Constantia FFP’s recyclable lidding film is a resealable, mono material solution that consumers can conveniently place in their home recycling bin for kerbside collection. It is available in either PET or PP, and has been designed to be used with a tray of the same material to produce a lightweight, resealable pack that has been classified as ‘Recycle’ by OPRL and collected in its entirety through the existing waste collection system.

Currently, the majority of local authorities in the UK do not collect flexible films at kerbside, therefore any packs with a film lid require the consumer to remove the lid prior to recycling the tray and dispose of it in their general waste, which is then sent to landfill or for incineration. Constantia FFP’s recyclable lidding film is not detached from the tray, allowing the consumer to conveniently put the entire pack into their pots, tubs and trays kerbside waste stream.

As well as offering a lightweight solution, the resealable characteristics of our lidding film can offer an opportunity to remove other packaging elements, such as clip-on lids. It runs easily on existing lines without impacting on manufacturing speeds and is cost neutral compared to existing reclose solutions.

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Richmond streaky meat-free rashers recyclable lidding film

Our Recyclable Lidding Film Solutions

Lightweight solution

Downgauging opportunities whilst retaining packaging integrity.

Resealable

Assists in maintaining product freshness, reducing waste and improving customer convenience.

Packaging reduction

Reseal characteristics offer opportunities to remove other packaging elements.

PCR content in Esterseal

Mitigating the impacts of the plastic packaging tax.

Esterseal

Esterseal

Esterseal is a recyclable PET lidding film, designed to be used with a PET tray and can be found on shelf in all major retailers across the UK. It lends itself perfectly to many categories within the food sector as it can be used on both pre-formed and thermoformed trays.

PP Seal

PP-Seal

This is a PP version of this award winning technology. PP-Seal offers the same benefits and sustainability credentials as Esterseal, but it has been designed to offer a recyclable lidding film solution to products that use PP trays.

Pre-formed and Thermoformed Trays

Constantia FFP’s recyclable lidding film is compatible with both pre-formed and thermoformed trays offering a resealable and recyclable packaging solution for a wide range of categories within the food industry.

Pre-formed tray of blueberries with recyclable lidding film

Pre-formed trays

As the name suggests these trays or punnets are already formed when purchased and are available in a wide range of shapes and sizes. Constantia FFP can supply recyclable lidding film to suit the size and shape of your tray and provide a full pack opening to suit the product.

Constantia FFP can offer a recyclable lidding film solution for APET, rPET and PP trays.

Pre-formed trays and punnets are often used in the following categories:

  • Fresh & prepared fruit
  • Coleslaw, dips and antipasti
  • Snacking foods i.e. cocktail sausages, scotch eggs etc.
  • Prepared salads and sandwich fillers
  • Dried fruit and nuts
  • Bakery products
  • Uncooked meat and poultry
  • Yoghurts, soft cheeses, creams

Richmond streaky meat-free rashers thermoformed recyclable lidding film

Thermoformed trays

Thermoforming is the process where a film is heated and drawn into a series of moulds by a vacuum to take the shape of the mould. This process is performed on the packing line and the lidding film is then pulled tightly and sealed.

Thermoformed trays are often found in the following categories:

  • Sliced Cheese
  • Bacon
  • Cold meats
  • Sausages
  • Burgers
  • Fish
  • Seafood

Weight Saving

Constantia FFP’s recyclable lidding film not only ticks all the boxes on recyclability and consumer convenience, but it is also having a huge impact on plastic reduction across the food sector.

Pot of coleslaw with Constantia FFP’s Esterseal PET recyclable lidding film

The illustration below shows the weight saving achieved on a pot of coleslaw supplied with Esterseal (PET) recyclable lidding film compared to just a clip-on lid.

Coleslaw Annual Volume 50m
Weight of tray & clip on lid 20.73g
Weight of tray & Esterseal 14.14g
Weight saving 6.59g
Annual Weight Saving 330t

sliced cheese Esterseal recyclable lidding film

The example below takes a conservative volume of 43 million packs of sliced cheese and illustrates the annual weight saving using Esterseal as opposed to a reclose lidding film.

Sliced Cheese Annual Volume 43m
Weight of reclose lidding film 2.77g
Weight of Esterseal 1.83g
Weight saving 0.94g
Annual Weight Saving 40t

Diverting over 119 tonnes of plastic from landfill by switching to Esterseal lidding film.

Esterseal

Helping to reduce food waste

Constantia FFP’s innovative packaging plays an important role in protecting food from damage and maximising shelf life. Our range of sustainable flexible packaging solutions provide outstanding functionality and can be readily collected in the UK now through the existing waste collection system.

Esterseal and the Plastic Tax

On the 1st April 2022, the UK government implemented a new plastic packaging tax of £210.82 per metric tonne on all plastic packaging components that do not contain at least 30% recycled material.

In the current climate when brands and retailers are trying to move packaging lines over to recyclable solutions, including PCR content represents a significant challenge. Esterseal is a PET lidding film and can be offered with 30% recycled content. This not only makes the packaging exempt from the Plastic Packaging Tax but it also offers a solution that is classified as ‘Recycle’ by OPRL and can be collected at kerbside.

Plastic packaging machine

Recyclable Lidding Film Features

Full pack opening

Single Material (PET or PP)

Multiple re-closings

High speed processing on standard lines

High barrier and anti-fog options available

Suitable for use on pre-formed and thermoformed trays

Packaging Reduction

PET version (Esterseal) available with 30% recycled content

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The original recyclable lidding film that allows consumers to recycle with confidence through their kerbside collection and has been classified as ‘recycle’ by OPRL.

