Energy recovery means using the energy in residual waste through controlled incineration, generating heat and electricity. You use it when reuse or recycling is no longer possible. It is the last step in the waste hierarchy, after reduce, reuse and recycle. For stand up pouches: first choose mono PE or mono PP and add clear sorting instructions. Only when separation is not possible does energy recovery come into view. Modern facilities operate under strict emission standards and supply heat to district heating networks and electricity to the grid.

Because some pouches use multilayer combinations that sorting systems do not recognise as a single material, they end up being incinerated. Contamination from food residues, grease, adhesives, labels or windows increases that chance. And in some regions, the infrastructure for sorting and recycling flexible films is still limited, so pouches are not always processed in a high quality way.

Design your pouch for sorting and recycling to help avoid incineration. Choose mono PE or mono PP, including zipper, valve and label in the same material family, and avoid metallic layers and mixed films where possible. Use as little ink as possible, choose water based adhesives and add clear sorting instructions on the packaging. Keep formats compact and test the thinnest film that still seals well and protects. If you use paper, go for 100% paper and indicate paper recycling, or use paper with PVA if you need heat sealing and it can still be accepted with paper locally.

When the coating or barrier layer is less than 5% of the total weight, the pouch can often still fit existing recycling streams. This depends on the country, collection system and waste processor. We are happy to review your case and test what works best in practice.

Energy recovery uses the energy in residual waste through controlled incineration, generating heat and electricity. You apply it when reuse or recycling is no longer possible. It is a last step in the waste hierarchy, after reduce, reuse and recycle. For stand up pouches: first choose mono PE or mono PP and add clear sorting instructions. Only when separation is not possible does energy recovery come into view. Modern facilities operate under strict emission standards and supply heat to district heating networks and electricity to the grid.