BASF expands ecovio® portfolio with compostable, high-barrier packaging solutions offering flexible recycling options, improved performance, and broad FMCG applications.
BASF has broadened its certified compostable ecovio® product range by introducing new material grades designed to address the growing demand for sustainable and recyclable flexible packaging solutions. This expanded portfolio is specifically developed to meet the evolving requirements of barrier packaging, allowing both packaging manufacturers and brand owners to customize performance characteristics and disposal pathways. These include options such as organic recycling and compatibility with paper recycling systems, depending on the application, processing method, and regulatory environment.
The newly enhanced ecovio® range offers certified home-compostable materials that can be combined in various ways to create packaging structures based on either paper or plastic substrates. This flexibility ensures that the resulting packaging solutions maintain performance standards comparable to conventional materials while delivering improved environmental benefits. The solutions are suitable for a wide spectrum of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) applications, including food and beverage packaging, personal care items, healthcare products, and pet food.
A key highlight of the new ecovio® portfolio is its “toolbox” approach, providing ready-to-use material options tailored to different packaging technologies. These solutions enable adjustable barrier properties, offering protection against grease, oil, wax, and liquids, along with strong resistance to oxygen and moisture. At the same time, the materials can function effectively as sealing layers. Importantly, these innovations are compatible with existing manufacturing infrastructure, allowing processors to utilize current equipment for extrusion coating, film or sheet extrusion, and lamination processes using extrusion, adhesives, or heat. This compatibility extends to both mono-layer and multi-layer packaging designs.
Additionally, the new grades enable the production of ultra-thin biaxially oriented films, paving the way for a new generation of home-compostable packaging formats. These materials are approved for food contact and exhibit strong mechanical properties along with excellent visual clarity, including high transparency. Such characteristics make them attractive for brands seeking both functionality and aesthetic appeal.
The portfolio introduces greater design flexibility for brand owners, allowing them to fine-tune packaging properties to meet specific application requirements while integrating sustainability considerations from the outset. According to BASF, this modular approach helps stakeholders develop high-performance packaging solutions that incorporate end-of-life planning during the product development phase. Demonstrations of these capabilities, including real-world application samples across plastic and paper value chains, have been showcased at industry events like the Interpack trade fair.
Depending on the chosen material composition and packaging structure, ecovio® supports multiple disposal routes. Paper-based packaging can be processed through established recycling streams with high fiber recovery or composted when contaminated with food residues. Flexible plastic packaging made from ecovio® can be composted in industrial or home settings without leaving persistent microplastics. The materials are also available with varying levels of bio-based content—up to 80 percent—or as certified biomass-balanced alternatives.
These versatile materials can be used to produce a wide array of packaging formats such as pouches, sachets, trays, and boxes. They are suitable for packaging diverse contents, including hot and cold foods, dry and liquid products, and fatty substances. Applications range from coffee, snacks, cereals, and confectionery to frozen desserts, sauces, meats, dairy products, and even non-food items like shampoos and body care products.
