Recyclable packaging and manufacturing method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a recyclable packaging comprising several parts (1, 9, 10, 11, 12) assembled together, at least one of said several parts of the packaging comprising a structural layer (2) made of a first type of material and a functional layer (3) made of a second type of material, said layers (2, 3) being attached to each other by a peelable interface (7) which ensures sufficient adhesion between said structural and functional layers (2, 3) to maintain the integrity of the packaging during use and to allow the separation of said layers so that after separation they can be recycled in the respective appropriate recycling channels. The present invention also relates to a method for recycling such a packaging.

Description

Corresponding Application

[0001] This application claims priority to an earlier European patent application No. 22162602.1, filed on March 17, 2022 in the name of AISAPACK HOLDING SA, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. [Technical field]

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of packaging made of cellulose-based or recyclable plastics, more particularly to packaging with reduced environmental impact. The present invention applies to the field of packaging with a cylindrical body made from a sheet. The present invention applies in particular to flexible tubes for containing products such as creams or pastes, or bottles for cosmetics, or cartridges for containing products such as glues or mastics, or cylindrical packaging (cans, flexible pouches) for containing liquid or dry products, which are recyclable. [Background technology]

[0003] These types of packaging are known, for example, from the publications WO 2022 / 229810, EP 1 260 447, FR 2 505 250, GB 1 118 632, US 2 119 926 and US 4 132 331. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates to a packaging, for example a tube or a bottle, comprising at least one tubular body made from a cellulose-based sheet. The wall of the tubular body comprises at least a first structural layer based on cellulose and a second layer, called functional layer, which forms the inner layer of the packaging. According to the invention, the adhesion between the two layers is adjusted so that the packaging allows easy separation of the structural layer and the functional layer when the end of the life of the packaging is reached. A preferred embodiment of the invention consists in adding internal and external reinforcing strips to the weld. According to this embodiment, the external strip is used at the end of the life to facilitate the separation of the layers, and the internal strip is used to keep the packaging sealed after separation of the cellulose-based structural layer. The invention makes it possible to facilitate the recycling of the packaging, for example the structural layer forming the majority of the cellulose-based packaging, which contains a minimum of 85% cellulose, is recycled with paper, while the functional layer of the packaging, for example polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) based, is recycled in the appropriate recycling channels. The first element of the invention is preferably used to reduce the environmental impact of the mastic tubes or bottles or cartridges.

[0005] The principle of the present invention is therefore to use at least two types of materials to form structural and functional layers, respectively, which are recycled in different channels, in order, firstly, to ensure that the materials are assembled with sufficient adhesion for the use of the packaging, and secondly, to assemble the structural and functional layers at a "peelable" interface such that the materials can be separated at the end of the packaging's life in order to recycle them in the appropriate recycling channels.

[0006] In some embodiments, the present invention relates to a recyclable packaging comprising a plurality of parts assembled together to form a packaging, wherein at least one of said plurality of parts of the packaging comprises a structural layer made of a first type of material and a functional layer made of a second type of material, said types of material having different recycling channels, said structural layer and functional layer being attached to each other by a peelable interface that ensures sufficient adhesion between said structural layer and functional layer to maintain the integrity of the packaging at least during use of the packaging, as well as separation of the layers to allow the structural layer and functional layer to be recycled in the appropriate recycling channels of the structural layer and functional layer after separation.

[0007] In some embodiments, the multiple parts of the packaging comprise, for example, a tubular body and multiple additional parts, which may be a head and / or a base and / or a cap.

[0008] In some embodiments, the structural layer may be cellulose-based and the functional layer may be synthetic material-based. Other materials for forming the structural and functional layers are also possible, such as metals (aluminum, bio-based polymers, compostable polymers, etc.). The structural and functional layers may be single layer or multi-layer.

