Amcor designs alternative packaging for in-store recycling

A year after Amcor, Zurich, Switzerland, pledged its 2025 sustainability goals, the company has introduced its latest innovation, Genesis, an all-polyethylene (PE) laminate.

By applying an “innovative PE formulation,” the company says Genesis achieves new levels of clarity, gloss and stiffness that looks and feels like traditional polypropylene and polyester laminates, while delivering, for the first time, an in-store recyclable alternative for brand owners and retailers.

“Consumer goods need to be packaged with high-quality materials that perform most effectively, with the lowest possible impact on the environment,” says Amcor Flexibles Americas President Tom Cochran. “We take considerable pride in developing and making packaging that is constantly better for customers and the environment.”

The company says the packaging targets a wide range of segments, including fresh produce, frozen food, and pet food, and is adaptable to a variety of packaging types for certain medical, home and personal care markets. The Genesis product is pre-approved by How2Recycle for in-store recycling with other PE film products across North America.

“Genesis maintains the look-and-feel, and shelf life delivered with conventional laminates,” says Amcor product development manager Laurent Vincent. “We are delivering on those requirements while also reducing carbon footprint by 35 percent against commonly used packaging.”

Amcor says it expects the Genesis product will be popular among brand owners and retailers.

“Like our customers, we want to see all packaging recycled or reused and consumers can recycle Genesis in stores,” says James Davidson, North American commercial excellence and marketing director.

He adds, “Amcor’s research-and-development and sustainability teams continue to explore and create innovative solutions like Genesis that are better for the environment.”

In addition to designing all its packaging to be recyclable or reusable, Amcor has committed to significantly increase its use of recycled materials and driving more consistent recycling of packaging around the world.

The introduction of Genesis follows the company’s announcement in September that it had created a polyolefin-based, flexible film for use in a range of ambient medium-and high-barrier and retort high-barrier applications.