Inno-Talk - FlexPack Knowledge

Julian Thielen

0.0 (0)
Technology

The leading Podcast for the flexible packaging industry. Hosted by passionate engineers, valued by inspiring guests from raw material suppliers, paper makers, printers, converters, packaging manufacturers, recyclers and all involved through the flexible packaging value chain.

1d ago

German Plastic Tax, European Recyclers and stagnation within FlexPack Business | FlexPack.News with Marcus Holland

Europe will need more recycled plastics in the years ahead. Yet recyclers and packaging manufacturers are facing mounting economic pressure today. How can the industry bridge the gap between future requirements and the investment needed now? In this episode, Julian talks to Marcus Holland from PreZero Polymers about the plastics recycling market, the challenges facing flexible packaging and Germany’s proposed plastic packaging tax. They also explore automotive recycling projects and share impressions from IFA, FAKUMA and the Pouch Conference in Barcelona. In this episode Europe is losing recycling capacity: Why future recycled-content targets do not automatically translate into orders today, and why closed plants cannot simply be brought back when demand increases. PE and PP in flexible packaging: Where sorting and recycling are already established, and why flexible PP packaging still presents significant challenges. Flexible packaging under economic pressure: How weak demand, high costs and regulatory requirements are making investment more difficult. Lessons from automotive: Long development cycles, demanding material specifications and the work required to establish reliable streams of recycled plastics. Feedstock access as a strategic advantage: Why sorting capacity and secure input streams increasingly matter, and how they could accelerate consolidation in the recycling market. Sustainability and compliance: Takeaways from IFA, FAKUMA and the Pouch Conference at HP near Barcelona, including the growing importance of data, documentation and practical PPWR implementation. Germany’s proposed plastic packaging tax: What the discussed €550 per tonne of plastic could mean for manufacturers, including recycled-content incentives, material substitution, administrative costs and cash flow. About our guest At PreZero Polymers, Marcus Holland works with customers to develop and manage projects using recycled plastics. He brings a recycler’s perspective on market conditions, material quality and the development of new applications. Follow-up: automotive recycled-content requirements As promised during the conversation, here is the clarification: New vehicle types approved from 1 September 2032 must contain at least 15% post-consumer recycled plastic, measured against the weight of the plastic they contain. This rises to 25% from September 2036. At least 20% of the required recycled content must come from end-of-life vehicles or parts removed during vehicle use. This corrects the tentative 25% figure mentioned in the episode. Source: European Parliament Sources and further reading BIR World Mirror on Plastics, October 2026: Market conditions facing European plastics recyclers. IPV industry update, 15 October 2026 — in German: Economic and regulatory pressures on the packaging sector. German government press conference, 21 October 2026 — in German: Confirmation that discussions on the proposed plastics tax were continuing. Recorded on 2 November 2026. The discussion of Germany’s plastic packaging tax refers to the proposal under discussion at the time of recording, rather than an enacted measure. How are recycled plastics, the PPWR and investment decisions affecting your business? Leave a comment or question in your podcast app, and help others discover FlexPack News by leaving a rating. Interested in joining a future episode? Get in touch with Julian! This Episode is dubbed with AI.
Sep 30

PPWR Launch, Paperization & Lack of PET-Recycling | FlexPack.News with Sebastian Ritter

PPWR becomes reality: What does it mean for materials, recyclability and high-barrier packaging? In this episode of FlexPack.News, Julian Thielen talks to Sebastian Ritter from Toppan about some of the latest developments in flexible packaging – from the first weeks under the PPWR and the updated German Minimum Standard to paperization, PET trays and recyclable high-barrier films. PPWR is no longer a future scenario. Sebastian shares how customer discussions are changing and why the industry now needs to turn regulatory requirements into packaging solutions that actually work. For Toppan, one important part of this transition has been the move from conventional PET-based high-barrier structures towards recyclable mono-PP solutions. Topics include: the latest German Minimum Standard and its impact on recyclability, the challenges surrounding PET tray recycling, major brands switching from plastic to paper trays, where paper is – and isn't – the right packaging material, the availability and economics of recycled content for flexible PP, high-barrier mono-material structures for demanding applications such as pasteurization and retort, SiOx-coated BOPP films and the cooperation between Toppan and Irplast, and why more sustainable packaging requires looking beyond the base material to coatings, adhesives and printing inks as well. One key message throughout the episode is material fit for purpose. Paper is not automatically the more sustainable option, just as plastic is not automatically the worse one. The real question is which material provides the required functionality while fitting into viable recycling systems. Finally, Sebastian gives a preview of the upcoming InnoPouch at HP in Barcelona, where Toppan and Irplast will discuss how flexible packaging is evolving under PPWR requirements – and how high barrier performance and recyclability can be combined.
Sep 9

PET-Flasche vs. POUCH

Title: PET bottle vs. stand-up pouch: The battle of the systems (AI debate) Rigid bottle or flexible high-tech membrane? In this experimental AI special episode, we pit two AI voices against each other in a head-to-head debate. Based on Dr Bernd Knierbein’s series of specialist articles, we analyse the physical, manufacturing and environmental limitations of both packaging concepts. Topics covered in this episode: Manufacturing: 5-gram preforms in injection stretch blow moulding vs. triplex barrier films with SiOx coatingSterilisation: Aseptic UHT cold filling vs. autoclaving at 121 °C for products containing solidsPractical application & logistics: Pallet statics, micro-leaks and the advantage of germ-free residual emptyingCircular economy: Float-sink density separation for PET vs. the evolution of single-material packaging (all-PP)You can find the detailed technical article on this debate on INNO-Talk. Please feel free to give us your feedback on this experimental episode directly in the Spotify comments!
Aug 5

Packaging Award, Paper Recycling & Digital Product Passport | FlexPack.News with Dominik Lichtenthäler

In this episode, Julian Thielen talks with Dominik Lichtenthäler (Interzero) about the key developments in the flexpack industry in July. Episode Topics: ✅ Recap of the German Packaging Award jury session in early July – around 220 entries, 36 winners, and tips for future applicants ✅ Winner spotlight: push-pull closure from Werner & Mertz and Abda Closures made from 100% PCR material, produced using a new in-mould assembly process ✅ Recycled content in flexpack – new entries with 30–35% PCR content sourced from Germany's yellow bag system, including applications in detergent and food packaging ✅ ProPakMa study on the recyclability of paper packaging – why rigid thresholds like Germany's 95/5 rule fall short, and how other EU countries apply significantly different ratios ✅ Practical insights after 8 years of "Made for Recycling" testing: comparing extrusion, dispersion, and wax coatings plus metallization – and why wax coatings, despite good CEPI test results, cause real problems in practice ✅ Why the quality of paper/board/carton from yellow-bag sorting (LVP) remains poor, and why the blue bin must not become "the new yellow bin" ✅ Digital Product Passport: the EU has launched an official register along with a testing environment – what this means for manufacturers, brands, and recyclers ✅ Confidentiality vs. disclosure obligations – why suppliers hesitate to share material data, and why clear contractual agreements will become essential going forward ✅ Inside Interzero's "Check for Recycling" tool for creating conformity declarations – onboarding experiences ranging from large corporations to overwhelmed SMEs ✅ Preview of the InnoPouch Conference in Barcelona: talks on the Digital Product Passport (Albin Kaelin) and Check for Recycling (Alexandre Zuber) ✅ PPWR Day on August 12 – are companies ready with their conformity declarations, or will many not tackle the topic until 2027? A conversation about recyclability, data quality, the German Packaging Award, and the upcoming PPWR deadlines for the flexpack industry.
Jul 29

Bottle? Pouch? Both and neither nor: With Mauro Tocco from AeroFlexx

Is it a bottle? A pouch? Both – and neither. In this episode, Julian talks with Mauro Tocco, Sales Director EMEA at AeroFlexx, about a packaging innovation that combines the best of rigid bottles and flexible pouches into a single product: the AeroFlexx PAK. Mauro explains how the idea came about, why the product is deliberately called "PAK" instead of "Pack," how the patented Frame technology and self-sealing valve work, and why the product can be recycled like a rigid bottle despite its flexible construction. Also covered: current market applications in the US, the planned European launch in 2027, plans for recycled content, and AeroFlexx's global growth strategy. Links & Resources 🔗 AeroFlexx / 3D shape configurator: aeroflexx.com📍 Upcoming opportunities to experience AeroFlexx in person: PACK EXPO (Chicago), Sustainable Packaging Summit (Utrecht), possibly INNO-Pouch (Barcelona) About the Guest Mauro Tocco is Sales Director EMEA at AeroFlexx and has been with the company since 2024, though he was already involved with the project earlier from the technology side.
Jul 15

