Today, SIG proudly announced its formal recognition by the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) for achieving the highest standards of recyclability. This acknowledgment pertains specifically to the SIG Terra RecShield D bag-in-box package designed for beverages, such as post-mix syrup, according to the APR Design® Guide for Plastics Recyclability.
Recycling continues to be a pressing issue, and consumers increasingly expect more from their preferred brands. In response, SIG, as a leading solutions provider in food and drink packaging, is committed to designing innovative solutions that simplify packaging structures and minimize waste. This effort not only facilitates recycling but also aligns with corporate sustainability goals.
The APR Design® for Recyclability Recognition serves as independent validation that a package or packaging component is compatible with the North American recycling system. Through this process, the SIG Terra RecShield D bag-in-box has met the stringent recyclability criteria outlined in the APR Design® Guide. As part of the SIG Terra portfolio—SIG’s marker for sustainable packaging innovations—this bag-in-box solution features the SIG Terra Versi Connect 2750 fitment, marking it as the first bag-in-box option for post-mix beverage concentrates to pass testing and receive formal recognition from APR.
The third-party testing was conducted by Plastics Forming Enterprises (PFE), which evaluated the SIG bag constructed from dual layers of film, paired with a polyethylene closure and evacuation device. A key component of this testing involved reprocessing the entire bag-in-box package, including both the closure and evacuation device, into blown film.
The outer layer, central to its innovation, consists of SIG Terra RecShield D laminate, a film engineered for durability that can endure the demanding conditions of the post-mix beverage concentrates distribution chain. The fitment, SIG Terra Versi Connect 2750, was specifically tailored for the post-mix industry. When combined with the SIG DipStrip, it ensures over 99.8% product evacuation, effectively reducing food waste. Upon successful testing, this product became part of the SIG Terra portfolio, where SIG dedicates itself to simplifying substrate structures, utilizing renewable materials, and promoting circularity, helping to ensure that future packaging aligns with the decarbonization goals within the food and drink sustainable packaging sector.
Brent Haynam, Director of Commercial Engineering and Sustainability at SIG, stated: “As companies strive for net zero, recyclability is a key lever in their sustainability journeys. In North America, we’ve seen the focus here shift beyond retail and into the foodservice arena, which shows the importance of developing better packaging solutions. Not only is it important that our packaging reduces product waste, but it needs to reduce packaging waste as well. Innovating with recycle-ready solutions are foundational steps to this journey.”
Teresa Bernal-Lara, Ph.D., Global Head of Film Development, Bag-in-Box and Spouted Pouch at SIG, remarked on the new launch: “Realizing the trade-offs of recycle-ready structures currently in the market, and aware of new developments in compatibilizer technologies, we developed SIG Terra RecShield D laminate for bag-in-box, a 3-layer, biaxially-oriented nylon laminate with the addition of a nylon compatibilizer. The compatibilizer enables recyclability by reducing the size of the nylon domains in the polyethylene matrix. The smaller the domains, the less impact these have on processability, appearance, and properties of the film made after reprocessing, thus enabling recyclability. The ability to reprocess back into a blown film, not only the laminate but the entire bag-in-box package, including the closure and the evacuation device, was validated by third-party testing at PFE and recognized by APR. The breakthrough of this innovation is that circular recyclability can be achieved without compromising package robustness throughout conversion, filling, and distribution.”
Glenn Wiechman, Global Business Line Vice President, Bag-in-Box at SIG, echoed this sentiment: “Beyond North America, designing for recyclability is a focus for us and our customers around the world. As it stands, bag-in-box already provides a myriad of benefits around product and packaging waste reduction, so we’re thrilled to announce a solution that furthers us on the journey towards packaging for better.”
The SIG Terra RecShield D bag-in-box package underwent evaluation against stringent, industry-accepted criteria that encompass various design features influencing plastics recycling. Designing for recyclability can significantly reduce waste, optimize the use of limited natural resources, and increase the supply of high-quality, post-consumer recycled content. Beyond recyclability, lowering product and package waste serves as a potent measure for mitigating carbon footprints. By minimizing the amount of plastic needed to transport customers’ liquids to market, SIG’s packaging solutions contribute to reducing product and packaging waste throughout the lifecycle. This innovative, flexible post-mix beverage concentrate packaging promotes recyclability while ensuring critical source reduction, thus preserving the Earth’s diminishing resources for future generations.
Finally, SIG’s recycle-ready bag-in-box packaging for beverage is now available for industry adoption.