RKW Group has announced an expansion of its RKW Horizon® product line with the introduction of MDO-PE films featuring an integrated EVOH oxygen barrier. The development responds to increasing demand for recyclable, mono-material packaging, especially in light of evolving regulatory frameworks such as the European Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
The Horizon® series consists of mono-oriented polyethylene (PE) films that acquire enhanced mechanical and optical properties through stretching. The new variant includes an EVOH barrier directly in the print substrate, eliminating the need for multilayer laminates.
“When MDO-PE films are laminated with a functional Low-SIT PE sealing film, the result is packaging made from a single raw material: polyethylene,” the company noted. These homogeneous structures offer recyclability not possible with traditional composite materials.
Luc Hermans, Director Sales Consumer Packaging at RKW, stated: “As a manufacturer of high-quality plastic films, we are acutely aware of our responsibility. That’s why we continuously develop our product portfolio of sustainable mono-material solutions.” He added that sealing films containing post-consumer recycled content can be combined with MDO-PE films for non-food applications.
Konrad Noniewicz, Director Application Engineering and R&D, emphasized the films’ barrier performance: “With the new MDO-PE films with integrated EVOH barrier, our customers can use dedicated, special Low-SIT sealing films, as the barrier is already included in the print substrate.”
The films are compatible with conventional packaging lines and suitable for a wide range of applications, including coffee, snacks, frozen foods, pet food, and personal care products. The portfolio now includes transparent, matte, white opaque, and EVOH-barrier MDO-PE films, making it one of the most diverse offerings globally for mono-material flexible packaging.