[0009] This principle of the invention is not only applied to the body of the package, but may also be applied to other parts / portions of the package (e.g. described in this application as "additional parts"), such as the head, cap or bottom of a tube of the package, etc. Thus, each of the given parts of the package may comprise at least one such structural layer and one such functional layer attached to each other by a peelable interface, and the principles of the invention are applied to these parts in a manner that allows recycling in appropriate recycling channels according to the principles of the invention.

[0010] In some embodiments of the invention, separation is initiated during use of the package or after use of the package.

[0011] In some embodiments of the invention, at least one component of the packaging body comprises an outer strip secured or bonded to the structural layer by a peelable interface such that the outer strip can be used to facilitate separation between the structural layer and the functional layer.

[0012] In some embodiments of the invention, the outer strip may be at least partially separated from the structural layer at the end of the life of the package, for example upon separation of the structural and functional layers.

[0013] In some embodiments of the invention, the exterior strip is made of a first type of material, hi some embodiments, the first type of material is cellulose-based.

[0014] In some embodiments of the invention, at least one part of the packaging comprises an internal strip secured to the functional layer, said internal strip enabling the packaging to remain sealed after separation of the structural layer and the functional layer.

[0015] In some embodiments of the invention, the inner strip is made from a second type of material.

[0016] Depending on the multiple parts of the package in question (body, tube head, cap, bottom) such strips may or may not be used. The inner and outer strips may be single or multi-ply.

[0017] In some embodiments of the present invention, the functional layer is polyethylene-based, preferably high density polyethylene-based, and / or polypropylene-based, and / or bio-based and / or biodegradable resin-based.

[0018] In some embodiments of the present invention, the packaging, after separation, forms two recyclable waste pieces comprising a first waste piece comprising one or more structural layers (originating from the body and / or multiple additional parts of the packaging) and a second waste piece comprising at least one or more functional layers (originating from the body and / or multiple additional parts of the packaging).

[0019] In some embodiments of the invention, the first waste piece may comprise an outer strip and the second waste piece may comprise an inner strip.

[0020] In some embodiments of the present invention, the second waste fraction comprises resins that make up at least 80% of the plastic waste fraction.

[0021] In some embodiments of the invention, the tubular body and / or the plurality of additional components each comprise a cellulose-based structural layer and a plastic-based functional layer, such that the first waste piece comprises a structural layer of the body and / or the plurality of additional components, and the second waste piece comprises a functional layer of the body and / or the plurality of additional components.

[0022] In some embodiments of the present invention, the structural layer is monolayer or multilayer and the functional layer is monolayer or multilayer.

[0023] In some embodiments of the invention, the wrapper forms a tube and the plurality of additional parts are a tube head and a cap.

[0024] In some embodiments of the invention, the package forms a bottle and the additional parts are a tube head, a cap and a base.

[0025] In some embodiments of the invention, the package forms a cartridge and the additional parts are a tube head, a cap and a base.

[0026] In some embodiments, the present invention relates to a method for recycling a packaging comprising a plurality of parts assembled together to form a packaging, wherein at least one of the parts of the packaging comprises a structural layer made of a first type of material and a functional layer made of a second type of material, said layers being attached to each other by peelable interfaces, which ensure adhesion between the layers and allow the integrity of the packaging to be maintained during use of the packaging, in which the layers are separated at the peelable interfaces of the layers such that after separation the layers can be recycled in an appropriate recycling channel.

[0027] In some embodiments of the invention, separation of the layers is initiated during or after use of the package.

[0028] In some embodiments of the method according to the invention, the packaging body comprises at least one external strip secured or bonded to the structural layer by a peelable interface, the external strip being used to facilitate separation between the structural layer and the functional layer at the peelable interface.

[0029] In some embodiments of the method according to the invention, at least the wrapper comprises an inner strip fixed or bonded to the functional layer so as to maintain the wrapper sealed after separation of the structural and functional layers.

[0030] In some embodiments of the method according to the invention, the outer strip is at least partially separated from the structural layer.

[0031] In some embodiments of the method according to the invention, two waste pieces are formed from the packaging by separation, said waste pieces being formed at least from layers of multiple parts of the packaging.

