BASF is expanding its certified compostable ecovio portfolio with new grades that meet recycling needs of flexible barrier packaging. The extended portfolio enables manufacturers of flexible packaging and brand owners to tailor barrier performance and end-of-life options like organics or paper recycling according to application functionalities, processing technologies and regulatory frameworks.
The certified home-compostable ecovio grades can be combined with each other to manufacture different barrier structures based on paper or plastic substrates, enabling the whole packaging to be as high-performing as established packaging solutions while at the same time significantly increasing sustainability. The portfolio is suitable for a wide range of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) packaging, including food and beverages, personal care products, healthcare articles and pet food.
The new ecovio toolbox comprises ready-to-use solutions for different packaging technologies, offering adjustable barriers against grease, oil, waxes and liquids as well as high barriers against oxygen and moisture while also acting as sealing layer. Processing is possible on existing manufacturing equipment: the different ecovio grades are suitable for extrusion coating, film or sheet extrusion, as well as for lamination via extrusion, adhesives or heat, all in mono- or multi-layer structures.
With the new portfolio even ultra-thin biaxially stretched films are possible, opening up a new range of home-compostable packaging: the food-contact approved ecovio provides good mechanical and excellent optical properties, including high transparency.
“With the new ecovio portfolio, we offer manufacturers of flexible packaging a modular material toolbox that gives them greater design freedom: They can adapt barrier performance, processing technology and recycling possibilities to their specific application needs and sustainability goals,” said Michael Bernhard Schick from global business management Biopolymers at BASF. “This supports converters and brand owners in developing high-performing packaging solutions while addressing end-of-life options already in the product development phase. We are happy to show visitors at the Interpack trade fair the many possibilities of how they can design high-barrier flexible packaging items with ecovio – and making them home compostable, too: real-life samples of established applications for the different value chains plastic and paper are on display.”
Depending on the substrate and packaging design, certified compostable ecovio supports different end-of-life options. Paper- and board-based packaging structures can be recycled via established paper recycling streams with high fiber recovery; they can also be organically recycled when soiled with food residues. Flexible plastic packaging made of ecovio can be organically recycled in industrial or home compost without generating persistent microplastics. Depending on the grade, ecovio is available with bio-based content ranging up to 80 percent or as certified biomass-balanced material.
The new ecovio grades can be used to create barriers for a wide range of FMCG packaging of different foodstuffs and other ingredients: pouches, sachets, trays or boxes can be manufactured containing hot, cold, dry, solid, liquid or fatty foods – from coffee, salty snacks, cereals, chocolate bars via ice cream, sauces, ketchup and mayonnaise to meat, fish and cheese as well as shampoo, body lotions and other personal care products.
BASF at interpack 2026
A wide range of BASF’s solutions for the packaging industry will be showcased at the interpack trade fair taking place from 7–13 May in Düsseldorf, Germany. Attendees can meet BASF’s biopolymers team at stand A44 in Hall 10.
