Packaging unit for a hygiene article

Abstract

A packaging unit (1) for a hygiene article. The packaging unit comprises a disposable hygiene article (10) having an adhesive coating (11) for attaching the disposable hygiene article to a garment of a user and a packaging for enclosing the disposable hygiene article. The packaging comprising a sheet of wrapping material. The disposable hygiene article is releasably attached to the packaging by the adhesive coating. The wrapping material comprises natural fibres in mixture with reinforcing fibres. The reinforcing fibres have a greater length-weighted average fibre length than the natural fibres.

Description

[0001] PACKAGING UNIT FOR A HYGIENE ARTICLE

[0002] Technical field

[0003] The present application relates to a packaging unit for a hygiene article.

[0004] Background

[0005] Disposable hygiene articles, such as sanitary napkins and panty liners, can be individually packaged in a wrapper of thin plastic film material. Individual packages enable hygienic carrying of the disposable hygiene articles for example in a bag or pocket. The packaging may be used both as a means for protecting an unused article against contamination and as a means for disposal of a used article. It is desirable that used disposable hygiene articles can be disposed of discretely and hygien ically , especially when the user lacks possibility to discard the used article immediately after the used article has been replaced. Problem may arise for example when there is no waste bin available in the toilet area and the used disposable article needs to be initially put in a bag or pocket. In such case it is required that the wrapping material withholds body fluid absorbed by the article in order to avoid staining and odour. The packaging may also function to protect an adhesive layer which is necessary to affix the article to a garment. The adhesive layer is applied on the garment side of the disposable hygienic article.

[0006] The package, wrapper, is discarded after use either with the used hygiene article or by itself. There is therefore a need for more sustainable solutions in this area.

[0007] Summary of the invention

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to the above- mentioned needs.

[0009] This object, as well as other objects being apparent to a skilled person studying the present description, are achieved by a packaging unit for a hygiene article, the packaging unit comprising a disposable hygiene article having an adhesive coating for attaching the disposable hygiene article to a garment of a user and a packaging for enclosing the disposable hygiene article, the packaging comprising a sheet of wrapping material, wherein the disposable hygiene article is releasably attached to the packaging by the adhesive coating, and wherein the wrapping material comprises natural fibres in mixture with reinforcing fibres, the reinforcing fibres having a greater length-weighted average fibre length than the natural fibres. It has thus been found that a packaging made from a wrapping material comprising natural fibres in mixture with reinforcing fibres, wherein the reinforcing fibres have a greater length-weighted average fibre length than the natural fibres, provides a sustainable solution to the above-mentioned needs.

[0010] The disposable hygiene article may be a sanitary napkin or panty liner. Such products are well known in the art and therefore not described more in detail herein. Any disposable hygiene article could be used in the packaging unit of the present invention. The adhesive coating may cover all or part(s) of an outer surface, i.e., a garment-facing surface, of the disposable hygiene article, for example in the form of stripes across said surface.

[0011] The wrapping material may comprise 50 to 99 wt%, preferably 70 to 99 wt%, more preferably 85 to 99 wt%, of the natural fibres and 1 to 50 wt%, preferably 1 to 30 wt%, more preferably 1 to 20 wt%, of the reinforcing fibres.

[0012] The natural fibres may be natural cellulosic fibres, preferably wood fibres, wheat straw fibres or bamboo fibres, more preferably wood fibres. Alternatively or additionally, the natural fibres may originate from wood pulp, non-wood plant material, and combinations thereof.

