IMA Food and Dairy Launches New Tools for Eco-Friendly Mono-PE (polyethylene) pouch for cheese packagingMaterial Packaging

     IMA Dairy & Food USA’s equipment solutions consist of the long-established brands Gasti, Hamba, Hassia, Fillshape, Corazza, Erca and Intecma, has launched a set of tools ideally suited for food brands utilising sustainable mono-material packages. The company’s patented Zero Technology tools are designed for producers hoping to transition their packaging to more eco-conscious materials, such as PET, PP and PLA.

    Ideally suited to IMA’s Erca, Hassia, and Intecma brands of form-fill-seal (FFS) machines, Zero Technology utilises a patented punch process providing high-quality cutting and precutting of PET, PP and PLA. This allows for easily breaking multipacks into individual units – a notably bulky process that has limited the use of eco-friendly, mono-material packaging materials in many applications.

    Zero Technology uses independent sleeves that allows cup design differences without the need to manufacture an entirely new thermoforming mould. The solution can be easily dismantled for hassle-free maintenance, which can significantly extend the mould’s lifespan while maintaining peak performance, according to the company.

    Notably, outfitting a formed cup with a PET lid and label creates a completely recyclable package for premium sustainability.

    Patrick Carroll, president for IMA Dairy & Food USA during 2022, says, “As consumer expectations and regional regulations change, manufacturers are confronted with a growing demand for more environmentally friendly, sustainable packaging solutions,”. “The Zero Technology tooling range helps overcome certain manufacturing challenges that have historically limited the number of applications for which mono-material packaging can be utilised. The result is an expanded range of items that can be packaged with reduced environmental footprints” he added.

    In October 2025, IMA Ilpak collaborated with ExxonMobil and Hosokawa Alpine to launch a recyclable mono-PE (polyethylene) pouch for cheese packaging. This solution reduces packaging weight by 60% compared to traditional rigid trays and is designed to run efficiently on horizontal form, fill, and seal (HFFS) lines.