Lightweight, Recyclable PE Freezer Pouch Addresses Market Demand

ExxonMobil recently announced the of its collaboration with film extrusion and processing company Windmöller & Hölscher (W&H). Together, they have developed a commercially viable monomaterial longitudinally oriented (MDO) polyethylene (PE) frozen bag. ExxonMobil stated that this innovation addresses a key challenge—Meet the core needs of customers in terms of recyclability, performance, and lightweight design.。

Core Technology and Performance Advantages

W&H's advanced MDO technology, combined with ExxonMobil's recently launched Signature Polymers series of resins, has jointly developed this monomaterial sealable MDO PE frozen film. Its core advantages are as follows:

Thinner and without compromising performance: Compared to similar products on the current market, the thickness can be reduced by up to 40% while maintaining the original performance level.

Excellent toughness and durability: validated through high dart impact strength and puncture resistance tests; can remain intact when dropped from a height of up to 6 meters (19.6 feet) in low-temperature environments of -30°C (-22°F).

The balance of rigidity and toughness: It possesses appropriate rigidity and toughness, with strong sealing performance, meeting the reliable performance requirements of freezer-grade packaging without the need for lamination.

Optical and Printing Advantages: It possesses excellent optical transparency and complete printability, enabling high-quality brand logo printing to enhance shelf appeal.

Recyclability and Processing Efficiency: Utilizing a monomaterial structure that aligns with recyclable design principles, while supporting efficient processing workflows.

The ExxonMobil Signature Polymers series resins used in this project include: Exceed Tough+ m 0516, Exceed Tough+ m 0518, Exxtra Seal POP 2008, and Vistamaxx 6102.

Signature Polymers Brand and Collaboration Philosophy

ExxonMobil launched the Signature Polymers brand in 2024, integrating all of its polyolefin products under a unified brand. This move aims to simplify product portfolio navigation while promoting deep collaboration across all stages of the value chain.

At the K 2025 exhibition held in Düsseldorf, Germany, earlier this month, Charles Oke from ExxonMobil stated that the product portfolio is "customer-centric," with a focus on building service-driven solutions and partnerships. The collaboration with W&H is a typical example of this philosophy.

The Multiple Values of Non-laminated Design

To ensure high-quality processing results, the film is processed using the W&H Novoflex II printing machine, meeting the required quality standards while enabling high-speed printing. Additionally, it is complemented by an online slitting process to ensure smooth edges and precise reel control, laying the foundation for seamless subsequent processing.

Corvin Hurtienne from W&H explained that the high durability of the film eliminates the need for lamination. Lamination, as an additional processing step, not only increases costs but also adds weight to the final product. Furthermore, the film's potential for reduction and recyclability makes it more attractive in the current economic environment and regulatory requirements — such as compliance with the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive.

ExxonMobil stated that the comprehensive features of this product make it an ideal solution for high-demand frozen food packaging applications.