Sweets and confectionary are usually packed in small plastics pouches equipped with a euro hole to allow them to be hung up on metal hooks in supermarkets. Plastics film have been the material of choice to make sure the pouch withstand the weight of the sweets to avoid the risk of the euro holes being torn and the bags falling off the hooks.

Walki is now launching a new reinforced euro-hole pouch concept that is completely fibre-based and prevents tearing of the pouch at the hole punching.

“The fact that the pouches are stored on hooks is the reason why a very small number of confectionary brand owners has yet to make the transition from film to paper. The paper pouches have until now not been sturdy enough to prevent the tearing of the pouch at the hole punching”, says Andreas Rothschink, Head of Product Development and Technical Service, Business Area Consumer Packaging at Walki Group.

The new Walki@Seal REH concept makes it possible for brand owners to switch from film pouches to fibre-based alternatives. By applying an extra strip on the area above the euro hole, the pouch can be made completely out of paper. The double-layer strip is invisible to consumers but works as a safety belt for the paper pouch.

“There is no additional effort needed for the brand owner or the company filling the pouches”, explains Rothschink.

The pouch can also be used in non-food segments for home hardware materials like screws or for toys like plastic bricks.

As the pouch is made from paper, it is fully recyclable in the paper stream.

The pouch was developed in close collaboration with packaging machine producer Rovema.