Perpetua Alta, the newest addition to Constantia Flexibles’ product portfolio, combines “Design for Recycling” guidelines with high chemical resistance against aggressive liquid or gel formulations. The mono-polymer solution replaces the multi-material packaging for chemically aggressive products, such as pharmaceutical liquid and gel compositions.
“It was our goal to achieve a high-performance, ready-to-be-recycled solution,” states Joerg Adrian, vice president technical organization & innovation pharma of Constantia Flexibles. “Although designed for highly aggressive pharma products, Perpetua Alta may also find applications in other market segments requiring high chemical resistance, such as food applications.” Third-party certification from Institute cyclos-HTP confirms material recovery of up to 96%, depending on the final material configuration.
Traditional multilayer packaging for pharmaceutical products is not recyclable due to combination of different materials. Alternatives, such as recyclable mono-polyethylene or mono-polypropylene laminates, fulfill the recyclability factor but do not provide the required performance with respect to chemical resistance.
“It was a challenge. Our R&D and product management team worked hard to get where we are today: a full polypropylene recyclable solution with high chemical resistance towards aggressive filling goods,” explains Roberto Martin, head of innovation laminates at Constantia Flexibles’ plant in Logroño, Spain.
Perpetua Alta can withstand, for example, hydro-alcoholic gel under accelerated aging conditions, similar to aluminum-containing multi-material laminates compliant with HCR requirements. Compared to a conventional laminate solution, Perpetua Alta offers optimal product protection from oxygen, water vapor, and light at a reduced weight and increased yield.
Perpetua Alta is a drop-in solution for existing packaging formats based on laminates like stick packs, sachets, and strip packs. Packaging machines do not have to be replaced, as the existing equipment can be used with Perpetua Alta.
