More sustainable production of films and nonwovens

rf-nachhaltigkeit-bernd-reifenhaeuser-300px-150x150-crop-q90

"If we don't manage to close the loop for plastics, then all the excellent properties of the material will be worth nothing in the end. We have to act now, otherwise our industry will miss a huge opportunity."

Bernd Reifenhäuser, CEO
keyvisual1_1168x547px_breite2pt_flaeche_20220831

We only have one planet. So, it is our duty to preserve the fundamental basis of life for future generations.

keyvisual2-1168x547px-2pt

The truth of the matter is, however, that we humans have created so many problems. The world is drowning in garbage and the earth's climate is warming faster than ever before. Pollution and climate change are two global crises, among so many others.

keyvisual3_1168x547px_2pt_flaeche_20220831

Plastic waste in the environment and polymers from fossil sources are part of the problem. Yet plastics - used in the right way - can make an important contribution to a more sustainable world. When used as packaging, the material is lighter than many others and makes food last longer. In the form of nonwovens, it secures yields in agriculture and is indispensable in medicine. These are just a few examples out of many. On the downside, however, we must finally do a better job of recycling plastics.

Combining sustainability with profitability

In the past, films and nonwovens were mainly required to be economical and functional. Today, sustainability is also in demand. But how can manufacturers find the right balance between all these demands? Sustainability should also be economically worthwhile. The solution should be based on clever technologies and an understanding of what materials and end applications must achieve on today’s markets. Reifenhäuser offers you both – thanks to 110 years of experience, a pioneering spirit in mechanical engineering, and the world's largest competence network in plastics extrusion technology. We support you in transforming challenges into opportunities, so you can make your contribution to sustainability that also pays off for you in economic terms.

Contact us

Combining sustainability with profitability

No time for scrolling? If so, download an overview of our priority areas for more sustainable production of films and nonwovens here:

Download graphic

Circular economy

A large percentage of plastic waste is still landfilled or incinerated - partly because it is impossible or very difficult to recycle. These valuable resources are lost to the circular economy. Use our technologies and product solutions to design your films and nonwovens in a way that preserves raw materials for the circular economy and saves you material costs. Join us in creating best practices for fully recyclable products.

Lever for improved recyclability

A successful circular economy requires easily recyclable packaging. How solutions from Reifenhäuser support this.

Read story

Monomaterial packaging: Pitfalls and solutions

Monomaterial composites are regarded as one of the keys to improving the recyclability of plastic packaging. Here's what producers should look out for.

Read story

Sustainable face masks: recyclable and climate-friendly

The Grabher Group has developed the world's first face mask made of 99.7% polypropylene using technology from Reifenhäuser and a low-emission feedstock from Borealis.

Read Story

In the future, it will be necessary to recycle significantly greater quantities of plastic into new products for the circular economy to function and to lower the carbon footprint of products made from films and nonwovens. Otherwise, at some point in time there will no longer be sufficient raw-material resources. The highly flexible extrusion lines and robust components help you to process a wide range of recycling raw materials reliably.

Increasing recyclate content: How to do it

Highly flexible extrusion lines and robust components from the Reifenhäuser Group help to resolve the conflict between sustainability and economic efficiency.

Read story

Interview: What you need to know about recyclate

It is not that simple to use recyclate in plastics extrusion. Our sustainability expert Dr. Tim Pohl rates the opportunities and obstacles.

Read story

Processing recyclate - Protecting components

Highly wear-resistant barrels and screws from Reifenhäuser Reiloy give the plasticizing unit a long service life and ensure high product quality.

Read story

How to lengthen cleaning intervals

Even high-quality recyclates contaminate line components faster than virgin material. Special solutions from Reifenhäuser keep blown film lines operational for longer.

Read story

Interview: Increasing the recycled content of plastic films

Why EVO Fusion twin-screw technology makes blown film producers less dependent on the input quality of recyclate.

Read story

Polifilm recycles adhesive-coated film

The Polifilm Group recycles scrap from the production of adhesive-coated films using EVO Fusion twin-screw technology and converts it into new film products.

