EcoMonoFilm®: monomaterial PE and PP film designed for recycling
One Material. One Future.®
EcoMonoFilm® is a range of monomaterial PE and PP film produced by VLM Poliplast in Romania. Each structure holds at least 90 per cent of one polymer by mass. The range replaces multilayer laminates that combine polymer families, in food, cosmetic and industrial packaging. The design follows the RecyClass Design for Recycling criteria.
European Union trade mark, registered at the EUIPO under number 019103256, in Nice classes 16, 17, 22 and 35. The registration runs to 8 November 2034. The thicknesses on this page are production ranges, and the barrier level is validated on the finished laminated structure. Recyclability is a property of the complete pack, assessed structure by structure against the RecyClass criteria, and the assessment covers inks, adhesives, closures and thickness. The high barrier route, built on mixed polymer families, is BarrierFlex.
The monomaterial criterion: at least 90 per cent of one polymer by mass
Monomaterial design sets one threshold. At least 90 per cent of the structure, by mass, belongs to a single polymer. The threshold comes from the CEFLEX guidelines and the RecyClass Design for Recycling criteria. A pack that meets it enters the mechanical recycling stream for polyethylene or for polypropylene without prior separation of polymers. That route requires separate collection and near-infrared sorting to be available.
Two thresholds apply at the same time, and they do not conflict. The general criterion is at least 90 per cent of one polymer. The second criterion applies only to structures carrying an oxygen barrier: RecyClass caps EVOH below 5 per cent by mass. In those structures the dominant polymer therefore sits above 95 per cent, which is stricter than the general rule, not different from it.
An indicative assessment of any structure can be run free of charge with tool.recyclass.eu, developed by Plastics Recyclers Europe.
The nine EcoMonoFilm® structures, grouped by barrier function
The range holds nine structures in three families. Three carry no added barrier layer: PP/PP, PE/PE and CPP/PP. Three raise stiffness and water vapour barrier by molecular orientation: MDO-PE/PE, BOPE/PE and BOPP/CPP. Three carry a thin EVOH layer for high oxygen requirements: PE/EVOH/PE, BOPE/EVOH/PE and PP/EVOH/CPP. All nine are produced by solventless lamination, with two component solvent free adhesives.
| Structure | Dominant polymer | Designed for | Typical applications | Limitation |
| PP / PP | PP above 90 per cent | The polypropylene stream | Snacks, dry bakery, spices | Limited oxygen barrier |
| PE / PE | PE above 90 per cent | The polyethylene stream | Frozen food, vegetables, ice, e-commerce | Limited heat resistance |
| MDO-PE / PE | PE above 90 per cent | The polyethylene stream | Snacks, coffee, dry goods, a PET replacement in laminates | Shorter shelf life than a metallised laminate |
| BOPE / PE | PE above 90 per cent | The polyethylene stream | Bags, pouches, e-commerce, transparent packs | Narrower sealing window than LDPE |
| BOPP / CPP | PP above 90 per cent | The polypropylene stream | Snacks, biscuits, flow wrap lines, gloss on shelf | Limited oxygen barrier without an added layer |
| CPP / PP | PP above 90 per cent | The polypropylene stream | Ready meals, hot filling, pasteurisation | Not suitable for high temperature sterilisation |
| PE / EVOH / PE | PE above 95 per cent, EVOH below 5 per cent | The polyethylene stream, assessed per structure | Opaque oxygen sensitive products, processed meat | EVOH is hygroscopic, the barrier falls with humidity |
| BOPE / EVOH / PE | PE above 95 per cent, EVOH below 5 per cent | The polyethylene stream, assessed per structure | Coffee beans with a clear window, premium snacks | EVOH is hygroscopic, narrower sealing window |
| PP / EVOH / CPP | PP above 95 per cent, EVOH below 5 per cent | The polypropylene stream, assessed per structure | Coffee beans, spices, oxygen sensitive supplements | EVOH is hygroscopic, not suitable for retort |
Compatibility with the monomaterial stream is assessed on the base structure, against the RecyClass criteria. The final classification depends on inks, adhesives, closure elements and thickness. It is confirmed structure by structure, never on the range.
Barrier level by family, and the production thickness of each structure
Two different kinds of figure appear below, and they carry different weight. Thickness is a production range, set by the converting line. Barrier is a measured property, and a measured property belongs to one concrete structure, at given thicknesses, at a given temperature and humidity. VLM Poliplast issues OTR and WVTR values on the technical data sheet of the validated structure, together with the test conditions and the method. The range as a whole carries no published numeric barrier.
| Structure | Oxygen barrier | Water vapour barrier | Production thickness |
| PP / PP | Limited | Good | 60 to 120 µm |
| PE / PE | Limited | Good | 60 to 150 µm |
| MDO-PE / PE | Limited | Raised by orientation | 80 to 120 µm |
| BOPE / PE | Limited | Raised by orientation | 70 to 110 µm |
| BOPP / CPP | Limited | Raised by orientation | GROSIME-BOPP-CPP |
| CPP / PP | Limited | Good | 70 to 130 µm |
| PE / EVOH / PE | High, through EVOH below 5 per cent | Good | 80 to 140 µm |
| BOPE / EVOH / PE | High, through EVOH below 5 per cent | Good | 80 to 120 µm |
| PP / EVOH / CPP | The highest in the range, through EVOH below 5 per cent | Good | 80 to 130 µm |
MDO-PE, BOPE, BOPP, CPP, EVOH and NIR sorting, defined
MDO-PE. Polyethylene oriented in the machine direction. Orientation raises stiffness and lowers water vapour transmission. The film stays in the polyethylene stream and replaces PET as the outer web in many laminates.
BOPE. Polyethylene oriented in two directions. It combines strength with clarity, stays in the polyethylene stream, and has a narrower sealing window than LDPE.
BOPP. Polypropylene oriented in two directions. It carries high stiffness, clarity and gloss, and serves as the printed outer web in polypropylene structures. It stays in the polypropylene stream.
CPP. Cast polypropylene. It seals at low temperature and serves as the sealant layer in polypropylene structures.
EVOH. An ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer with a very high oxygen barrier. It enters the structure as a thin layer below 5 per cent by mass. It is hygroscopic, so polyolefin layers protect it on both sides. The EVOH page covers how ethylene content scales the barrier.
NIR sorting. Automated sorting at the recycling plant. A near-infrared spectrometer identifies the polymer. Monomaterial structures sort into their stream when brightness is sufficient and carbon black stays below the threshold.
How EcoMonoFilm® replaces the PET, aluminium and PE laminate
The structure EcoMonoFilm replaces most often is the PET, aluminium and PE laminate, long used on coffee and other sensitive products. That laminate combines three polymers with a metal layer, four components once the adhesive is counted. It fits no monomaterial recycling stream, and the metal layer blocks automated sorting.
A ground coffee pack shows the difference. The MDO-PE/PE structure uses one dominant polymer and two components. Oxygen barrier, where the product requires it, comes from an EVOH layer below 5 per cent. Light barrier comes from a thin metallic layer, or from transparent AlOx or SiOx coatings, without aluminium foil. Barrier and sealing values are then confirmed by testing on the specific structure and on the filling line.
| Criterion | EcoMonoFilm® | PET / PE | PET / aluminium / PE |
| Monomaterial recycling | Designed for the PE or the PP stream, assessed per structure | Mixed structure | Mixed structure |
| PPWR recyclability threshold, 2030 | Designed to meet it | Exposed, in its current form | Exposed, in its current form |
| Automated sorting | Compatible, subject to brightness and carbon black | Mixed signal, sorting uncertain | Blocked by the metal layer |
| EPR fees, where modulation applies | Lower band, once a Member State applies modulation | Higher band | Higher band |
| Recycled content integration | Compatible | Polymers have to be separated first | Requires redesign |
Compostable film, recycled content and coated paper, and where each one stops
Three other routes compete for the same brief, and each has a boundary. Compostable films made from PLA or PHA disintegrate under industrial composting conditions, and industrial composting plants remain few across Europe. Mixed into a PE or PP collection, they contaminate that stream. Post-consumer recycled content answers the PPWR recycled content requirement, and food contact rPE and rPP remain hard to source at volume, so recycled content complements a monomaterial structure rather than replacing it. Paper with a functional coating performs on shelf, and its barrier to moisture and oxygen stays weak. The recycled content thresholds and the comparison with paper based packaging cover both in detail.
Where monomaterial PE and PP film is used, by industry
Four inputs select the structure: the barrier requirement, the use temperature, the filling line and the target shelf life.
Coffee, snacks and spices
PP/EVOH/CPP and BOPE/EVOH/PE where the product is oxygen sensitive. MDO-PE/PE and BOPP/CPP for dry goods without an oxygen requirement.
Frozen food and bake-off
PE/PE bags for frozen bakery, vegetables, fruit and ice, across the whole cold chain.
Food supplements
PE and PP structures with EVOH below 5 per cent, for compounds that oxidise.
Bakery and pastry
PP structures on flow wrap lines, including BOPP/CPP, for dry and baked products.
Industrial packaging
Monomaterial film and bags for powders, granules and solid goods, built for transport.
E-commerce and courier
Polyethylene mailing bags and envelopes, designed for the polyethylene stream.
Recyclability criteria, PPWR deadlines and food contact documentation
EcoMonoFilm structures are designed against the RecyClass criteria, the European reference for flexible packaging recyclability until the PPWR delegated acts are published. Five design criteria apply: a dominant polymer at or above 90 per cent by mass, EVOH below 5 per cent in barrier structures, compatibility with NIR sorting, solventless adhesives, and inks compatible with the end stream. Regulation (EU) 2025/40, the PPWR, has applied since 12 August 2026. The recyclability requirement becomes a market threshold on 1 January 2030. See how a pack is assessed by grade.
