LDPE Recyclable Metalized Laminate LDPE Recyclable Metalized Laminate Pouchmakers metalised PE laminate can be recycled in drop-off soft plastics collections. It has similar functionality to traditional plastics that are not recyclable and is suitable for use across a number of different industries. Compatible Style Stand Up Pouches Flat Bottom Bags Side Gusset Bags Spout Pouches Pillow Bags Compatible Printing Technologies Rotogravure Digital Static Sticker (Label) Sustainability Properties Recyclable plastic Recyclable in the plastic waste stream Nontoxic Inks Water or biobased inks than do not require petroleum-based solvents Considerations The Good?The Bad?The Good? LDPE is a highly recyclable material and has wide application across numerous packaging formats and industries It is highly durable and affordable, and can be used across numerous different packaging formats Available in high and low barrier structures Considerably better than most non-recyclable multi-material laminates The Bad? Made from virgin petrochemical materials More cost-effective than most bioplastic alternatives to flexible packaging Soft plastic recycling is challenging. This material either needs to go into a dedicated polyethylene stream (#2 or #4) or a drop-off soft plastics collection stream, which are limited although growing rapidly Doesn’t contribute meaningfully in moving towards a circular economy but it’s a starting point Frequently asked questions Can compostable packaging hold liquids and oils? Generally speaking, compostable materials are not compatible with wet or oily products over a long period. In certain applications they can work for products with short shelf-life requirements (~4-6 weeks). Do your compostable materials leave any micro-plastics behind after biodegrading? No they don’t. Our materials are certified compostable which means that they’ve passed thorough biodegradation testing to ensure they completely biodegrade into healthy organic matter. Can compostable products and materials be recycled? Compostable materials are designed to be composted and unfortunately that means they cannot be mechanically recycled. Although commercial composting systems are not currently widely available on a kerbside basis this is changing rapidly and so too is the rate of home composting. How do I compost your products? Composting is an essential part of a functioning circular economy. We’ve broken down all the basics in our How to Compost blog post. Are these materials certified compostable? All of Pouchmaker’s compostable films and laminates are certified compostable, including any valves and zippers. For further information please visit our Certifications page. How long does it take to compost or biodegrade? The time it takes a product to biodegrade depends on the conditions of the composting environment. Industrial or commercial compost facilities run at higher temperatures and certification protocol requires materials to biodegrade within six months. Home composts are more variable and depend on external factors such as temperature, humidity and how often they’re turned. Home compost certification requires materials to biodegrade within 12 months at a temperature around 30°C. For more information check out our certifications page. Are your compostable and bio-based recyclable products plastic free? This is a great question and the answer is nuanced. They don’t contain plastic as most people know it but they are made from bioplastic, which is technically a type of plastic. Grounded has a range of bioplastics that are made using our compostable Plantmade™ technology.