Introducing CarbonLite: Südpack’s take on the future of sustainable packaging

Südpack’s high-performance tubular pouch films from the premium Pure-Line line are being unified into a separate product family and marketed under the CarbonLite brand.

These films, which are made of PP and PE mono-materials, can be processed into flowpacks, doypacks (with or without spouts), and block-bottom pouches using both horizontal and vertical flow packing machines. Most importantly, their recyclability and improved material efficiency result in a significantly lower carbon footprint than typical multi-material laminates or heavier tray packaging, delivering clear economic benefits, including lower disposal costs.

Südpack’s next-generation top webs are ideal for MAP applications and have been engineered for greater sustainability. For example, a CarbonLite PurePP flowpack uses up to 60% less material than a conventional tray, while the packaging concept also achieves recyclability rates of up to 92% – verifiable by external institutes.

For horizontal PE-based flow pack applications, Südpack has achieved a further reduction in film thickness while maintaining barrier properties and cutting material us-age by an additional 10%. In addition, by adopting Südpack’s sustainable packaging concepts, manufacturers and packagers can typically achieve a shorter time-to-market – supported by Südpack’s co-extrusion expertise, comprehensive service, and in-house application centre.

The films in the CarbonLite series are suitable, for example, for use as lightweight PE flowpacks for cuts of cheese, baguettes, mozzarella, and coffee; as PP flowpacks for ground meat and convenience products; and as stand-up PE doypacks for grated cheese and salami sticks, as well as PP doypacks for confectionery, dried fruit, nuts, and other snacks. For coffee applications, the films can also be processed into stable PP or PE block-bottom pouches, and into convenient PP spouted pouches for fruit purées.

Despite their wide range of applications, all films share one essential feature: barrier properties precisely tailored to each product – such as protection against oxygen and water vapour – that ensure a long shelf life for a wide variety of foods. For enhanced product visibility, a high-performance anti-fog feature can be added if required.

At the same time, the films can be processed on standard packaging machines, even at high cycle rates. A key factor in ensuring both product and packaging reliability is the films’ consistently strong sealing performance, a result of their high thermal resistance – even when incorporating zippers, spouts, or valves made from the same mono-material.

Südpack examines more than only the carbon footprint and end-of-life of its films. The company’s SPQ printing technology makes package printing more sustainable by drastically decreasing ink and solvent consumption while increasing colour brilliance.

The film manufacturer, which has committed to the SBTi and was one of only a few companies to achieve Platinum status in the EcoVadis ranking in 2025, also offers its advanced LCA service – a powerful tool for assessing the eco-balance of various packaging concepts. This service evaluates not only Südpack’s own product developments but also customer solutions.