Structures intended for food contact are developed in line with the framework Regulation (EC) 1935/2004 and with Regulation (EU) 10/2011. Article 12 of that regulation sets the overall migration limit at 10 mg/dm². Declarations of Conformity are issued per validated structure and per application. Structures carrying recycled content in direct food contact fall under Regulation (EU) 2022/1616, which requires an authorised recycling technology. See what a Declaration of Conformity has to contain.
Three cases where EcoMonoFilm® is not the right choice
Monomaterial structures carry real limits. Three cases fall outside the range.
Aggressive retort sterilisation. PP structures cover hot filling and pasteurisation. Sterilisation at high temperature over a long hold uses polyamide based structures, which VLM Poliplast does not produce. The polyamide film page describes the material for reference, without an offer.
Very long shelf life on critically oxygen sensitive products. The barrier required there exceeds what a thin EVOH layer between polyolefins delivers. Until ceramic coatings on PE and PP substrates mature, metallised structures remain the route. Those sit in BarrierFlex, outside monomaterial recycling.
Older filling lines without precise thermal control. The narrow sealing window of PE structures can produce incomplete seals on those lines. Validation on the filling line is mandatory before a production order, in this case and in every other.
How EcoMonoFilm® is manufactured, and under which certifications
EcoMonoFilm is produced at VLM Poliplast in three stages. Films are selected from producers who supply technical data sheets and certificates of conformity. They are laminated solventless, with two component solvent free adhesives, which keeps the adhesive mass low enough to hold the monomaterial threshold. They are then converted into reels, bags or pouches, with quality control on thickness, sealing and, for food contact, migration.
Production is covered by a quality management system certified to ISO 9001. Food contact structures are covered by a food safety management system certified to ISO 22000. Traceability runs from the incoming reel to the delivered product. Overall migration testing is carried out at an accredited laboratory. Each batch can be accompanied by a technical data sheet and a Declaration of Conformity.
Frequently asked questions about EcoMonoFilm®
What is the difference between EcoMonoFilm® PE and EcoMonoFilm® PP?
The difference between EcoMonoFilm PE and EcoMonoFilm PP is the base polymer, and it changes four things. PE films are flexible, seal at low temperature and survive freezing, so they suit bags, frozen products and e-commerce. PP films give stiffness and clarity, run well on flow wrap lines for snacks and bakery, and tolerate hot filling. Both families have a high oxygen barrier version, through EVOH below 5 per cent. The PP family also holds the BOPP/CPP pair, with an oriented outer web for print and gloss. Each family is designed for its own recycling stream, and the two streams do not mix.
When is a structure with EVOH chosen over one without?
A structure with EVOH is chosen when the product is oxygen sensitive and the target shelf life is long, as with coffee beans, spices or supplements. The thin EVOH layer, below 5 per cent by mass, raises the oxygen barrier considerably and keeps the structure within the RecyClass criteria. Without EVOH, the structure suits products with moderate requirements, where a simpler recycling route is the priority.
Do EcoMonoFilm® structures sort correctly at the recycling plant?
Yes, correctly designed PE and PP monomaterial structures sort into their own stream by near-infrared. Final compatibility depends on EVOH staying below 5 per cent, on carbon black staying below the threshold, and on inks and adhesives aligned with the end stream. The assessment is made on every new structure, including with the RecyClass online tool.
Is EcoMonoFilm® suitable for food contact?
Yes, EcoMonoFilm structures intended for food contact are developed in line with Regulation (EC) 1935/2004 and Regulation (EU) 10/2011, with a Declaration of Conformity issued per structure and per application. Structures carrying recycled content in direct food contact fall under Regulation (EU) 2022/1616, which requires an authorised recycling technology.
Does EcoMonoFilm® run on existing filling lines?
Yes, most modern VFFS, HFFS and flow wrap lines run EcoMonoFilm after adjustments to sealing temperature, sealing pressure and unwind tension. Validation on the customer line stays mandatory before a production order. Extreme barrier requirements and standard retort call for other structures or additional equipment.
An EcoMonoFilm® structure is configured on the product, not picked from a list
Send the product, the target shelf life and the line it is packed on. We come back with the structure, with the values measured on it, together with the technical data sheet and the Declaration of Conformity.
Related resources on monomaterial structures and recyclability
Monomaterial PE
The all PE route: LDPE, LLDPE and HDPE variants, the MDO-PE print web and deep freeze duty.
Monomaterial PP
The all PP route: BOPP and CPP variants, barrier and sealing behaviour, and where it fits.
BOPE film
What stretching in two directions does, and why BOPE makes an all PE pack possible.
Design for recycling
The criteria a structure is assessed against, and who issues the assessment.
RecyClass certification claims
What a RecyClass claim covers, what it does not, and who can make it.
Mono-material film, commercial range
The commercial counterpart: replacement equivalents for mixed laminates, per line and product.