[0013] The origin of the natural fibres may for example be selected from chemical pulp, such as sulphate and sulphite pulp, organosolv pulp; recycled fibres; and / or mechanical pulp including e.g. refiner mechanical pulp (RMP), pressurized refiner mechanical pulp (PRMP), pretreatment refiner chemical alkaline peroxide mechanical pulp (P-RC APMP), thermomechanical pulp (TMP), thermomechanical chemical pulp (TMCP), high-temperature TMP (HT-TMP) RTS-TMP, alkaline peroxide pulp (APP), alkaline peroxide mechanical pulp (APMP), alkaline peroxide thermomechanical pulp (APTMP), thermopulp, groundwood pulp (GW), stone groundwood pulp (SGW), pressure groundwood pulp (PGW), super pressure groundwood pulp (PGW-S), thermo groundwood pulp (TGW), thermo stone groundwood pulp (TSGW), chemimechanical pulp (CMP), chemirefinermechanical pulp (CRMP), chemithermomechanical pulp (CTMP), high-temperature CTMP (HT-CTMP), sulphite- modified thermomechanical pulp (SMTMP), reject CTMP (CTMPR), groundwood CTMP (G- CTMP), semichemical pulp (SC), neutral sulphite semi chemical pulp (NSSC), high-yield sulphite pulp (HYS), biomechanical pulp (BRMP), pulps produced according to the OPCO process, explosion pulping process, Bi-Vis process, dilution water sulfonation process (DWS), sulfonated long fibres process (SLF), chemically treated long fibres process (CTLF), long fibre CMP process (LFCMP), Kraft wood pulp, and modifications and combinations thereof. The pulp may be a bleached or non-bleached pulp. The wood fibres or wood pulp may originate from hardwood or softwood, including birch, beech, aspen such as European aspen, alder, eucalyptus, maple, acacia, mixed tropical hardwood, pine such as loblolly pine, fir, hemlock, larch, spruce such as Black spruce or Norway spruce, and mixtures thereof. Suitably fibres or pulp originating from eucalyptus or pine is used.

[0014] Non-wood plant material, such as seed hair fibres, leaf fibres, bast fibres, plant fibres can be provided from e.g. straws of grain crops, wheat straw, reed canary grass, reeds, flax, hemp, kenaf, jute, ramie, seed, sisal, abaca, coir, bamboo, bagasse, cotton kapok, milkweed, pineapple, cotton, rice, reed, esparto grass, Phalaris arundinacea, or combinations thereof.

[0015] Any combinations of wood pulp and non-wood plant material may be used.

[0016] The fibres or a portion of the fibres may be recycled fibres, which may belong to any or all of the above categories. The fibres may have a natural staple length, such as cotton or may be cut to a desired staple length.

[0017] The wrapping material may comprise 50 to 99 wt%, preferably 70 to 99 wt%, more preferably 85 to 99 wt% of the natural fibres.

[0018] The natural fibres may have a length-weighted average fibre length of 0.5 to 5.0 mm, preferably 0.8 to 3.5 mm. The wrapping material may comprise 50 to 99 wt% of natural fibres having a length-weighted average fibre length of 0.5 to 5 mm or 0.8 to 3.5 mm. The wrapping material may comprise 70 to 99 wt% of natural fibres having a length-weighted average fibre length of 0.5 to 5 mm or 0.8 to 3.5 mm. The wrapping material may comprise 85 to 99 wt% of natural fibres having a length-weighted average fibre length of 0.5 to 5 mm or 0.8 to 3.5 mm.

[0019] The reinforcing fibres may be of non-fossil origin. The reinforcing fibres may be renewable fibers from a renewable feedstock.

[0020] The reinforcing fibres may be selected from polylactide (PLA) fibres, glycolic acid polymer (PGA) fibres, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibres, bicomponent fibres comprising thermoplastic polymers, non-wood natural fibres, manmade cellulosic fibres, and combinations thereof. Bicomponent fibres are comprised of two polymers of different chemical and / or physical properties, extruded from the same spinneret with both polymers in the same filament. The non-wood natural fibres originate from non-wood plant materials as described above.

[0021] The reinforcing fibres may be manmade cellulosic fibres, preferably manmade fibres formed of cellulose of natural origin, more preferably manmade fibres formed of cellulose that has not been chemically modified, such as viscose, rayon or lyocell, most preferably viscose. Alternatively, the reinforcing fibres may be manmade fibres formed of cellulose that has been chemically modified.

[0022] A bio-degradable wrapper can be achieved by adjusting the choice of fibers in the wrapping material. A plastic-free wrap can be achieved by adjusting the choice of fibers in the wrapping material.

[0023] The reinforcement fibres, having a greater length-weighted average fibre length than the natural fibres, add flexibility, stretch, strength and functional properties, to the sheet of wrapping material.

[0024] The reinforcing fibres may have a length-weighted average fibre length of 3 to 100 mm, preferably 5 to 30 mm, more preferably 6 to 15 mm. The wrapping material may comprise 1 to 50 wt% of reinforcing fibres having a length-weighted average fibre length of 3 to 100 mm or 5 to 30 mm or 6 to 15 mm. The wrapping material may comprise 1 to 30 wt% of reinforcing fibres having a length-weighted average fibre length of 3 to 100 mm or 5 to 30 mm or 6 to 15 mm. The wrapping material may comprise 1 to 20 wt% of reinforcing fibres having a length-weighted average fibre length of 3 to 100 mm or 5 to 30 mm or 6 to 15 mm.

[0025] The natural fibres and reinforcing fibres may be randomly oriented. As an example this can be achieved by foam formation.

[0026] The wrapping material may be being a foam-formed fibrous web.

[0027] The wrapping material may further comprise a binder selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl acetate dispersions, ethyl vinyl alcohol dispersions, polyurethane dispersions, acrylic latexes, styrene butadiene dispersions, binders based on finely divided cellulose, binders based on cellulose derivatives, biopolymers and combinations thereof, preferably acrylic latexes. The binder is preferably selected from acrylic latexes, such as polyacrylate latexes or polyacrylic acid latexes, and combinations thereof, optionally in combination with polyvinylalcohol. A latex binder may provide heat-sealability to the wrapping material. The biopolymers may suitably be based on starch derivatives, natural gum latexes, alginates, guar gum, hemicellulose derivatives, chitin, chitosan, pectin, agar, xanthan, amylose, amylopectin, alternan, gellan, mutan, dextran, pullulan, fructan, locust bean gum, carrageenan, glycogen, glycosaminoglycans, murein, bacterial capsular polysaccharides, and the like and combinations thereof. The wrapping material may comprise a binder in an amount of 0.005 to 10 wt%, preferably 0.05 to 5 wt%, more preferably 1 to 5 wt%.

[0028] The wrapping material may further comprise 0.1 to 10 wt% of a foaming agent. The foaming agent may acs as a surface-active agent, in the manufacture of the sheet of wrapping material, as set out below. The foaming agent additionally provides strength to the wrapping material formed. The foaming agent may be selected from water soluble foaming polymeric agents and water dispersible foaming polymeric agents, and combinations thereof. Preferably the foaming agent is selected from water soluble glycans, water dispersible glycans, water soluble hydrophilic polymers and water dispersible hydrophilic polymers, and combinations thereof. Preferably the water soluble glycans and water dispersible glycans are selected from polysaccharides and derivatives thereof. Preferably the water soluble hydrophilic polymers and water dispersible hydrophilic polymers are selected from poly(vinyl alcohol)s and poly(vinyl acetate)s and copolymers thereof.

[0029] The wrapping material may further comprise additives modifying the functional properties of the sheet, such as nanof ibrillated cellulose, microf ibri Hated cellulose, starch, resins etc., as well as colorants etc.

[0030] The sheet of wrapping material may have a basis weight of 10 to 50 g / m2, preferably 15 to 30 g / m2.

[0031] The sheet of wrapping material may have an air permeability of 0 to 1000 l / m2 / s, i.e up to 1000 l / m2 / s.

[0032] The sheet of wrapping material may have a stretch, in other words elongation at break, of 0,5 to 7 %. Stretch is measured using the method ISO 1924-2:2008.

[0033] The sheet of wrapping material may have a friction coefficient of 0,1 -0,2.

[0034] The sheet of wrapping material may have a release coating, the adhesive coating of the disposable hygiene article being releasably attached to the release coating. When the packaging is opened and the sheet of wrapping material is removed, the adhesive layer will be exposed so that the article is ready to be affixed to a garment. The release force of the release coating may be 4.5 to 5.0 N / m as determined with the method described below.

[0035] The release coating typically comprises silicone, for example in the form of a polyorganosiloxane-polyamide copolymer or a polydimethylsiloxane-urea copolymer. A primer may be present between the sheet of wrapping material and the release coating. The release coating may cover all or part(s) of the sheet of wrapping material. The release coating may be present only in the central part of the wrapping material. The release coating is provided to the inner surface of the wrapping material.

[0036] Alternatively, the packaging may further comprise a release liner, the release liner being attached to the sheet of wrapping material, the adhesive coating of the disposable hygiene article being releasably attached to the release liner. The release liner may be permanently attached to the sheet of wrapping material by adhesive. When the package is opened and the sheet of wrapping material is removed, also the release liner is removed, so that adhesive layer will be exposed, and the article be ready to be affixed to a garment. The release force of the release liner may be 4.5 to 5.0 N / m as determined with the method described below. The release liner typically comprises silicone, for example in the form of a polyorganosiloxane-polyamide copolymer or a polydimethylsiloxane-urea copolymer.

[0037] The packaging unit typically has two longitudinal edges and two transversal folding axes, the transversal folding axes dividing the packaging unit into a first region, a second region and a third region, and the packaging unit being folded about said folding axes with the first region, the second region and the third region in an overlapping configuration. Overlapping regions of the packaging are typically joined by seals along the longitudinal edges of the packaging unit. The inner surface of the wrapping material has two longitudinal edge zones along the longitudinal edges, and the seals are arranged at the longitudinal edge zones. The seals may be formed by mechanical sealing, such as embossing or ultrasonic welding, by heat sealing, by an adhesive, or by a combination thereof. When seals are formed by ultrasonic welding or heat sealing, a heat-sealing agent may be coated fully or partially over the inner surface of the wrapping material, or present along the longitudinal edge zones of the wrapping material, preferably between the sheet of wrapping material and any release coating.

[0038] Manufacture of the sheet of wrapping material

[0039] The sheet of wrapping material may be obtained by a method utilizing foambased production technology. Preferably the sheet of wrapping material may be obtained by a method utilizing foam-based production technology, followed by finalizing by a method utilizing surface treating technology.

[0040] Particularly, the sheet of wrapping material may be manufactured by a method comprising the steps of

[0041] - forming at least one foamed dispersion by dispersing fibres comprising natural fibres and reinforcement fibres in a foam or foamable liquid comprising water and at least one foaming agent to obtain fibre-foam,

[0042] - conveying the formed fibre-foam to a foraminous support and draining liquid trough the foraminous support to form a sheet,

[0043] - drying and calandering the sheet, and wherein the foam or foamable liquid comprises at least one binder; or the formed sheet is finalized before or after drying by treating the surface of the sheet with at least one binder; or the foam or foamable liquid comprises at least one binder, and the formed sheet is finalized before or after drying by treating the surface of the sheet with at least one binder.

[0044] Brief description of the drawings

[0045] Figure 1 is a top view of an exemplary packaging unit.

[0046] Figure 2 illustrates folding of the exemplary packaging unit.

[0047] Figure 3 is a top view of the exemplary packaging unit after folding and sealing.

[0048] Detailed description

[0049] Figure 1 depicts a packaging unit 1 for a hygiene article. The packaging unit comprises a disposable hygiene article 10 having an adhesive coating 11 for attaching the disposable article to a garment of a user. The packaging unit further comprises a packaging for enclosing the disposable hygiene article 10. The packaging comprising a sheet of wrapping material having an inner surface 2 and an outer surface 3. The inner surface 2 of the sheet of wrapping material is covered by a release coating, to which the adhesive coating 11 of the disposable hygiene product 10 is releasably attached. The inner surface 2 has two longitudinal edge zones 4 and two transversal folding axes 5. The folding axes divide the packaging unit into a first region 7, a second region 8 and third region 9. At the longitudinal edge zones 4, the sheet of wrapping material is provided with an adhesive.

[0050] Figure 2 illustrates, without showing the disposable hygiene article that is attached to the packaging, how the packaging unit 1 is folded about said folding axes 5 with the first region 7, the second region 8 and the third region 9 in an overlapping configuration.

[0051] Figure 3 depicts, without showing the disposable hygiene article enclosed by the packaging, the packaging unit 1 after folding of the packaging unit in an overlapping configuration and after overlapping regions of the packaging have been joined by heat seals along the edge zones 4 of the packaging unit.

[0052] Determination of length-weighted average fibre length (fiber length distribution, FS5) Test method designed for advanced fiber analysis; allows for measurement of L(l) [mm] Length-weighed mean fiber length. The fibers are dissolved in water and circulated through a measuring cell where a high-definition camera takes 30 images per second. The camera collects approximately 2000 images during a measurement and a software performs an image analysis to calculate the different fiber parameters.

