Meeting the Demand for Lighter, Recyclable Films
Across Europe, packaging producers are under pressure to deliver films that are lighter, fully recyclable and able to protect goods without compromise. Performance expectations remain high, yet regulatory requirements such as the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) are accelerating the shift towards mono material solutions that are easier to sort and recycle.
The challenge is clear. How can the industry maintain strength, sealability and processing efficiency while reducing material use and supporting circular design?
At its site in Porvoo, Finland, Borealis has developed a new answer.
A New Technology Platform for Polyethylene
Borstar® Nextension polyethylene builds on the company’s established Borstar technology platform and introduces proprietary single site catalysts developed in house. The result is a new generation of polyethylene materials designed to combine toughness, sealing performance and processability in a single solution.
The technology enables downgauging without sacrificing mechanical strength. Films can be made thinner while maintaining performance standards required for demanding flexible packaging applications. This supports cost efficiency and reduces the amount of raw material needed per pack.
At the same time, the materials are engineered to run smoothly in existing production lines. Improved processability helps converters maintain output and quality, which is critical in a competitive market.
Designed for Circularity
A central feature of Borstar® Nextension PE is its contribution to mono material packaging design. The technology makes it possible to replace more complex multi material structures with polyethylene-based solutions that are compatible with established recycling streams.
Simplifying structures in this way improves the chances that packaging can be effectively sorted and recycled at end of life. It also helps brand owners and converters align with evolving European recycling and waste reduction targets.
By enabling downgauging and supporting design for recycling in parallel, the technology addresses two priorities at once: resource efficiency and circularity.
Setting a Benchmark for the Future
Borstar® Nextension PE is positioned as a step change in polyethylene performance for flexible packaging. It reflects continued investment in research and development and demonstrates how materials innovation can respond directly to regulatory and market pressures.
This technological step change paves the way for more circular, high performance and resource efficient packaging solutions. It underscores our strategic commitment to sustainable innovation, driven by continuous investment in cutting edge research and development.”
Erik Van Praet, Senior Vice President Innovation and Technology at Borealis
As packaging value chains adapt to stricter sustainability requirements, advanced material platforms such as Borstar® Nextension PE show how performance and circular design can move forward together.