[0032] 1-9 illustrate the present invention with respect to a recyclable packaging, where a structural layer (eg, cellulose-based) of the packaging is separated from the remainder of the packaging at the end of its life. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1] 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a weld. [Diagram 2] The principle of separation of a structural layer and a functional layer is shown. [Diagram 3] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a tubular body before separation of the structural layer and the functional layer. [Figure 4] 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the tubular body after separation of the structural layer and the functional layer. [Diagram 5] 1 shows the invention applied to a cellulose-based tube. [Figure 6] 1 shows the invention applied to a cellulose-based bottle. [Figure 7] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a cartridge. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 shows the separation of the structural and functional layers as the cartridge of FIG. 7 is emptied. [Figure 9] 1 shows the layer of cellulose separated from the remainder of the package. [Figure 10] 1 illustrates the principles of the invention applied to various parts of a package. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] 1: Part or portion of a package 2: Structural layer 3: Functional layer 4: External strip 5: Internal strip 6: Edge of sheet 7: Peelable interface 8: Edge to edge assembly 9: Tubular body 10: Head 11: Cap 12: Bottom 13: Tube 14: Bottle 15: Waste pieces, e.g. cellulose-based 16: Waste pieces, e.g. resin-based 17: Cartridge 20: Head, e.g. cellulose-based structural layer 21: Structural layer of the cap, e.g. cellulose-based 22: bottom, e.g. cellulose-based structural layer 30: Functional layer of the head 31: Cap functional layer 32: Bottom functional layer

[0035] The present invention relates to a recyclable packaging comprising at least one tubular body comprising a structural layer and a functional layer, characterized in particular in that the two layers can be separated and recycled in suitable recycling channels for the two layers.

[0036] Figure 1 shows a cross-section of a part of a tubular body obtained by welding sheets according to an embodiment of the invention. The cross-section of the packaging part 1 shows an assembly of sheets comprising at least a structural layer 2, for example based on cellulose, and a functional layer 3, for example based on resin. According to the invention, the structural layer 2 is bonded to the functional layer 3 by a peelable interface 7, which allows the layers to be separated at the end of the life of the packaging. In other words, the adhesion between layers 2 and 3 is regulated by the interface 7 to ensure the integrity of the packaging during its use and to allow the layers 2, 3 to be separated at the end of the life of the packaging, so that each layer 2, 3 can be recycled in its own appropriate recycling channel.

[0037] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the functional layer 3 provides the properties necessary to preserve the packaged product (e.g. moisture and gas barrier, or food grade or weldable properties). The thickness of the functional layer 3 is thin, preferably less than 50 microns. The functional layer 3 may have a single or multi-layer structure, and in a preferred embodiment, one of the resins of layer 3 accounts for at least 80% of said layer. In this preferred embodiment, for example, SiOx or metallized layers to provide gas barrier properties, recyclable plastics, bio-based or compostable polymers, etc. are used.

[0038] According to an embodiment of the invention, the structural layer 2 provides rigidity and stability to the package, allowing it to be easily handled and stored by the user. The structural layer 2 also serves as a communication medium and is preferably printed over all or part of its surface. The functional layer 2 may be cellulose-based, comprising at least 80% cellulose, preferably at least 90% cellulose, so as to be recyclable in paper recycling channels. Metals, bio-based or compostable polymers, etc. are also possible.

[0039] According to an embodiment of the invention, the tubular portion of the package is manufactured from sheets that are welded or adhesively joined by an outer strip 4 and an inner strip 5, which are fixed to the structural layer 2 and the functional layer 3, respectively. The strips 4 and 5 reinforce the weld and ensure the integrity of the package during use. According to a preferred embodiment of the assembly shown in Figure 1, the edges 6 of the sheets are juxtaposed end-to-end in the weld area. According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the edges are overlapped in the weld area.

[0040] According to an embodiment of the invention, the outer strip 4 is used to facilitate separation between the structural layer 2 and the functional layer 3 when the package is recycled. The outer strip 4 therefore has special package separation means, e.g. a peelable interface with layer 2.

