Toppan and its Italian film unit Irplast have opened a new production line for high-performance biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) films in Italy.
The move comes as the group expands its packaging supply network for recycle-ready mono-material packaging in response to tighter environmental rules, including the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), and wider circular economy targets.
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A part of the Toppan Group, Irplast develops films using simultaneous biaxial orientation technology.
Toppan said its process for limiting thermal shrinkage gives BOPP films heat resistance, mechanical strength and transparency.
With the new line and existing operations, the plant is set to reach a supply capacity of up to 30,000 tonnes a year for high-performance BOPP films.
According to the company, this will raise output capacity and improve manufacturing efficiency while supporting local supply in Europe and other markets.
Films made on the line will have uniform physical properties and dimensional stability through the LISIM1 simultaneous stretching process.
The future development will centre on “down gauging” (reducing film thickness), using the material’s mechanical strength to cut plastic use while preserving packaging performance.
Full commercial operations are scheduled to begin by late 2026.
Output will be supplied to packaging converters and global brand owners.
Toppan said Irplast’s film production knowledge, combined with the group’s wider technologies, will support use of the material as a substrate in transparent GL BARRIER2 films and other packaging applications linked to circular economy goals.
In June, Toppan created what it said was the country’s first paper-based pillow pack for trading cards with light-blocking properties.
The company said the pack contains no plastic, using instead a structure made only of a paper base and a heat-seal coating layer.
