According to Future Market Insights, 855 billion sachets were used to dispense condiments, sauces, personal care creams and many other liquid products in 2018.

Conventionally sachets use a complex multilayered laminate consisting of polyolefin, aluminium and often polyester, making the used packs extremely difficult to recycle.

However, Futamura, Repaq and GKS have over the past two years developed and tested a fully compostable solution based on Futamura’s innovative NatureFlex compostable film.

The substrate will become commercially available soon, with the first consumer sachets expected to hit the market shortly afterwards.

Capable of wrapping products including ketchup, mustard, cooking sauces and cosmetic creams, the new laminate uses NatureFlex and another biofilm to provide hermetic seals.

It's been tested by Repaq on a range of GKS packaging lines where there was no negative impact on productivity.

Repaq technology manager Sven Seevers said: “Our packaging offers excellent product protection and significant ecological benefits at the same packing speeds. For liquids packaging we achieve an Oxygen Transmission Rate of 0.5 at 23°C, 50% relative humidity with a shelf life of up to 12 months.”

Futamura regional sales manager Joachim Janz added: “Ultimately, it means a perfect match to the request for offering a full portfolio of demanding food and non-food items to be packed in compostable packaging choices. Small-portion sachets have always been the tricky ones for recycling, so this success in compostability is good news to be shared.”