New ecovio^® portfolio for flexible packaging: multiple barrier options combined with organic or paper recycling

• Certified home compostable ecovio^® grades suitable for extrusion coating or film lamination on paper and plastic substrates
• Adjustable mono- or multi-layer barriers against grease, liquids, oxygen and moisture
• For fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) packaging: food and beverages, personal care products, healthcare articles, pet food
• BASF at the Interpack: May 7-13, Düsseldorf, Germany, hall 10, booth A44

BASF is expanding its certified compostable ecovio^® portfolio with new grades that meet increasing recycling needs of flexible barrier packaging. The extended portfolio enables manufacturers of flexible packaging and brand owners to tailor barrier performance and end-of-life options like organics or paper recycling according to application functionalities, processing technologies and regulatory frameworks. The certified home-compostable ecovio^® grades can be combined with each other to manufacture different barrier structures based on paper or plastic substrates, enabling the whole packaging to be as high-performing as established packaging solutions while at the same time significantly increasing sustainability. The portfolio is suitable for a wide range of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) packaging, including food and beverages, personal care products, healthcare articles and pet food.

The new ecovio^® toolbox comprises ready-to-use solutions for different packaging technologies, offering adjustable barriers against grease, oil, waxes and liquids as well as high barriers against oxygen and moisture while also acting as sealing layer. Processing is possible on existing manufacturing equipment: the different ecovio^® grades are suitable for extrusion coating, film or sheet extrusion, as well as for lamination via extrusion, adhesives or heat, all in mono- or multi-layer structures.

With the new portfolio even ultra-thin biaxially stretched films are possible, opening up a new range of home-compostable packaging: the food-contact approved ecovio^® provides good mechanical and excellent optical properties including high transparency.

New flexibility for brand owners: flexible high-barrier packaging goes home compostable

“With the new ecovio^® portfolio, we offer manufacturers of flexible packaging a modular material toolbox that gives them greater design freedom: They can adapt barrier performance, processing technology and recycling possibilities to their specific application needs and sustainability goals,” says Michael Bernhard Schick from global business management Biopolymers at BASF. “This supports converters and brand owners in developing high-performing packaging solutions while addressing end-of-life options already in the product development phase. We are happy to show visitors at the Interpack trade fair the many possibilities of how they can design high-barrier flexible packaging items with ecovio^® - and making them home compostable, too: Real-life samples of established applications for the different value chains plastic and paper are on display.”

Depending on the substrate and packaging design, certified compostable ecovio^® supports different end-of-life options. Paper- and board-based packaging structures can be recycled via established paper recycling streams with high fiber recovery; they can also be organically recycled when soiled with food residues. Flexible plastic packaging made of ecovio^® can be organically recycled in industrial or home compost without generating persistent microplastics. Depending on the grade, ecovio^® is available with bio-based content ranging up to 80 percent or as certified biomass-balanced material.

The new ecovio^® grades can be used to create barriers for a wide range of FMCG packaging of different foodstuffs and other ingredients: Pouches, sachets, trays or boxes can be manufactured containing hot, cold, dry, solid, liquid or fatty foods – from coffee, salty snacks, cereals, chocolate bars via ice cream, sauces, ketchup and mayonnaise to meat, fish and cheese as well as shampoo, body lotions and other personal care products.

BASF at Interpack 2026

A wide range of BASF’s solutions for the packaging industry will be showcased at the Interpack trade fair taking place from May 7–13 in Düsseldorf, Germany. You can meet BASF’s biopolymers team at booth A44 in Hall 10.

More information: www.ecovio.basf.com/flexiblepackaging


About BASF’s Performance Materials division

BASF’s Performance Materials division drives the transformation of the plastics industry by uniting sustainability with high performance. Our materials expertise, deep industry know-how, and broad product portfolio make us the preferred partner for comprehensive solutions across the plastics lifecycle. With dedicated material-focused teams, strong R&D power, and a global production network close to our customers, we deliver tailored offerings that meet regional and industry-specific needs. Our products enhance performance and efficiency in key sectors such as automotive, construction, consumer goods, and industrial applications. Together with our partners, we embark on #OurPlasticsJourney towards a more circular and sustainable future. In 2025, the Performance Materials division achieved global sales of € 6.4 billion. Join #OurPlasticsJourney on LinkedIn  https://on.basf.com/PM_LinkedIn and in our newsletter https://on.basf.com/PM_Newsletter. Further information at https://www.performance-materials.basf.com.

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers’ green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 108,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises, as core businesses, the segments Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care; our standalone businesses are bundled in the segments Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of around €60 billion in 2025. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.

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