[0053] Measurements are fully compliant with ISO 16065-2.

[0054] Determination of release force

[0055] The release force (N / m) of a release coating or release liner is evaluated against a standard tape with designation 50110, manufactured by the Tesa company (Hamburg, Germany). The tape is 25 mm wide, 0.3 mm thick, and consists of a 145 mesh acrylate coated fabric with natural rubber as adhesive material. When used for testing, the tape should be maximum one year old. The tape is stored in the dark in a climate of approximately 23 °C and 50 % relative humidity.

[0056] In case of a release liner, the release liner is removed from the hygiene article. The release liner, or the sheet of wrapping material having a release coating, is then conditioned for at least 2 hours in a laboratory environment set to 23 °C ±1 °C and 50 % rh ±5%. Subsequent testing takes place in similar environment.

[0057] For preparing a test sample, the side of the release liner, or of the sheet of wrapping material, that faces the adhesive region on the hygiene article is aligned against the sticky side of the 25 mm wide tape, gently and without undue pressure. The length direction of the tape should coincide with the longitudinal direction of the release liner or sheet of wrapping material (identical to the longitudinal direction of the hygiene article). About one centimeter of the tape protrudes outside of the longitudinal edge of the release liner, and a strip of conventional office printing paper (25 mm wide and about 10 cm long) is attached onto the protruding tape (as a grip area for the subsequent insertion into the tensile tester clamps).

[0058] A sample, prepared as above, is then placed with the tape side upwards on a flat, smooth, and hard surface. A uniform pressure of 8.3 kPa (85 g / cm2), suitably from a metal weight with a flat bottom, is then applied over the 25 mm wide tape for 20 hours. The pressure is then removed, and the sample rests unloaded for 4 more hours before testing.

[0059] A conventional tensile tester (such as available from the Zwick / Roell, Instron or Lloyd companies), equipped with a sensitive load cell (suitably 10 N) and two vertically aligned clamps (wider than 25 mm) is used for the test. At the longitudinal edge of the release liner, about 10 mm of the release liner is opened up (detached) from the tape for insertion into the lower clamp of the tensile tester. A fixation plate is placed behind (and together with) the sample in the lower clamp (this can be a metal plate about 1 mm thick and at least as high and wide as tested sample). The fixation plate keeps the non-delaminated part of the sample in a vertical position during testing, providing a 180° angle for the delamination interface. The office paper strip (extending into the tape) is inserted into the upper grip. When inserting the sample into the grips, excessive slack or tension over the sample should be avoided. The weight of the sample is tared (zeroed), and the upper grip is then set to move at a speed of 300 mm / min.

[0060] The release liner or sheet of wrapping material should delaminate (separate) completely from the tape. The encountered force, in Newtons, is continuously registered throughout the delamination. A mean force (arithmetic average) is then calculated for the close sequence of measurement points along the delaminated distance. In this, the first and the last 10 mm of delamination should be disregarded to minimize effects from sample distortions in the two extreme positions. Finally, the output from the test (Newtons for the 25 mm tested width) is reported on a Newton per 1 meter width (N / m) basis, according to the formula below.

[0061] N / 25mm N / m= _!— - x 1000

[0062] A release force in the context of this invention is the arithmetic mean from a measurement of 10 individual release liners or sheets of wrapping material (i.e. a mean from the means obtained from the individual samples). The release liners or sheets of wrapping material are taken from representative hygiene articles. The release force can also be measured on release liner or wrapping material taken directly from the supply roll.

[0063] Determination of tensile

[0064] Determination of stretch, or elongation at break, is measured by the standard test method ISO 1924-2. Constant rate of elongation 20mm / min and sample dimensions: 15(w)x300(l) mm.

