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AR The answer is yes. Flexible plastic packaging is recyclable when the material is single and the recycling facilities are complete, but the overall recycling rate is still low, which is subject to multiple factors such as material structure, recycling technology, and infrastructure. With the global attention to the plastic circular economy, corporate responsibility and technological innovation are driving the continuous improvement of flexible packaging recycling capacity.
What is Flexible Plastic Packaging?
Flexible plastic packaging refers to various types of packaging forms with variable shapes composed of flexible films such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyester (PET). Common products include three-dimensional bags, flat-bottom bags, flexible packaging rolls, vacuum bags, and small packaging bags. Its advantages of lightweight, high barrier properties, printing diversity, and easy transportation make it widely used in food and beverage, cosmetics, medicine, and daily chemicals.
Difficulties and Current Status of Recycling of Flexible Packaging
Complex Material Structure
Although multi-layer composite films (such as PET/aluminum/PE) have good barrier properties, they are difficult to separate layers, which brings great challenges to the recycling process.
Low Recycling Rate
Canadian data shows that although flexible packaging accounts for 47% of the market, the actual recycling rate is less than 2%.
The Plastics Pact report points out that the recycling rate of plastic packaging in the United States is only about 13.3%.
Insufficient Facilities and Awareness
Many regions lack separate collection and sorting systems for flexible packaging, and public awareness of recycling needs to be strengthened.
Global Trends and Regulations Drive
Sustainable Packaging Market is Growing Rapidly
The global sustainable packaging market is expected to grow from US$276 billion in 2023 to US$558 billion in 2034, with an average annual compound growth rate of more than 7%.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
The European Union, Canada and many countries have successively implemented EPR regulations, requiring producers to be responsible for the entire life cycle of packaging and encouraging companies to design packaging that is easier to recycle.
Circular Economy Roadmap
Multiple industry alliances (such as the Canadian Plastics Pact) have released flexible packaging circular economy strategies, setting a goal of significantly increasing recycling and reuse rates by 2030.
Recycling Technology and Innovative Solutions
Single Material Design
Promote PE single layer or PP single layer packaging to simplify the recycling process.
Water-based Ink and Solvent-free Lamination
Use water-based printing ink and solvent-free lamination technology to reduce chemical pollution during the recycling process.
Advanced Sorting and Chemical Recycling
Combining near infrared (NIR) sorting technology and chemical degradation technology to achieve efficient separation and reuse of mixed films.
Sustainable Recycling Packaging Practice of DQ PACK
As China’s leading custom flexible packaging and flexible plastic packaging manufacturers, DQ PACK continues to explore innovations in the field of recyclability:
- Optimization of single material structure: DQ PACK mainly promotes PE/PP single-layer structure to ensure that the packaging material is recyclable throughout the process;
- High-performance solvent-free lamination: Own 4 advanced solvent-free lamination production lines to reduce VOC emissions;
- Global quality certification: Has obtained ISO9001-2018, FDA, SGS, BV multiple certifications, and exported to 120+ countries, meeting international recycling and safety standards;
- Full-link OEM/ODM customization: From structural design, proofing, printing to back-end recycling solution docking, providing one-stop service.
Why Choose DQ PACK?
- Experience and Scale: 30,000 ㎡ smart factory, 6 automatic printing production lines, 4 solvent-free lamination lines;
- R&D and Design Advantages: R&D team with 10+ years of industry experience, free structure, artwork and label design;
- Green Innovation Drive: continuous investment in recycling, visualization log,o and ecological material development;
- Reliable Global Support: logistics network covering Europe, America, Southeast Asi,a and the Middle East market, fast response;
- Deep Customization Capability: meet the full cycle needs from small batch trial orders to large-scale mass production.
Summary
Flexible plastic packaging has great potential on the road to realizing a circular economy, but it still faces challenges such as complex structure, low recycling rate, and insufficient infrastructure. Through regulatory promotion, technological innovation,n and corporate responsibility, the industry is accelerating its transformation to recyclable and circular. As the preferred partner of China’s flexible plastic packaging suppliers and flexible plastic packaging manufacturers, DQパック provides global brands with practical recyclable flexible packaging solutions with single-material design, environmentally friendly inks, solvent-free lamination,n and comprehensive OEM/ODM capabilities, and works together to move towards a greener future.