Read story

Carbon Footprint Reduktion

In the future, it will be necessary to recycle significantly greater quantities of plastic into new products for the circular economy to function and to lower the carbon footprint of products made from films and nonwovens. Otherwise, at some point in time there will no longer be sufficient raw-material resources. The highly flexible extrusion lines and robust components help you to process a wide range of recycling raw materials reliably.

Increasing recyclate content: How to do it

Highly flexible extrusion lines and robust components from the Reifenhäuser Group help to resolve the conflict between sustainability and economic efficiency.

Read story

Interview: What you need to know about recyclate

It is not that simple to use recyclate in plastics extrusion. Our sustainability expert Dr. Tim Pohl rates the opportunities and obstacles.

Read story

Processing recyclate - Protecting components

Highly wear-resistant barrels and screws from Reifenhäuser Reiloy give the plasticizing unit a long service life and ensure high product quality.

Read story

How to lengthen cleaning intervals

Even high-quality recyclates contaminate line components faster than virgin material. Special solutions from Reifenhäuser keep blown film lines operational for longer.

Read story

Interview: Increasing the recycled content of plastic films

Why EVO Fusion twin-screw technology makes blown film producers less dependent on the input quality of recyclate.

Read story

Polifilm recycles adhesive-coated film

The Polifilm Group recycles scrap from the production of adhesive-coated films using EVO Fusion twin-screw technology and converts it into new film products.

Read story

If materials become thinner, they consume fewer resources in production and therefore reduce emissions and the amount of scrap. At the same time, however, the materials must meet the functional requirements of the downstream application. Our clever technologies are the basis for reducing material use, while maintaining or even improving functionality.

Downgauging Saving costs, producing more sustainably

If manufacturers reduce the grammage of nonwovens and films, not only will they save raw material costs - they will also improve their carbon footprint.

Read story

Plastics produced from crops such as sugar cane or corn is considered climate-friendly. Demand for these types of raw material is growing. Use our technologies to process biopolymers from renewable raw materials for a wide range of applications.

Scrap always occurs in the manufacture of plastic products, e.g. from start-up rolls, edge trim, and cleaning processes. Our efficient technologies help to reduce this production waste or recycle it in practical ways.

Extrude barrier films more efficiently

The Coextrusion adapter Pro simplifies this task for line operators and improves overall line efficiency.

Read story

Well-trained staff are a productivity booster

Reifenhäuser has set up an academy to ensure a high level of qualification through basic and advanced training courses.

Read story

The energy required to manufacture plastic products is by no means a trivial matter. Depending on line efficiency, the energy requirement raises the carbon footprint of products or helps to reduce it. Our special line features help you to save energy in production.

Reduce the carbon footprint with energy concept

A customized BLUE EXTRUSION package from Reifenhäuser Reicofil reduces energy demand at Fitesa's northernmost nonwoven plant.

Read story

Calculate carbon footprint in plastics extrusion

Do you know the carbon footprint of your produced films and nonwovens? Every new Reifenhäuser line ensures transparency and provides indications for lower-emission production.

Read Story

How to save energy with the PAM option

Automatic dies constantly readjust themselves during the production. For this purpose, the mechatronic automation option PAM consumes significantly less power than dies that are adjusted with thermal expansion bolts.

Read Story

Subscribe to our newsletter and get the latest news on sustainability:

Subscribe to newsletter

Want to get started on the road?

Let's work together for a more sustainable world and a successful business.

rf-nachhaltigkeit-dr-tim-pohl-552px-240x240-crop-q90

Contact

Dr. Tim Pohl
Director Business Development & Sustainability
T +49 2241481-575

Initiatives for the future

We believe the major challenges of our time can only be overcome by working together. When we talk about a functioning circular economy and the fight against climate change, we need standardized, industry-wide solutions. That's why we are working with partners in various initiatives to develop sustainable solutions - for today and tomorrow.

For more information, click on a logo: