New 100% recyclable pouch with barrier by TC Transcontinental Packaging

Montréal, QC and Chicago, IL—TC Transcontinental Packaging has launched in North America one of the first-in-market, 100 per cent recyclable, multilayer barrier stand-up pouches in partnership with Harney & Sons Fine Tea, an American tea company, for their loose tea flexible plastic pouch.
Available at Harney & Sons stores since November 2018, the multilayer recyclable pouch with barrier brings an innovative new sustainable product to the industry while still protecting the flavour and the freshness of the product.
Blending art, science and technology, TC Transcontinental Packaging collaborated with Dow and Charter NEX Films to develop one of the first commercialized package for food that hits all notes: 100 per cent recycle ready for in-store drop off, EVOH (Ethylene vinyl alcohol) barrier for product preservation, seal strength and durability.
“By promoting and supporting innovation in flexible packaging, we encourage more businesses to develop better eco-responsible solutions,” said TC Transcontinental Packaging vice-president of business development Todd Addison. “We salute Harney & Sons for driving this important sustainable initiative. Our collaboration was the perfect match as sustainability and innovation run deep in our organization, both in our operations and our partnerships. This shared core value and collaborative mindset fueled our sustainable design process and resulted in a product worthy of bearing the Harney & Sons name.”
Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics Adhesives business North America market manager Chris Gandy said: “We are thrilled to collaborate across the value chain with companies like TC Transcontinental Packaging and Charter NEX Films to bring to market one of the first, 100 per cent recyclable, finished high barrier stand-up pouch for Harney & Sons.
“Dow’s comprehensive total pouch portfolio of resins, adhesives, and specialty products, combined with TC Transcontinental Packaging’s sustainability mindset and pouching expertise allows Harney & Sons to provide its customers with a more sustainable product.”
Fine tea packaging requires a multilayer, co-extruded package to protect the product’s natural oils that give tea leaves a smooth flavour and finish. EVOH delivers outstanding barrier to gases, organic vapours and moisture, preventing deterioration of the product and extending its shelf life; it plays a crucial role in food packaging.
The challenge with barrier films from a sustainability perspective is that it is not easily broken down and recycled, therefore hindering its reuse and contribution to positive environmental change.
Dow’s RETAIN resin technology provides the solution to this concern by compatibilizing the barrier, thus allowing for a multilayer film to be fully recyclable and attain sustainability goals.
“Harney & Sons has always desired to use more friendly materials for our planet. Since 2006 we’ve been member of 1% for the Planet, and our goal is to move towards more recyclable and compostable components in our packaging,” said Harney & Sons marketing director Emeric Harney.
Aware of TC Transcontinental Packaging’s expertise in creating sustainable flexible packaging, Harney & Sons connected with its R&D team to create a solution that would support their mission of giving back to the environment that grows the tea of the world. TC Transcontinental Packaging created a recyclable standup pouch to protect the flavour and freshness of Harney’s fine teas.

About TC Transcontinental Packaging
TC Transcontinental Packaging, the Packaging Sector of Transcontinental Inc. is a leader in flexible packaging in North America, and also has operations in Guatemala, Mexico, Ecuador, United Kingdom, New Zealand and China. This sector has over 4,000 employees, the majority of which are based in the United States. Its platform is comprised of one premedia studio and 28 production plants specializing in extrusion, lamination, printing and converting. It offers a variety of flexible plastic and paper products, including rollstock, bags and pouches, shrink films and bags, and advanced coatings. This sector services a variety of markets, including dairy, coffee, meat and poultry, pet food, agriculture, beverage, confectionery, industrial, consumer products and supermarkets. For more information, visit TC Transcontinental’s website at www.tc.tc.

About Harney & Sons Fine Teas
Harney & Sons Fine Teas, an American tea company founded in 1983 in Salisbury, Connecticut, sources, blends, and packages their product from start to finish. It is committed to delivering their customers the finest quality tea possible as well as to educating the world of tea history and taste. Harney & Sons Fine Teas has grown from its original six teas, to more than three hundred. Today, the company remains family-owned and managed, with three generations of Harneys preserving the tradition of fine tea and traveling the world in search of the best ingredients. Company information available at www.harney.com.