LG Chem Unveils Ultra-Thin UNIQABLE Film to Transform Eco-Friendly Packaging

LG Chem’s Innovative Ultra-Thin Film Poised to Transform Packaging Industry

LG Chem confirmed that it will participate in the Shanghai International Packaging Exhibition (SWOP), which will feature innovation and valuable initiatives at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) in China for three continuous days, starting the day before (final date is yet to be announced).

LG Chem will be highlighting numerous technologies and products, including eco-friendly packaging solutions, at this exhibition. The solutions will promote seamless recyclability and high-quality film materials. This innovation and solution will be ramped under the theme named ‘Circulation by Materials’ alongside attentively chasing customer acquisition.

LG Chem’s ‘UNIQABLE’ technology will also be present with its potential commitment. It’s an ultra-thin packaging film material that gained recognition as the thinnest single material ever. The UNIQABLE is a promising, innovative material that meets sustainability criteria and balances peak functionality by managing the volume of physical properties in line with previous composite packaging films. Alongside, it elevates recyclability with only a single polyethylene (PE) material.

As observed, most of the films that were merged with PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and nylon (PA) are classified as tough recycling composite plastics or as either of the plastics. On the other hand, single materials are easy to recycle but are too thick to achieve physical properties identical to those of composite materials. The company’s UNIQABLE executes its best-in-class thinnest packaging film with a single material via downgauging technology, reducing material thickness to lower weight.

With this technology, the company intends to smartly focus on the packaging industry’s recycling trends and eco-friendly needs. The company achieved its first-ever successful commercial production of an 18 µm (micrometer) thick UNIQABLE polymer film (MDO-PE) in 2024 through a partnership with Reifenhauser, a Germany-based global film processing equipment company.

This year, it also completed its processing into an excellent 14µm ultra-thin film. This well describes the material technology and processing compatibility that allow long-standing production, preventing packaging film breakage with a single material. Also, it has the potential to reduce plastic use by around 44% by processing thinner single-material packaging films than the current standard (25 µm).

The Managing Director of LG Chem’s NCC/PO Business Division, Lee Chung-hoon, was seen excited about its performance at the exhibition, as it will help the company advance its innovative technology in next-generation packaging film.