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Asda Logo

Asda’s Success Story

Launch of 100% recyclable fruit punnets

This project was extremely important to us as it allows us to divert huge volumes of plastic from landfill, which is an integral step in Asda’s journey to make all own brand packaging recyclable. We worked closely with FFP throughout the project and were extremely impressed with their technical expertise and commitment.

Download our Resource

Esterseal recyclable lidding film is a sustainable packaging solution that is both resealable and fully printable and can therefore present an alternative to heavier plastic clip-on lids.

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Clip on Lids Resource

Lidding Film FAQs

What is lidding film?

Lidding film is a flexible material designed to be sealed to a tray or punnet to protect and seal the contents. Lidding film can be welded to the tray or it can be peelable and in some cases resealable.

Is lidding film resealable?

Yes, it is possible to have lidding film that reseals. In fact, resealable packaging has become increasingly popular in the fresh and snacking food markets, as it offers numerous benefits including increased consumer convenience. The use of reseal technology can also remove the requirement for a clip on lid which can offer huge weight savings.

Can you print on lidding film?

Yes, lidding films can be printed, allowing brands to add their logo and other information to their packaging.

Can you supply recyclable lidding film with a barrier?

Yes, our recyclable lidding film can be supplied with a barrier if required.

How many times can your recyclable lidding film be resealed?

Esterseal and PP-Seal can be resealed a minimum of 10 times, which can assist in maintaining product freshness and offers outstanding consumer convenience whilst aiding portion control.

Is lidding film recyclable?

To be recyclable, the lidding film and the tray must be the same material (PP or PET) and the lidding film must be welded to the tray. If it can’t be easily separated by the consumer, then OPRL would consider this to be one piece of packaging. Therefore, the whole pack can be labelled ‘Recycle’ and collected at kerbside.

Can you recycle flexible film?

Currently the majority of local authorities in the UK don’t collect flexible film at kerbside, therefore any packs with a film lid require the consumer to remove the lid prior to recycling and dispose of it in their general waste. Esterseal and PP-Seal however, can be put in a consumer’s home recycling bin and collected at the kerbside (as classified by OPRL) as they are not detached from the tray. Front of Store collections are now increasing, allowing other flexible films such as PP and PE to be collected for recycling.

How and where do I recycle Esterseal and PP-Seal?

Esterseal and PP-Seal are designed to stay attached to the tray so that consumers can simply put the entire pack in their home recycling bin. Both products are classified as ‘Recycle’ by OPRL meaning they can be collected for recycling at kerbside.

Does your recyclable lidding film contain PCR content?

Currently PET is the only specification that is fully approved for food contact and commercially viable when containing PCR content. Esterseal is a PET lidding film and can therefore be offered with 30% recycled content. Currently, PP-Seal is not available with PCR content.

Do you have to pay plastic tax on lidding film for packaging?

The UK Plastic Tax applies to plastic packaging components that do not contain at least 30% recycled material, therefore if your lidding film is plastic, does not contain at least 30% recycled material and is not exempt for any other reason, you would have to pay the Plastic Tax. FFP can offer a PET lidding film with 30% PCR content which would mitigate this tax.

What categories is your recyclable lidding film suitable for?

Our recyclable lidding film is available with high barrier and anti-fog options making it ideal for a wide range of products in the chilled, fresh and ambient sectors. It is also compatible with pre-formed and thermoformed trays which opens the technology up to even more categories such as sliced cheese, cold meats and bacon.

Should I choose Esterseal or PP-Seal?

The choice to use Esterseal or PP-Seal depends on the tray material that you are using. Our recyclable lidding film is designed to be used with a tray of the same material to create a mono material pack. Esterseal is a PET lidding film, designed to be used with a PET tray, whereas PP-Seal is a PP lidding film, designed to be used with a PP tray.

Can you provide lidding film for different shaped pots or trays?

Yes, our lidding film is supplied in reel format and can be produced to meet your tray requirements.

Do you have a minimum order quantity?

Yes – this varies as it depends on many factors, such as film width, material specification, barrier requirements, print etc. However, as a rough guide, we would say approx. 150kg of material per design.

Where is your recyclable lidding film manufactured?

Our recyclable lidding film is manufactured at our state-of-the-art facility in Northamptonshire, UK.

Will I need to make modifications to my packing lines to run your recyclable lidding film?

We pride ourselves on developing products that can run on standard, unmodified packing lines without the need for large capital expenditure. Our recyclable lidding films are no exception, however as the film runs in register, an eye-mark reader will be required.

An ideal solution for a wide range of categories and products

Constantia FFP’s recyclable lidding films provide a sustainable packaging solution to a wide range of categories in the food sector. The pack opening can be tailored to suit the product and pack and Esterseal is compatible with pre-formed and thermoformed trays.

Lidding Film Applications

Prepared fruit

Dips & Coleslaw

Salads

Nuts & Dried Fruit

Dairy

Fresh Meat & Fish

Cooked Meat

Fresh Vegetables

Biscuits

Confectionery

Food to go

Bakery

Savoury Snacks

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All of our products / materials are made to order, therefore minimum order quantities apply.

Standard Disclaimer

This Declaration of Compliance describes the status of the product(s) specified under General Product Information. The user of the product (or downstream user, if applicable) is responsible for ensuring that the finished food package complies with applicable migration limits in the food itself under actual conditions of use. Furthermore, the food packer is responsible for verifying possible interactions of the product(s) or its components with the foodstuffs (e.g. modification of odour, taste, consistency, migration etc.) which are to be checked prior to use and in function of the end-uses. This declaration replaces all previous declarations for the same specification/ product. It remains valid until a change in the legislation or new scientific information changes the legal status.