Innovative collaboration: ExxonMobil and Constantia Drukpol revolutionise freezer film for Bonduelle

ExxonMobil and Constantia Drukpol have collaborated to develop a groundbreaking recyclable, non-laminated freezer film tailored for French plant-based food products brand Bonduelle. Enhancing recyclability and simplifying the packaging process, the project was aimed to help transitioning from traditional laminated metallized films to a mono-material polyethylene (PE) solution.

Leveraging ExxonMobil’s advanced PE resin technology, the partnership focused on creating a packaging solution that offers sealability, mechanical strength, and puncture resistance while supporting Bonduelle’s circular economy objectives. By utilising ExxonMobil’s Exceed performance polyethylene, the new film achieved better performance in puncture and tear resistance, particularly for challenging-to-pack vegetables like spinach and broccoli.

Aligning with its target of achieving 100% recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025, this development marks a significant milestone for Bonduelle. Notably, the collaboration resulted in a 25% reduction in packaging material for Bonduelle’s frozen product range in France, contributing to the company’s efforts to reduce plastic usage and environmental impact.

Arnaud Warusfel, packaging development manager at Bonduelle Europe Long Life, emphasised the importance of the project, stating, “For our retail Frozen Bag Category, we wanted to replace our historical multi-material metallised film since it was difficult to recycle.” He further highlighted the selection of a mono-material PE solution without adhesives, making it easier to recycle compared to multi-material alternatives. Despite facing various challenges during the development process, the technical expertise of Constantia Drukpol and ExxonMobil enabled the successful realisation of this innovative packaging solution.