Trimodal polyethylene polymer design for more sustainable packaging applications

In a society challenged by the climate change and striving more and more towards sustainability, the contribution of the polyolefins industry is based on three main approaches: (i) improving performance and reducing amount of material needed, (ii) design for recycling, i.e. developing formulations that are easily recyclable, and (iii) incorporating recycled polymers into existing and newly developed formulations. Polyolefin applications are being re-designed to allow this transformation. Also well-established polymers are being re-newed, for example polyethylene, one of the oldest and most widely used polymers. Herein, we introduce a novel polyethylene grade with a trimodal design, combining three distinct polymer fractions. This trimodal polyethylene exhibits a new balance of mechanical properties and opens opportunities for the formulation of more sustainable applications. [Display omitted] •Contribute to sustainability: better performance to reduce amount of material, design for recycling, incorporate recyclates.•Polyethylene is still able to re-new itself and keep the leadership as the most long-lasting and versatile polymers we know.•Trimodality extends the properties balance with better processability at lower MFR and higher stiffness at similar toughness.•Extending the balance of properties over a wider range was useful for developing more sustainable film applications.