Flexible Packaging Sustainable Flexible Packaging

SÜDPACK's FlowPack Line Ideal for Pasta Packaging

SUDPACK pasta.png — *(Courtesy of* *SÜDPACK)*

Pasta ranks among the top-selling food products in Germany. Fresh varieties like ravioli, tortellini, gnocchi, Maultaschen (filled pasta), Schupfnudeln (potato noodles), and Spätzle (egg noodles) are especially popular, as they are quick to prepare and available in countless tasty variations. The flowpack has become the go-to packaging format for these products.

This transparent, convenient pouch requires minimal material, offers excellent product protection, and is both widely accepted and favored by consumers. In a continued effort to promote sustainability, SÜDPACK has established an extensive product range under the Pure Line brand. These monofilms are based on PP or, optionally, PE. They are recyclable and provide a fully functional and high-performing alternative to conventional multi-material laminates.

Since no advertising slogan is as convincing as solid data, the film manufacturer chose to assess the eco-balance of its sustainable pouch packaging. According to a detailed life cycle assessment based on internal calculations, SÜDPACK’s Pure PP flowpacks achieve a recyclability rate of over 90%. This already lightweight pack-aging concept is 7% lighter than pouches made from conventional materials – a difference that positively affects emissions and disposal costs across the entire supply chain. In total, CO2 savings compared to a conventional PA/PE laminate are around 27%. The differences are even more significant when compared to considerably heavier trays, which are still commonly used for packaging fresh pasta.

The innovative high-performance films of the Pure Line are not only highly material-efficient and recyclable, but they also deliver everything food manufacturers, packers, retailers, and consumers expect from an ideal packaging solution. Integrated barrier properties – especially a high oxygen barrier – help maintain fresh-ness and extend the product’s shelf life. Despite their low material thickness, these PP- and PE-based packages offer the stability needed to ensure maximum product protection throughout the entire logistics chain – right up to the end consumer. Their high transparency also enhances shelf appeal at the point of sale.

Although PP films are typically more challenging to process than conventional film laminates, SÜDPACK’s advanced coextrusion expertise enables these sustainable materials to run just as efficiently on existing packaging machines.

“Thanks to the wide processing window, throughput remains virtually unchanged,” the film manufacturer emphasizes. PP monofilms are also ideally suited for thermal treatment and pasteurization – both of which play a critical role in ensuring a long shelf life.

Sustainability in all of its facets

SÜDPACK’s focused effort to expand its recyclable product range is motivated by more than just the PPWR and regulatory reporting requirements. As an innovation and technology leader in the industry, the company committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) back in 2022 and achieved EcoVadis Platinum status in 2025. It is also an active force in advancing the circular economy within the film and packaging industry.

To help customers make informed decisions based on the eco-balance of different packaging concepts, SÜDPACK offers a comprehensive LCA service. SPQ printing (Sustainable Print Quality) is another key step in SÜDPACK’s sustainability strategy. This technology, now adopted by a growing number of companies, significantly reduces ink and solvent usage in both flexographic and rotogravure printing – contributing to a lower carbon footprint while delivering superior color brilliance and fidelity.