[0041] Figure 2 shows an embodiment of a mechanism for the separation of the layers 2, 3 with the aim of recycling the package. The external strip 4 makes available an end of the structural layer 2 which can be at least partially separated from the package and further separated from the package by a peelable interface 7 between the structural layer 2 and the functional layer 3. One advantage of the embodiment shown in Figure 2 relates to the fact that the seal of the package is maintained by the internal strip 5 connecting the ends 6 of the layer 3. Thus, despite the structural layer 2 being separated, the remainder of the packaged product still remains enclosed inside the package, which is a great advantage in terms of hygiene from the user's point of view.

[0042] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer strip 4 is cellulose-based and remains at least partially attached to layer 2 when separation takes place. This preferred embodiment makes it possible to recycle the outer strip 4 in the same recycling channel at the same time as layer 2, if the outer strip 4 and layer 2 are made of the same material or materials of the same nature.

[0043] Figure 3 shows a cross-section of a tubular embodiment of a package according to the invention. An outer strip 4 is used to facilitate separation of layers 2 and 3 during recycling, while an inner strip 5 allows the package to remain sealed even after separation of these layers.

[0044] Figure 4 shows an embodiment of a mechanism for separating layer 2 from the remainder of the package. Preferably, the outer strip 4 used to initiate the separation of the layers remains partially attached to layer 2, as shown in Figures 5, 6 (see middle figure) and 9 (see left figure).

[0045] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment with a tube 13 intended to contain a viscous or pasty product manufactured according to the invention. The tube 13 shown in FIG. 5 comprises a tubular body joined in parts to a tube head 10 and a cap 11. The tube 13 is similar in appearance and use characteristics to known commercial tubes. In particular, the tube 13 has the same advantages and handling properties as this type of packaging, such as feeding properties, storage properties, ease of use, and an advantageous ratio between the amount of packaged product and the weight of the packaging. FIG. 5 also shows that the packaging is separated into two recyclable waste pieces: a first waste piece 15 based on cellulose, comprising a structural layer 2 and an outer strip 4, and a second waste piece 16 based on recyclable resin, which is very light. According to an embodiment of the invention, the resin-based waste piece 16 comprises a resin that represents at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, of the plastic waste piece. According to an embodiment of the invention, the waste piece 16 comprises at least a functional layer 3, an inner strip 5, a tube head 10, and a cap 11. According to a first embodiment, the waste pieces 16 are polyethylene-based, preferably high density polyethylene-based. According to a second embodiment, the waste pieces 16 are polypropylene-based. According to a third embodiment, the waste pieces 16 are bio-based and / or biodegradable resin-based. Other equivalent materials are of course also possible, depending on the product present in the package.

[0046] According to another embodiment of the tube 13 according to the invention, the tubular body 9 and / or the tube head 10 and / or the cap 11 each comprise a cellulose-based structural layer 2 and a plastic-based functional layer 3. At the end of the life of the packaging, the cellulose-based respective structural layer 2 of the tubular body 9 and / or the tube head 10 and / or the cap 11 is separated and recycled in a paper recycling channel. The remaining functional layers 3 of the tubular body 9, the tube head 10 and the cap 11 are recycled in a plastic recycling channel. According to this principle, all parts of the packaging, or at least the majority of the parts of the packaging, are formed from such structural layers 2 and functional layers 3 that can be recycled in a suitable recycling channel at the end of the life of the packaging.

[0047] Figure 6 shows an embodiment of a bottle 14 manufactured according to the invention. The bottle 14 comprises a tubular body 9 joined to a bottom 12 and a head 10 having a neck and closed by a cap 11. Figure 6 also shows the separation of the layer 2, for example based on cellulose, from the rest of the bottle during recycling. Removing the outer strip 4 at least partially from the bottle 9 facilitates the separation of the layer 2. As shown in Figure 6, the bottle 14 is divided into two recyclable waste pieces: a first waste piece 15, for example based on cellulose, comprising the layer 2 in the form of a sheet and the outer strip 4, and a second waste piece 16, for example based on plastic resin, comprising the bottom 12, the functional layer 3, the inner strip 5, the head 10 and the cap 11. The first waste piece 15 is recycled in a paper recycling channel and the second waste piece 16 is recycled in a plastic recycling channel.

