Siegwerk, one of the world's leading providers of printing inks and coatings for packaging applications and labels, together with Enplater Group, a specialist in flexible and rigid packaging solutions, has been honored with the Labels & Labeling Sustainability Award for its jointly developed recycle-ready mono-material polypropylene (PP) pouch.
The award recognizes innovative packaging solutions that contribute to advancing sustainability and circularity across the packaging value chain.
The award-winning pouch is the result of a close collaboration between the technical and R&D teams of both companies. By combining Siegwerk's expertise in high-performance, regulatory-compliant inks and coatings with Enplater's extensive converting and packaging know-how, the partners developed a high-barrier mono-PP structure that delivers excellent technical performance while being designed to support recycling in existing polyolefin recycling streams where appropriate collection, sorting, and recycling infrastructure is available.
Designed for food packaging applications, the innovative pouch offers a more sustainable alternative to conventional multi-material packaging structures. The development supports the industry's transition toward circular packaging solutions while helping brand owners and converters address increasing Design for Recycling requirements and future regulatory demands.
Key technologies used in the project include Siegwerk's CIRKIT OXYBAR WHITE, a combined oxygen-barrier and white ink technology that can be applied inline in a single step, as well as advanced polyurethane-based ink systems that ensure high print quality, excellent adhesion, and reliable performance in demanding flexible packaging applications.
“From a flexible packaging perspective, mono-PP structures create an option for improving recyclability without compromising packaging performance. This project demonstrates how the right combination of inks, coatings, and converting expertise can enable recycle-ready packaging solutions that meet functional requirements while providing optionality for sustainable flexible packaging,” said Jarred Carter, Business Unit Head Flexible Packaging United States and Canada at Siegwerk.
The award was presented during LOUPE Americas 2026 in Chicago. Todd Blumsack, Business Unit Head Narrow Web United States and Canada at Siegwerk, accepted the award on behalf of both Siegwerk and Enplater Group, recognizing the successful partnership and shared commitment to developing more sustainable packaging solutions.
“It was a great honor to accept this award on behalf of Siegwerk and Enplater Group. This recognition reflects the dedication, expertise, and collaborative spirit of everyone involved in the project and shows what can be achieved when strong partners along the value chain work together toward more sustainable packaging solutions,” said Todd Blumsack, Business Unit Head Narrow Web United States and Canada at Siegwerk.
The award-winning mono-PP pouch demonstrates how advanced inks, coatings, and converting technologies can work together to enable high-performing, recyclable packaging solutions without compromising food protection, manufacturability, or consumer expectations.