BASF is expanding its ecovio® biopolymer portfolio with new certified compostable grades designed for flexible packaging applications across paper- and plastic-based structures, targeting growing demand for packaging formats that combine barrier performance with multiple end-of-life pathways.
The new additions to the ecovio® range are positioned as a modular material toolbox for converters and brand owners seeking to tailor barrier properties—including grease, liquid, oxygen and moisture resistance—while selecting between organic recycling, home compostability or paper recycling depending on substrate and pack design.
According to BASF, the expanded portfolio supports extrusion coating, film and sheet extrusion, as well as lamination through extrusion, adhesives or heat, using existing converting equipment. The company said the materials can function in mono- or multi-layer packaging structures and are suitable for applications ranging from food and beverage to personal care, healthcare and pet food.
“With the new ecovio® portfolio, we offer manufacturers of flexible packaging a modular material toolbox that gives them greater design freedom: They can adapt barrier performance, processing technology and recycling possibilities to their specific application needs and sustainability goals,” said Michael Bernhard Schick, from global business management Biopolymers at BASF.
BASF said the expanded platform enables packaging manufacturers to create structures on paper or plastic substrates while maintaining functionality comparable to conventional flexible packaging. The company also highlighted the possibility of producing ultra-thin biaxially stretched films, which it says opens additional opportunities for home-compostable flexible packaging formats requiring transparency and mechanical performance.
For paper and board applications, BASF said ecovio®-based structures can be recycled through existing paper streams while also offering organic recycling potential when contaminated with food residues. Plastic-based flexible packaging made from ecovio® can be composted in industrial or home composting environments, with BASF stating that the material does not generate persistent microplastics.
The portfolio includes grades with bio-based content of up to 80%, alongside certified biomass-balanced variants.
BASF is targeting a broad range of FMCG packaging uses, including pouches, sachets, trays and boxes for products ranging from coffee, snacks and cereals to sauces, dairy, meat and personal care products.
“We are happy to show visitors at the Interpack trade fair the many possibilities of how they can design high-barrier flexible packaging items with ecovio® – and making them home compostable, too,” Schick added.
BASF’s packaging solutions, including the new ecovio® developments, will be presented at Interpack 2026 in Düsseldorf from May 7–13, where the company’s biopolymers team will exhibit in Hall 10, Booth A44.
