RDM Group, a leading producer of recycled cartonboard, has announced a new partnership with Ecopol, a global leader in biodegradable and water-soluble film technologies, to develop an innovative recyclable barrier board.
This collaboration combines RDM’s recycled fibre cartonboard with Ecopol’s functional PVOH film, offering brands a sustainable, high-performance packaging solution that can be customised to meet a variety of application needs, including aroma-sensitive and food products.
Using recycled cartonboard has historically been a challenge for food packaging specifically, because it becomes contaminated by food-grade mineral oil used in food processing machinery that finds its way into many foods. The new, PVOH film-based barrier board, can achieve Class A recyclability within standard fibre-recycling streams.
The value of PVOH film
Ecopol’s PVOH film is a transparent, water-soluble and biodegradable polymer. Its effectiveness as a barrier laminate, alongside its biodegradability, makes it a promising material to address packaging challenges, particularly for aroma-sensitive products and those requiring shelf-life extension. The film can be tailored to meet functional requirements like resistance to oxygen, grease, moisture, and mineral oils, supporting a wide range of product categories including food.
“By pairing our functional barrier film with RDM Group’s board, we will create packaging that’s not only functional, but fully recyclable,” says Mauro Bonfiglio, Ecopol’s vice president of sales & marketing. “This will be a true step forward in eliminating virgin plastic waste and making sustainable solutions the new standard.”
Cross-industry collaboration
“This pioneering collaboration is an example of the new, cross-industry links that need to be created to meet the demands of the PPWR,” says Krzysztof Krajewski, RDM Group’s chief innovation and sustainability officer. “Our goal is to create a more sustainable, recycling-friendly material of the future to drive increased circularity.”
“We are now looking for brands and converters to develop new types of packaging using this new PVOH-based solution, and invite potential partners to start projects with us,” adds Krajewski.
“Our partnership with RDM Group enables brands to adopt recyclable, functional packaging without compromising performance—paving the way for scalable circular solutions,” says Mauro Bonfiglio, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Ecopol. “This collaboration demonstrates the potential of circular design in fibre-based packaging.”