Is my bag ready for the PPWR? Free bag check for stand-up pouches and Doypacks

Packaging requirements are changing. With the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), the recyclability of packaging is becoming an increasingly important focus. Many companies are therefore wondering whether their existing stand-up pouches or Doypacks will be able to meet these growing requirements in the future. At the same time, the packaging must continue to perform the functions it already fulfills reliably today: It must protect the product, ensure shelf life, and be processed safely on existing packaging equipment.

This is where our free bag check for stand-up pouches and Doypacks comes in. We conduct a comprehensive analysis of existing packaging solutions and evaluate potential optimization options for each specific product. After all, whether a packaging solution is suitable for a transition always depends on the specific product and the requirements of the entire packaging process. A recycling-oriented material structure alone is not enough. Equally important are the necessary barrier properties, food safety, shelf life, bag stability, and reliable processing on the existing packaging line.

What We Check During the Free Bag Inspection for Stand-Up Pouches and Doypacks

Evaluating Material Composition, Recyclability, and Product Protection

During our bag check, we don’t just examine a package’s recyclability; we conduct a comprehensive analysis of the existing stand-up pouch or Doypack. In doing so, we examine the material composition, film thickness, bag format, and the specific features of the packaging. At the same time, we assess the requirements the packaged food places on product protection, barrier properties, and shelf life, and determine whether the current material composition will continue to optimally meet these requirements in the future.

Based on this, we work with our customers to identify opportunities for optimization. This includes, for example, evaluating whether a switch to a monomaterial pouch is possible or whether using a film containing recycled content might be appropriate for the specific application. We also compare different material alternatives and examine whether material usage or bag format can be optimized without compromising product safety or processability.

Sample Bags and Material Tests with the Original Product

Many of a packaging solution’s properties can only be reliably assessed in practical use. That is why, upon request, we provide suitable sample bags that can be tested directly with the original product. This allows barrier properties, product protection, sealing performance, and handling to be evaluated under real-world conditions before a new packaging solution is rolled out into mass production. We personally oversee these material tests to ensure a sound basis for decision-making when selecting a future-oriented packaging solution.

Testing Processability on Existing Packaging Machinery

Another important component of our free bag check is the technical evaluation of the entire packaging process. After all, even the best packaging only fulfills its purpose if it can be reliably processed on the existing packaging line.