Tetra Pak is developing a paper-based ice cream wrapper, European associations are calling for more harmonized EPR rules and new software aims to simplify PPWR documentation and packaging optimization. At the same time, coffee pouches and a supposedly mono-PP closure show why functionality and recyclability still require a closer look.
Tetra Pak tests paper-based ice cream packaging
The new Tetra Pak Ice Cream Wrap contains up to 85 % paper. The lightweight 53 g/m² structure also contains polymer, ink and lacquer. Trials are currently taking place with European ice cream manufacturers, including Sweden’s Triumf Glass, with a phased European launch planned for the fourth quarter of 2026.
My take: Ice cream is a demanding application for paper. Moisture, grease, low temperatures and mechanical stress all need to be managed. A high paper content alone therefore says little about actual recyclability. The decisive question is whether barrier performance, machinability and recyclability in the paper stream can be achieved at the same time.
Industry calls for more harmonized EPR rules in Europe
EUROPEN and more than 40 other industry associations have published proposals for the planned Circular Economy Act. Their demands include harmonized registration, standardized data requirements, ring-fenced EPR fees and a directly applicable European regulation.
My take: This makes sense in principle. Companies selling packaging in several European countries currently have to deal with very different systems. Common rules could reduce the administrative burden and make investment in cross-border recycling infrastructure easier. However, the question of who controls the system and how the fees are spent remains important.
Software generates PPWR Declarations of Conformity
PackIntelX has launched EasyDoC, a software solution designed to create structured PPWR Declarations of Conformity from product and packaging data. The system guides users through three steps and can generate documents in up to ten languages.
My take: Tools like this will become necessary once companies have to maintain technical documentation and conformity declarations for large packaging portfolios. The declaration itself can be automated. The quality of the underlying material data, test reports and supplier evidence cannot. That is likely to be where most of the real work begins.
Algorithm aims to reduce packaging material
Macfarlane Packaging and Lancaster University have developed the “Packaging Minimiser”. The software analyses complex shipping portfolios and identifies empty space, excessive material use and unsuitable packaging formats. According to trials conducted in Macfarlane’s Innovation Labs, it reduced packaging material use by an average of 15 %.
My take: Systematic packaging optimization will become more important under the PPWR’s prevention requirements. However, material savings should never be viewed in isolation. If they lead to more product damage, returns or transport, using less packaging is not automatically the more sustainable solution.
Digitally printed valve pouches for small coffee batches
SunDance is offering digitally printed coffee pouches with one-way degassing valves and low minimum order quantities. The combination is aimed particularly at specialty roasters, seasonal blends, subscription programmes and new product launches.
My take: The valve itself is not new. What is interesting is the combination of product protection, customization and small production runs. However, the available information does not specify the film structure or the recyclability of the complete pouch-and-valve combination.
How “mono” is Amcor’s new mono-PP closure?
Amcor and Spanish sauce brand Choví are introducing a new flip-top closure. The closure body is made from polypropylene, but it also contains a silicone valve to control the product flow. Nevertheless, the solution is described as mono-PP.
My take: This is where the definition of mono-material becomes interesting. Does “mono-PP” refer only to the main body, to the predominant material share or to the complete component? Small amounts of other materials may be acceptable under recycling guidelines. Communication should still state clearly which materials are actually present.
Conclusion
This week’s developments point in two directions. On the one hand, new material and packaging solutions are being developed for specific applications. On the other, the data layer is becoming increasingly important – from EPR registration and PPWR conformity documentation to algorithm-based packaging optimization.
The familiar questions remain: Does the packaging run on existing machinery? Does it protect the product sufficiently? And can it be recovered through the collection, sorting and recycling infrastructure that actually exists?
Terms such as “paper-based”, “optimized” or “mono-PP” do not provide complete answers. The more sustainability becomes a selling point, the more important precise material information and transparent system boundaries become.
