SUE HAYMAN MP VISITS INNOVIA FILMS

Left to right – Andrew Bayliff - R&D Director, Wayne Middleton – MD, Sue Hayman MP,

Innovia Films hosted a visit from Sue Hayman MP – Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs yesterday at their Wigton, Cumbria, UK manufacturing site and research and development facilities.

Wayne Middleton, MD, Innovia Films presented an overview of the company, key business markets and speciality products.  He also explained the strategy around the decision to invest and install new assets that allow them to produce new Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP) films that will help to extend the shelf life of a range of products, thereby reducing food waste and carbon emissions.

The new high barrier Propafilm™ Strata SL film allows pack simplification, by removing/replacing layers within lamination materials that restrict recycling.  They will also assist in the production of mono layer materials for different applications that will enable them to be more easily recycled and be included in circular economy packaging design processes.

He highlighted that BOPP has a very low density and is stiff allowing very thin lightweight films and provides the maximum resource efficiency.  Polypropylene can be readily recycled. It is more resistant to degradation during mechanical recycling compared with other polymers e.g. PE which gives much greater potential for future high value products.   When collected BOPP film can be sorted and mixed with the existing PP recycle stream.

Sue Hayman MP was able to see first-hand the new technology and understand the process.  She enjoyed her visit and acknowledged that there was still a lot to learn about plastic flexible films and its role in packaging food.  Although she also stated that there are areas where the use of plastic can be reduced.