Duo Packaging's graphene film boosts recycled plastic content by a third

UK-based Duo Packaging has developed a graphene-enhanced polyethylene film for flexible packaging, created with the University of Manchester’s Graphene Engineering Innovation Center (GEIC) and backed by the Innovation Navigator Programme. The material, branded 2DPE, uses graphene to boost the mechanical performance of polyethylene film, allowing manufacturers to use thinner, more heavily recycled plastic without losing strength or sealing performance.

Zoe Brimelow, Dale Brimelow & Mark Dickie (Image credit: Darren Robinson Photography)

In industrial trials with GEIC and live-shopping retailer QVC, the film increased material strength by up to 35% and let QVC raise the recycled content in its packaging from 45% to 60%. QVC also found the film could be heat-sealed at temperatures 15°C lower than standard film, and cut bag thickness from 30 to 28 microns, a 5% weight reduction. QVC has now switched its UK fulfilment center in Liverpool from standard autobagging film to 2DPE, a move expected to save around 50 tonnes of virgin plastic a year and cut QVC’s packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees by about £21,150 (about US$27,900) annually.

Zoe Brimelow, Dale Brimelow & Mark Dickie (Image credit: Darren Robinson Photography)In industrial trials with GEIC and live-shopping retailer QVC, the film increased material strength by up to 35% and let QVC raise the recycled content in its packaging from 45% to 60%. QVC also found the film could be heat-sealed at temperatures 15°C lower than standard film, and cut bag thickness from 30 to 28 microns, a 5% weight reduction. QVC has now switched its UK fulfilment center in Liverpool from standard autobagging film to 2DPE, a move expected to save around 50 tonnes of virgin plastic a year and cut QVC’s packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees by about £21,150 (about US$27,900) annually.

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