[0065] Determination of Air

[0066] The NWSP 70.1 Air Permeability test method covers the measurement of the air permeability of materials. The rate of flow of air passing perpendicularly through a given area of fabric is measured at a given pressure difference across the fabric test area over a given time period. Chosen method settings: 20cm2, test pressure: 200Pa Used equipment: TEXTTEST instruments: FX 3300 LabAir (mark 4). Determination of friction at material

[0067] The test method is designed for determination of the friction coefficient of different materials (e.g. plastic films, nonwovens) under well-defined conditions. Processability; the materials friction against steel is measured, to simulate the behaviour in process. A sample of the material is attached to a sledge. By means of a tensile tester the sample is allowed to slide over a friction table with a well-defined surface, and the force is registered. Equipment: Instron, with a crosshead speed of 100mm / min. Method reference: DIN 53375:A.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A packaging unit (1) for a hygiene article, the packaging unit (1) comprising a disposable hygiene article (10) having an adhesive coating (11) for attaching the disposable hygiene article (10) to a garment of a user and a packaging for enclosing the disposable hygiene article (10), the packaging comprising a sheet of wrapping material, wherein the disposable hygiene article (10) is releasably attached to the packaging by the adhesive coating, and wherein the wrapping material comprises natural fibres in mixture with reinforcing fibres, the reinforcing fibres having a greater length-weighted average fibre length than the natural fibres.

2. The packaging unit (1) according to claim 1 , wherein the wrapping material comprises50 to 99 wt%, preferably 70 to 99 wt%, more preferably 85 to 99 wt%, of the natural fibres and1 to 50 wt%, preferably 1 to 30 wt%, more preferably 1 to 20 wt%, of the reinforcing fibres.

3. The packaging unit (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the natural fibres are natural cellulosic fibres, preferably wood fibres, or fibers from non-wood plant material.

4. The packaging unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the natural fibres have a length-weighted average fibre length of 0.5 to 5.0 mm, preferably 0.8 to 3.5 mm.

5. The packaging unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reinforcing fibres are of non-fossil origin.

6. The packaging unit (1) according any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reinforcing fibres are selected from polylactide fibres, glycolic acid polymer fibres, polyvinyl alcohol fibres, bicomponent fibres comprising thermoplastic polymers, nonwood natural fibres, manmade cellulosic fibres, and combinations thereof.

7. The packaging unit (1) according to claim 6, wherein the reinforcing fibres are manmade cellulosic fibres, preferably manmade fibres formed of cellulose of natural origin, more preferably manmade fibres formed of cellulose that has not been chemically modified, such as viscose, rayon or lyocell, most preferably viscose.

8. The packaging unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reinforcing fibres have a length-weighted average fibre length of 3 to 100 mm, preferably 5 to 30 mm, more preferably 6 to 15 mm.

9. The packaging unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the natural fibres and reinforcing fibres are randomly oriented.

10. The packaging unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wrapping material further comprises a binder selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl acetate dispersions, ethyl vinyl alcohol dispersions, polyurethane dispersions, acrylic latexes, styrene butadiene dispersions, binders based on finely divided cellulose, binders based on cellulose derivatives, biopolymers and combinations thereof, preferably acrylic latexes.11 . The packaging unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet of wrapping material has a basis weight of 10 to 50 g / m2, preferably 15 to30 g / m2.

12. The packaging unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet of wrapping material has a stretch of 0,5 to 7 % and / or an air permeability of 0 to 1000 l / m2 / s.

13. The packaging unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet of wrapping material has a release coating, and the adhesive coating of the disposable hygiene article (10) is releasably attached to the release coating.

14. The packaging unit (1) according to claim 13, wherein the release coating comprises silicone.

15. The packaging unit (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the packaging further comprises a release liner, the release liner being attached to thesheet of wrapping material, and the adhesive coating (11 ) of the disposable hygiene article (10) is releasably attached to the release liner.

16. The packaging unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the packaging unit (1) has two longitudinal edges and two transversal folding axes (5), the transversal folding axes (5) dividing the packaging unit (1 ) into a first region (7), a second region (8) and a third region (9), and the packaging unit (1) is folded about said folding axes (5) with the first region (7), the second region (8) and the third region (9) in an overlapping configuration.

17. The packaging unit (1 ) according to claim 16 wherein overlapping regions of the packaging are joined by seals along the longitudinal edges of the packaging unit (1).

18. The packaging unit (1) according to claim 17, wherein the seals are formed by mechanical sealing, such as embossing or ultrasonic welding, by heat sealing, by an adhesive, or by a combination thereof.

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