Polypropylene
State-of-the-Art Polypropylene Rollstock Structures.
We’ve mastered the complexities of polypropylene to create performance barrier & non-barrier structures designed to meet your exact requirements. Select from homopolymer, random copolymer, impact copolymer and custom blends paired with a vast selection of unique formulation options.
Resource Efficiency
Polypropylene offers the lowest density & lightest weight of all plastic materials, resulting in a 12% density reduction in comparison to to PE and a 30% density reduction in comparison to PET. This translates to a higher yield (more parts) in thermoforming & form-fill-seal processes, reduced cost, and reduced material consumption:
– 1,000,000 lbs PP = 1,120,000 lbs PS
– 1,000,000 lbs PP = 1,300,000 lbs PET
Sustainability
Parts produced from polypropylene materials are recyclable using the RIC #5 – even in high-barrier formulations. In addition, due to the lightweight nature of this material, thermoformed & form-fill-seal polypropylene packaging produced offers a number of downstream sustainability advantages for an overall reduced carbon footprint including:
– Less CO2 equivalents by weight
– Less solid waste by weight
– Lower fuel consumption & lower emissions
Versatility
The high heat resistance of polypropylene materials offer compatibility with a variety of packaging & processing methods including hot-fill processing, aseptic processing, Pressure Processing, and more. Impact copolymer grades offer low temperature impact resistance making polypropylene the ideal material for applications designed for extreme temperature changes including freezer-to-microwave trays.
Processability
Polypropylene is available in homopolymer, random copolymer, impact copolymer, and specialty proprietary formulations offering a vast range of specifications, mechanical and physical properties allowing us to tailor rollstock formulations to the exact requirements of an individual food packaging application. Unique attributes of proprietary formulations such as increased stiffness and snap-ability offer drop-in solutions for PS material replacement initiatives.
Polystyrene (PS) Replacement Initiatives: Innovations in Form-Fill-Seal Polypropylene
Polystyrene has historically been the material of choice for a wide range of food packaging applications, offering advantages in cost, processing, and compatibility with existing form-fill-seal equipment and platforms. But recent health and safety concerns coupled with pressures to improve the sustainability and recyclability of food packaging has resulted in initiatives to replace polystyrene in food packaging on a global scale.
Not Your Typical Polypropylene
Recognizing the attractive sustainability attributes and yield advantages of polypropylene, many attempts have been made to develop a polypropylene-based solution for form-fill-seal, only to result in significant downstream processing challenges and compromise to part performance, ultimately proving infeasible – until XPP.
XPP Polypropylene Solutions maintain performance, reduce cost, and improve sustainability – all while offering a lower total-cost-of-ownership solution that is compatible with existing form-fill-seal equipment for drop-in processing. Visit our XPP Polypropylene Solutions Page to learn more:
Explore the Advantages of XPP
Make it Yours
-
Structure Configurations
● Monolayer
● Laminated barrier PP
● Multi-layer coextruded barrier structures including:
– PP/EVOH/PP
– PP/EVOH/PE
● Symmetrical & asymmetrical configurations -
Compatible Applications
● Thermoforming
● Aseptic
● HPP with both clear & opaque PP
● Retort
● Hot-fill
● FFS and FS -
Personalization Options
● Clear & clear-tints
● Color matching
● Custom-designed decorative lamination
● Application-based barrier specifications
● Specialty topical additive coating
● Mineral filler blending
● One & two-side corona treatment
● Performance additive integration -
Performance Grades
● Snap-able PP for FFS and FS applications
● UltraClear Homopolymer PP for high temperature applications
● Clarified Impact Copolymer PP for low & high temperature applications
● Clarified Impact Copolymer PP for HPP applications
-
Proven Excellence
Learn about our longstanding commitment to fully certified food packaging solutions.
Find Out More -
Specialty Solutions
Explore our selection of specialty polypropylene packaging solutions.
Find Out More -
Reliable Resources
Uncover an expertly crafted collection of food packaging know-how in our in our Industry Insights blog.
Find Out More -
Sustainably Focused
Discover how our methods and materials reduce, reuse, recycle and reinforce our everyday dedication to sustainability.
Find Out More -
Superior Support
Trying something brand new? Tap into our on-site technical support services to help you through the development process— one material at a time.
Find Out More