Laminates

Flexible packaging laminates are multi-layer films made by combining different materials to achieve specific properties such as barrier protection, sealability, mechanical resistance and print quality. They are commonly used for pouches, lids, sachets, stick packs, tube laminates and soft packs.

Gualapack laminates can include polyolefins (PE, PP), PET, aluminum-free barrier layers, and bio-based materials. Depending on the application, laminates can be 2-ply, 3-ply or 4-ply structures, as well as mono-material or mixed polyolefin solutions.

A high-barrier laminate is designed to protect products from oxygen, moisture, and sometimes light. This helps preserve product quality, flavor, aroma and shelf life, especially for sensitive products such as baby food, beverages, coffee, dairy, pet food and pharmaceuticals.

Some flexible laminates can be designed for recycling by using mono-material or compatible polyolefin structures. Recyclability depends on the laminate structure and the availability of local collection and recycling streams. Gualapack develops design-for-recycling solutions aligned with circular economy principles.

A mono-material laminate is a flexible packaging structure made primarily from one polymer family, such as polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE). This approach is intended to improve recyclability while maintaining the required performance in terms of barrier, sealing and mechanical resistance. Gualapack is a leading supplier in mono-material packaging solutions.

Gualapack laminates are used across multiple industries, including:

• Food & Beverages
• Coffee and dry products
• Pet food
• Home and personal care
• Pharmaceuticals and medical products
• Retorted Ready meals and other processed food

Flexible laminates are used for a wide range of formats, including stand-up pouches, spouted pouches, lids, sachets and stick packs, tube laminates, soft packs and EasySnap® formats.

Yes. Laminates can be engineered for different filling and processing conditions such as hot filling, pasteurization or retort, depending on the product requirements and packaging format.

Depending on the structure and application, laminates can include features such as easy opening, hermetic sealing, pressure valves, zip closures, microwavable properties, and aluminum-free barrier solutions.

Yes. Gualapack provides high-quality printing options, including rotogravure, flexographic and digital printing, allowing for premium graphics, brand differentiation and consistent visual quality.

Gualapack supports sustainability through material optimization, lightweight structures, design-for-recycling mono-material solutions, and the development of bio-based and aluminum-free laminates, while maintaining packaging performance and product protection.

The right laminate depends on product sensitivity, required shelf life, filling process, packaging format and sustainability goals. Gualapack works with customers to define the most suitable structure based on technical and functional requirements.