Polypropylene containers

1. A container, comprising:

a substrate having a bottom wall and a continuous sidewall, the continuous sidewall encompassing the bottom wall and extending upwardly therefrom, the substrate comprising at least one particulate mineral filler and polypropylene;

a multi-layer film being attached to the substrate, the multi-layer film comprising at least a first layer and a second layer, the first layer comprising a metallocene-catalyzed polyolefin, the second layer comprising polypropylene and being attached to the substrate; and

wherein the substrate and the multi-layer film are made in the absence of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), and ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer (EMA).

2. The container of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises from about 20 to about 80 wt. % of the at least one particulate mineral filler.

3. The container of claim 2 , wherein the substrate comprises from about 30 to about 70 wt. % of the at least one particulate mineral filler.

4. The container of claim 1 , wherein the at least one particulate mineral filler is talc, calcium carbonate, barium sulfate, wollastonite, mica, clay, kaolin, or combinations thereof.

5. The container of claim 4 , wherein the at least one particulate mineral filler is talc.

6. The container of claim 4 , wherein the at least one particulate mineral filler is calcium carbonate.

7. The container of claim 4 , wherein the at least one particulate mineral filler is talc and calcium carbonate.

8. The container of claim 1 , wherein the torque of the substrate and the multi-layer film is within 25% of the torque of the substrate alone as measured by a torque rheometer.

9. The container of claim 8 , wherein the torque of the substrate and the multi-layer film is within 15% of the torque of the substrate alone as measured by a torque rheometer.

10. The container of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a polypropylene homopolymer.

11. The container of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises an impact copolymer polypropylene.

12. The container of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a random copolymer polypropylene.

13. The container of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the substrate is from about 10 to about 80 mils.

14. The container of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is comprised of a plurality of layers.

15. The container of claim 1 , wherein the first layer of the multi-layer film comprises at least one metallocene-catalyzed polyethylene, a metallocene-catalyzed polyolefin plastomer, or combinations thereof.

16. The container of claim 1 , wherein the first layer of the multi-layer film comprises at least one metallocene-based linear low density polyethylene.

17. The container of claim 1 , wherein the first layer of the multi-layer film has a Vicat softening point as determined by ASTM D 1525 of less than about 100° C.

18. The container of claim 1 , wherein the second layer of the multi-layer film comprises impact copolymer polypropylene, random copolymer polypropylene, or combinations thereof.

19. The container of claim 1 , wherein the second layer of the multi-layer film is laminated to the substrate.

20. The container of claim 1 , wherein the multi-layer film further includes a third layer located between the first and second layers, the third layer of the multi-layer film comprises impact copolymer polypropylene, random copolymer polypropylene, or combinations thereof.

21. The container of claim 20 , wherein the at least one particulate mineral filler and polypropylene are pre-compounded.

22. The container of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the multi-layer film is from about 30 to about 100 μm.

23. The process of preparing meat in a modified atmosphere packaging:

providing a container comprising a substrate and a multi-layer film, the substrate having a bottom wall and a continuous sidewall, the continuous sidewall encompassing the bottom wall and extending upwardly therefrom, the substrate comprising at least one particulate mineral filler and polypropylene, the multi-layer film being attached to the substrate, the multi-layer film comprising at least a first layer and a second layer, the first layer comprising a metallocene-catalyzed polyolefin, the second layer comprising polypropylene and being attached to the substrate, and wherein the substrate and the multi-layer film are made in the absence of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), and ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer (EMA);

providing meat;

placing the meat in the container;

providing a modified atmosphere within the container; and

sealing the container.

24. The process of claim 23 , further including providing a lidding film and attaching the lidding film to a portion of the first layer so as to seal the container.

25. The process of claim 24 , wherein the lidding film comprises at least one layer that includes ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers (EVOH), polyvinyl alcohols (PVOH), nylons, polyesters, ethylene vinyl dichloride copolymers (EVDC), liquid crystal polymers (LCPs), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), modified polyolefins with barrier properties, polyacrylonitriles, acrylonitrile copolymers, or combinations thereof.

26. The process of claim 23 , wherein the at least one particulate mineral filler is talc, calcium carbonate, barium sulfate, wollastonite, mica, clay, kaolin, or combinations thereof.

27. The process of claim 26 , wherein the at least one particulate mineral filler is talc.

28. The process of claim 26 , wherein the at least one particulate mineral filler is calcium carbonate.

29. The process of claim 26 , wherein the at least one particulate mineral filler is talc and calcium carbonate.

30. A process for making a container, comprising:

providing virgin material comprising at least one particulate mineral filler and polypropylene;

providing recycled material comprising polypropylene;

extruding the virgin material and the recycled material to form a substrate;

providing a multi-layer film comprising at least a first layer and a second layer, the first layer comprising a metallocene-catalyzed polyolefin, the second layer comprising polypropylene;

attaching the second layer of the multi-layer film to the substrate;

thermoforming the attached substrate and multi-layer film into a container, the container having a bottom wall and a continuous sidewall, the continuous sidewall encompassing the bottom wall and extending upwardly therefrom; and

wherein the substrate and the multi-layer film are made in the absence of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), and ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer (EMA).

31. The process of claim 30 , wherein the attaching of the second layer of the multi-layer film to the substrate is done by a lamination process.

32. The process of claim 30 , wherein the recycled material is comprised of a substrate portion and a multi-layer film portion.

33. The process of claim 30 , wherein the substrate is extruded using a twin-screw extruder.

34. The process of claim 30 , wherein the recycled material further comprises at least one particulate mineral filler.

35. The process of claim 30 , wherein the at least one particulate mineral filler and polypropylene are pre-compounded to form the virgin material.

36. A process of making a container, comprising:

providing a substrate comprising at least one particulate mineral filler and polypropylene;

providing a multi-layer film comprising at least a first layer and a second layer, the first layer comprising a metallocene-catalyzed polyolefin, the second layer comprising polypropylene;

attaching the second layer of the multi-layer film to the substrate;

forming the attached substrate and multi-layer film into a container, the container having a bottom wall and a continuous sidewall, the continuous sidewall encompassing the bottom wall and extending upwardly therefrom; and

wherein the substrate and the multi-layer film are made in the absence of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), and ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer (EMA).

37. The process of claim 36 , wherein the forming of the attached substrate and multi-layer film into a container is done by thermoforming.

38. The process of claim 37 , wherein the multi-layer film further includes a third layer located between the first and second layers, the third layer of the multi-layer film comprises impact copolymer polypropylene, random copolymer polypropylene, or combinations thereof.