[0048] According to another embodiment of the bottle 14 according to the invention, the tubular body 9 and / or the bottom 12 and / or the head 10 and / or the cap 11 each comprise a structural layer 2, e.g. cellulose based, and a functional layer 3, e.g. plastic based. At the end of the life of the bottle 14, the respective structural layer 2, e.g. cellulose based, of the tubular body 9 and / or the bottom 12 and / or the tube head 10 and / or the cap 11 is separated and recycled in a paper recycling channel. The plastic based functional layer 3 of the tubular body 9, the bottom 12, the tube head 10 and the cap 11 is recycled in a plastic recycling channel.

[0049] Figure 7 shows a cartridge 17 for dispensing a viscous product such as a mastic or adhesive. The cartridge 17 comprises a tubular body 9 joined to a base 12 and to a head 10 having a neck and closed by a cap 11. The tubular body 9 comprises at least a structural layer 2, for example based on cellulose, and a functional layer 3, for example based on a plastic resin. The base 12 is fixed to the functional layer 3 of the tubular body. The cartridge shown in Figure 7 is used together with a tool called a "gun" (not shown), which makes it possible to extract the product from the cartridge 17 by means of an axial force exerted by the gun on the base 12 moving inside the tubular body 9.

[0050] FIG. 8 shows the position of the cartridge 17 during use, specifically when part of the product has already been extracted from the cartridge 17. As the cartridge 17 is emptied, the bottom part 12 slides inside the tubular body 9 due to the pressure applied to it by the gun. According to the invention, the movement of the bottom part 12 fixed to the functional layer 3 causes the separation of the functional layer 3 and the structural layer 2 at the interface 7 during use of the package 17, while maintaining the integrity of the package 17. According to the invention, the adhesive force at the interface 7 is adjusted to ensure the separation of the layers 2, 3. When the bottom part 12 reaches the head 10 as a result of the sliding movement of the bottom part 12 and when the cartridge 17 is emptied (see the drawing on the right side of FIG. 9), the separation of the package 17 into two waste pieces 15, 16 occurs (or can occur).

[0051] FIG. 9 shows that the cartridge 17 separates into two waste pieces: a first waste piece 15, e.g. cellulose based, comprising a layer 2 and an outer strip 4, and a second waste piece 16, e.g. plastic based, comprising a bottom 12, a functional layer 3, an inner strip 5, a head 10 and a cap 11.

[0052] According to another embodiment of the cartridge 17 according to the invention, the tubular body 9 and / or the bottom 12 and / or the head 10 and / or the cap 11 each comprise a structural layer 2, e.g. cellulose based, and a functional layer 3, e.g. plastic based. At the end of the life of the cartridge 17, the respective structural layers 2, e.g. cellulose based, of the tubular body 9 and / or the bottom 12 and / or the tube head 10 and / or the cap 11 are separated and recycled in a paper recycling channel. The plastic based functional layers 3 of the tubular body 9, the bottom 12, the tube head 10 and the cap 11 are recycled in a plastic recycling channel.

[0053] To facilitate a general understanding of the principles of the structure, operation, manufacture, and use of the systems and methods described herein, embodiments are described. One or more of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The systems and methods specifically described in this application and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting embodiments, and the scope of the invention is not defined solely by the claims. Features illustrated or described for one embodiment may be combined with features of other embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be within the scope of the invention. A given number of problems encountered with conventional methods and systems are mentioned herein, and the methods and systems described herein may solve one or more of these problems. Moreover, while the invention has been described with a given number of embodiments, alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention are also encompassed by the present application.

