News Center

Global consumer goods giant Unilever is spearheading a new era of sustainable packaging by integrating In-Mold Labeling (IML) technology across its food product lines. This strategic shift addresses the growing demand for eco-friendly solutions and aligns with the stringent requirements of the European Union’s Single-Use Plastics (SUP) Directive.

By utilizing IML, Unilever embeds recyclable polypropylene (PP) labels directly into the packaging during the injection molding process. This innovative method effectively fuses the label and the container into a single, monolithic material structure. A key environmental benefit of this approach is the elimination of traditional adhesives; without glue, the recycling stream remains uncontaminated, and the separation of label and container becomes obsolete.

This advancement significantly enhances the recyclability of food packaging, ensuring that materials can be efficiently processed back into high-quality PP resin. By moving away from multi-material composites that are difficult to recycle, Unilever is not only complying with EU regulations but also setting a new industry benchmark for circular economy practices in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector.