BOPE (Biaxially Oriented Polyethylene) films are known for their excellent recyclability, but their limited temperature resistance has so far been an obstacle to broader industrial applications. With the new Gecko 2-Component Varnish 70GL426590, hubergroup has developed a groundbreaking solution that increases the heat resistance of 29 µm BOPE films from 120°C to 160°C. This opens up new possibilities for the processing and application of this sustainable packaging solution.

Owing to significantly improved heat resistance, BOPE films are now not only more recycling-friendly but also more versatile and faster to process. The varnish creates a broader processing window and reduces the risk of sticking to sealing jaws. In addition, higher sealing temperatures enable increased cycle times on machines, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the production process.

Another key advantage of this innovation is that hubergroup's Gecko 2-Component Varnish makes BOPE films suitable for pouch applications, which was previously a challenge due to the limited temperature resistance of BOPE films.

The new varnish is ethanol-based and has been specially developed for applications requiring high chemical resistance. It is suitable for both flexographic and gravure printing processes and can be applied to a wide range of surfaces as well as for food and beverage packaging.

Based on migration test results, the final printed varnish will comply with legal requirements for packaging of all types of food when printed on the non-food contact side.

Additionally, the varnish is NC-free, making it future-proof concerning current and upcoming regulatory requirements for recycling printed packaging. This underscores hubergroup's commitment to sustainable and environmentally friendly packaging solutions.

The BOPE film printed with the new varnish also contained a proportion of recycled polyethylene. This film was successfully processed into a pouch as part of the PlastikBOND project by the Institute for Plastics Processing (IKV) in Industry and Trade at RWTH Aachen University.