Heike Schwertke: Food Contact Regulations in Today's Flexible Packaging Industry

In this episode of Inno-Talk, Heike Schwertke (Innoform Testservice) discusses the latest challenges in food packaging—from the regulatory framework to emerging requirements driven by PFAS and the PPWR. Topics covered in this episode: EU food contact legislation: Framework Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004 and Plastics Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011 Declarations of Compliance: their role and importance throughout the supply chain Migration testing: understanding the difference between overall and specific migration NIAS: the underestimated risks of non-intentionally added substances Bisphenol A (BPA): recent restrictions and regulatory developments PFAS: new regulatory requirements and the impact of the PPWR Practical challenges: imported materials, missing compliance data, and recycled plastics Who should listen? This episode is relevant for everyone working with flexible packaging, food contact materials, and regulatory compliance—from purchasing and product development to quality assurance and regulatory affairs.
Jul 8

Innoform 1x1 - FlexPack-News with Karsten Schröder

How do you successfully hand over a company after 25 years without losing its DNA? In this special episode of FlexPack.News, the roles are reversed. Instead of interviewing an external guest, Julian sits down with Karsten Schröder, founder and Co-Managing Director of Innoform, for an open conversation about the company's future, the packaging industry's biggest challenges, and why technical expertise will always remain at the heart of everything Innoform does. Together they discuss: Why Innoform has rebranded its conferences into the Inno event family (InnoPouch, InnoMeeting, InnoFiber, InnoPrintPack)How the planned succession at Innoform is taking shape—and why trust and shared values matter more than job titlesThe idea behind Innoform's summer ice cream campaign and why a simple ice cream can become a symbol for the entire flexible packaging value chainWhy paper-based packaging deserves its own conference and what the industry still needs to learn about fiber-based materialsHow Innoform conferences are evolving through partnerships with host companies such as Felix Schoeller and HPWhy the industry needs more practical knowledge exchange—and less marketingHow AI is changing technical communication, newsletters, podcasts, and knowledge transferWhy human-created audio features and on-site reporting remain an essential part of technical storytellingWhat's coming next for Innoform events, podcasts, and educational formatsThis episode also offers a behind-the-scenes look at the philosophy that has shaped Innoform for more than two decades: creating a place where engineers, converters, brand owners, suppliers, and researchers can openly discuss technical challenges—and learn from one another. Whether you're a long-time member of the Innoform community or discovering FlexPack.News for the first time, this episode provides valuable insight into where the industry—and Innoform itself—is heading next. Topics: Flexible Packaging • PPWR • Paperization • Packaging Innovation • Technical Conferences • AI in Technical Communication • InnoPouch • InnoFiber • InnoMeeting • FlexPack.News
Jun 3

PPWR, Packaging Simplicity, Interpack Recap - FlexPack.News with Thomas Schmitt

In this episode, Julian Thielen and Thomas Schmitt discuss some of the most relevant developments currently shaping the packaging industry. Topics covered: ✅ Interpack 2026 review – visitor trends, exhibitor feedback, and the evolving role of trade fairs ✅ The German Packaging Implementation Act and PPWR – what the latest developments from Brussels mean for the industry ✅ Regulatory certainty vs. regulatory complexity – why companies need to move from discussion to action ✅ Raw material shortages and their impact on packaging design, including the recent Calbee case ✅ Why data quality may become one of the biggest challenges in achieving PPWR compliance ✅ Sustainability fatigue in the packaging sector – are companies lacking knowledge or execution? ✅ The remaining challenges of recyclable packaging, particularly for aluminum-based laminates used in coffee, pharmaceutical, and high-barrier applications A practical discussion about regulation, sustainability, packaging innovation, and the future of the flexible packaging industry. #Flexpack #Packaging #FlexiblePackaging #PPWR #Sustainability #Recycling #CircularEconomy #Interpack #PackagingIndustry

The leading Podcast for the flexible packaging industry. Hosted by passionate engineers, valued by inspiring guests from raw material suppliers, paper makers, printers, converters, packaging manufacturers, recyclers and all involved through the flexible packaging value chain.

Creator

Julian Thielen
Years Active

2026
Episodes

14
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Julian Thielen
Show Website

Inno-Talk - FlexPack Knowledge