Claims

1. 1. A recyclable packaging (13, 14, 17) comprising a plurality of parts (1, 9, 10, 11, 12) assembled together to form said packaging, at least one of said plurality of parts of said packaging comprising a structural layer (2) made of a first type of material and a functional layer (3) made of a second type of material, said structural and functional layers (2, 3) being attached to each other by a peelable interface (7), said interface (7) ensuring sufficient adhesion between said structural and functional layers (2, 3) to maintain the integrity of said packaging during use of said packaging and to allow separation of said structural and functional layers (2, 3) such that after separation said structural and functional layers (2, 3) can be recycled in appropriate recycling channels for said structural and functional layers (2, 3).

2. 2. Recyclable packaging according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of parts of the packaging comprises a tubular body (9) and / or a plurality of additional parts (10, 11, 12).

3. 3. The recyclable packaging of claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of additional parts comprises a head and / or a base and / or a cap.

4. A recyclable packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one part of the packaging comprises an external strip (4) fixed to the structural layer (2) by a peelable interface so as to facilitate separation between the structural layer (2) and the functional layer (3) of the part using the external strip (4).

5. 5. The recyclable packaging according to claim 4, wherein the outer strip (4) is at least partially separated from the structural layer (2) upon separation of the structural layer (2) and the functional layer (3).

6. 6. Recyclable packaging according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said outer strip (4) is made of said first type of material.

7. The recyclable packaging of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first type of material is cellulose-based.

8. A recyclable packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein at least one part of the packaging comprises an internal strip (5) fixed to the functional layer (3), said internal strip (5) making it possible for the packaging to remain sealed after separation of the structural layer (2) and the functional layer (3).

9. 9. Recyclable packaging according to claim 8, wherein said inner strip (5) is made of said second type of material.

10. Recyclable packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the second type of material is polyethylene-based, and / or polypropylene-based, and / or bio-based and / or biodegradable resin-based.

11. 11. The recyclable packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 10, which after separation forms two recyclable waste pieces comprising a first waste piece (15) comprising at least one structural layer (2) and a second waste piece (16) comprising at least one functional layer (3).

12. 12. Recyclable packaging according to claim 11, wherein the first waste piece comprises the outer strip (4) and / or the second waste piece (16) comprises the inner strip (5).

13. Recyclable packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the structural layer (2) is mono- or multi-layered and the functional layer (3) is mono- or multi-layered.

14. Recyclable packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein said packaging forms a tube (13) and said additional parts are a tube head (10) and a cap (11).

15. The recyclable packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein said packaging forms a bottle (14) and said additional parts are a tube head (10), a cap (11) and a base (12).

16. The recyclable packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the packaging forms a cartridge (17) and the plurality of additional parts are a tube head (10), a cap (11) and a base (12).

17. A method for recycling a packaging comprising a plurality of parts assembled together to form a packaging, at least one of the parts of the packaging comprising a structural layer made of a first type of material and a functional layer made of a second type of material, the functional layer and the structural layer being attached to each other by a peelable interface, the interface ensuring sufficient adhesion between the functional layer and the structural layer to maintain the integrity of the packaging during use of the packaging, the method comprising: separating the structural layer and the functional layer at the peelable interface of the structural layer and the functional layer such that the structural layer and the functional layer can be recycled in an appropriate recycling channel for the structural layer and the functional layer after separation.

18. 20. The method of claim 17, wherein separation of the layers is initiated during or after use of the package.

19. The method of claim 17 or 18, wherein the packaging comprises an outer strip secured to a structural layer by a peelable interface, the outer strip being used to facilitate the separation between the structural layer and the functional layer at the peelable interface.

20. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the packaging body comprises an internal strip fixed to the functional layer such that the packaging body remains sealed after separation of the structural and functional layers.

21. A method according to any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the outer strip is at least partially separated from the structural layer.

22. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 21, wherein at least two recyclable waste pieces are formed from the package by separation.

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