Toppan Group film manufacturer Irplast has received a Silver award in the Sustainability Design category at interpack 2026, held in Düsseldorf, Germany. The award, presented as part of the Save Food initiative – promoted by organizations including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – recognizes a recycle-ready mono-material retort pouch developed by Irplast in collaboration with Toppan Packaging Czech (TCZ), the group’s European barrier film production facility. The winning solution was selected from more than 100 packaging entries submitted by exhibitors.
The pouch uses a mono-polypropylene (Mono-PP) structure that, according to the company, maintains barrier performance and heat and pressure resistance for retort sterilization comparable to conventional multi-material structures. The outer layer incorporates Irplast’s high-thermostable BOPP film produced using LISIM, a simultaneous biaxial stretching technology said to provide dimensional and sealing stability at retort sterilization temperatures of up to 137°C for up to 60 minutes, while also offering printability suited to a mono-material composition.
In place of aluminum foil, the pouch uses the PP grade of GL Barrier, a transparent barrier film developed using Toppan’s proprietary technologies and produced by TCZ. The company says this configuration enables long-term storage at ambient temperatures and is microwave-safe. Toppan states the shift from multi-material structures containing aluminum foil and multiple polymers reduces environmental impact, and that the packaging is designed for compatibility with PP collection and recycling infrastructure in Europe and other regions.
The pouch has been developed with regulatory readiness in mind, according to the company, in anticipation of tightening environmental regulations, including the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation in Europe. Toppan says it aims to expand the solution into sectors requiring both retort sterilization and recyclability, such as baby food, ready meals, and sauces. The group added that it will continue developing sustainable packaging solutions through local production supply chains serving European and global markets, in line with its medium-term plan centered on circular economy principles.