability, and the absence of aluminum film enables a reduction of roughly 25 percent in CO2 emissions during packaging manufacture.

‘We’re delighted that Unilever Japan has chosen Toppan’s mono-material flexible packaging for these new products,’ commented Yoshimitsu Anamizu, managing executive officer of Toppan’s living and industry division. ‘We continue to work on developing more readily recyclable and eco-friendly solutions for diverse packaging contents and aim to contribute to the growth of our customers’ businesses and a sustainable society by expanding the S-Value packaging range.’