On April 29, 2026, BASF expanded its biodegradable ecovio® portfolio with the launch of new grades designed for flexible packaging applications in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. The new materials combine biodegradability with high oxygen and water-vapor barrier performance, enabling more sustainable packaging solutions without compromising the functionality and protection offered by conventional packaging materials.

Combining Barrier Performance with Compostability and Circularity

In addition to the biodegradability already offered by the ecovio® portfolio, the new grades provide enhanced barriers against oxygen and water vapor. Certified as home compostable, they enable packaging performance and end-of-life options to be tailored to specific applications and regulatory requirements. The materials are suitable for extrusion coating, extrusion processing, and lamination, and can be used to create both single-layer and multilayer barrier structures.

Plastic packaging made with the new grades can be organically recycled through both industrial and home composting systems. The materials do not generate persistent microplastics and are biodegraded by microorganisms into water, carbon dioxide, and biomass. For paper- and paperboard-based packaging, fibers can be recovered through existing paper recycling streams. When food contamination limits conventional recycling, composting offers an additional end-of-life option through organic recycling.

Challenges and Regulatory Pressures in Sustainable Packaging Development

Packaging for food, beverages, healthcare products, and other consumer goods requires effective barrier properties to prevent moisture and oxygen ingress and maintain product quality throughout its shelf life. However, the use of multilayer structures composed of different materials to enhance barrier performance has traditionally posed challenges for recycling.

The packaging industry is entering a period of significant transformation, driven in large part by evolving regulations, particularly in Europe. The European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) entered into force in February 2025, with phased implementation scheduled to begin in August 2026. By 2030, all packaging placed on the EU market must be recyclable, while plastic packaging will also be required to contain minimum levels of recycled content.

Responding to Growing Demand for Sustainable Packaging

For Japanese manufacturers and material suppliers serving global markets, adapting to the growing demand for more sustainable packaging solutions has become an increasingly important priority.

With the PPWR in mind, TOPPAN Holdings is developing mono-material barrier packaging designed to improve recyclability. The company has launched SMARTS, a sustainability-focused packaging brand, and offers products such as GL BARRIER, a transparent barrier film positioned as an alternative to aluminum foil. Meanwhile, Kuraray’s EVAL, an ethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH) resin, is widely used in food, cosmetics, and medical packaging applications due to its excellent gas-barrier properties.

From biodegradable and compostable materials such as BASF’s ecovio® to mono-material packaging solutions designed to enhance recyclability, a variety of approaches are emerging across the industry. As sustainability requirements continue to evolve, these innovations are expected to play an increasingly important role in advancing circular packaging systems.