Welcome to this week’s ThePackHub Innovation Zone snapshot.

ThePackHub collates 20 new packaging innovations a week and we have picked four recent examples for you to peruse below.

Find out about how to subscribe here: www.thepackhub.com/the-innovation-zone/.

ThePackHub’s Sustainable Packaging Compendium is out now. Find out more and order here.

ThePackHub’s next packaging innovation seminar will be held at the beautiful Compton Verney, Warwickshire on Thursday 17th May 2018. We have some great speakers lined up to present.

M&S, Waitrose, Pladis Global, LF Beauty, Mars Petcare, Arla Foods, Church & Dwight, Twinings, Greencore, Cranswick Foods. Faccenda, English Provender, Mondelez, Merchant Gourmet, Blue Earth Foods, Berry Garden, Kerry Foods, Asda, Intersnack, Acheson & Acheson, Molson Coors and more confirmed to attend so far.

Find out more and book. 

You can stay up to date with the latest packaging innovation news by subscribing to our emails:

#1 Popcorn packaging stores hidden burger and fries

Fast food chain Burger King has launched an unusual new pack format for an unusual problem. A new law in Peru has recently come into effect which restricts food (including burgers and chips) in the country’s cinemas. The rule dictates that film-goers can only bring food ‘similar’ to that sold by the Peruvian cinemas into their establishments. Burger King, keen to not miss out on sales, has developed a packaging format to help their customers ‘cheat’ the law. The pack has been put together by McCann de Lima who have created a solution to hide the signature Whopper burger and fries inside a popcorn pack. McCann designed a bag of popcorn capable of hiding the Burger King items. Some popcorn is added to the top of the packaging to complete the ‘King Popcorn’. The bag was very similar in appearance to those sold in cinemas and thus easy to sneak inside the movie.The action reportedly resulted in a sales spike of 40%.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#2 New drinks carrier promises to be the most efficient

More info in The Innovation Zone

#3 Top of can branding will get beverages noticed

Ball Corporation has announced an introduction to improve branding visibility. Ball’s proprietary Cameo End Printing now extends brand communication to the top of the can to help brand owners create a distinctive point of difference on shelf as well as in consumers’ hands. Ball’s Cameo End Printing challenges the protocol that branding should be limited to just the body of the pack and extends the can’s 360-degree side branding to the top of the pack to increase brand visibility as well as offering additional opportunities for competitions, promotions and limited edition communications. Cameo will be commercially available within the next 12 months.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#4 New polymer development can be recycled over and over

Scientists from Colorado State University are working on the development of a new chemically-recyclable polymer that could have positive ramifications for the environment. The polymer can be broken down easily and potentially recycled infinitely. The strong and durable polymer is reported to be as versatile as other conventional plastics used in packaging. Its attributes include being lightweight and heat resistant. It is claimed to not require the same complicated procedures to recycle compared to other plastics as well as not needing chemicals to start the process.  The new polymer is designed to break down via a catalyst reaction where is can then be re-polymerized without requiring purification. The new material builds on Colorado State University’s previous work. This further developed version doesn’t need to be manufactured under extremely cold conditions and has much better heat resistance.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

Join our new sustainable packaging Facebook group More Plastic Than Fish and be part of the conversation.  Join here.

Please visit ThePackHub website to find out more about the range of packaging innovation services we offer. We’ve delivered projects for a number of brand owner, retailer and packaging suppliers.

Until next time. Happy innovating.

Welcome to this week’s ThePackHub Innovation Zone snapshot.

ThePackHub collates 20 new packaging innovations a week and we have picked four recent examples for you to peruse below.

Find out about how to subscribe here: www.thepackhub.com/the-innovation-zone/.

ThePackHub’s Sustainable Packaging Compendium is out now. Find out more and order here.

Our next Innovation Zone Live Seminar is at Compton Verney on Thursday 17th May. We have some great speakers lined up. Find out more and book here.

Our monthly innovation report for April 2018 is out featuring the stand out packaging innovations for the month is just £129 + VAT. Order here or subscribe.

You can stay up to date with the latest packaging innovation news by subscribing to our emails:

#1 Speech recognition jar keeps the language clean

A jar that can detect specific spoken words has been created as a fun way to prevent bad language, politics being discussed or even the use of office buzzwords. Jargone is a speech recognition device that listens for user-defined flagged words. A Bluetooth enabled mobile app is paired to the jar and users can add custom words or select from a list of pre-compiled packaged topics. Flagged words spoken within range of the jar set off an alarm and the jar glows red. Jargone has a rechargeable battery to make it portable. The jars will be manufactured in Cambridge, Massachusetts and the business is currently raising funds via Kickstarter.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#2 Salmon brand uses pack to create shelf stand-out

More info in The Innovation Zone

Getting your sustainable packaging strategy right

ThePackHub has teamed up with specialist innovation consultancy Innovation Ink to offer a series of workshops to seek solutions to your big packaging challenges. The first in this series explores options to reduce the use of plastic.

Our one day in-house workshop session, moderated by Innovation Ink, will bring together selected industry experts, ThePackHub team and your key internal stakeholders to develop a range of potential solutions to meet the challenge of plastic packaging.

If you would like to find out more, book a workshop session, or talk about how the workshops can be applied to another of your packaging challenges email us now or call Paul Jenkins on +44(0)7906 624494.

#3 Eat everything on your plate – edible burger wrappers may become permanent menu fixture

Auckland, New Zealand based fast-food chain Better Burger has introduced edible wrappers for their burgers. The wrapper are made of potato starch with a taste reported to be similar to a “potato version of a prawn cracker”. The initiative ties in with International Earth Day (22nd April). 500 burgers sold at the chain’s Mount Eden restaurant were wrapped in the material. Although pitched as a one off activity to raise awareness for the challenges of the environment, the technology may be further developed to one day become a permanent fixture. Better Burger has previously switched from oil-based disposable food packaging to 100% compostable packaging via compatriots Innocent Packaging, which also included their

#4 Insulated packaging made from renewable plant starches is alternative to EPS

Indianapolis based Frontier Paper & Packaging has introduced a new line of insulated packaging made from renewable plant starches as an alternative to EPS based coolers. The Nature-Pack range features the Biocooler, which is a two-panel system constructed of rigid bio-based foam. The moisture-resistant solution is biodegradable and compostable, which is FDA approved for direct food contact. The easily-recycled Nature-Pack has several patents pending and ships flat, saving money compared to EPS foam coolers. It also saves warehousing costs by storing flat until use. Brand customisation is possible via the outer panels that are printable and can also incorporate compostable inks.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

Join our new sustainable packaging Facebook group More Plastic Than Fish and be part of the conversation.  Join here.

Please visit ThePackHub website to find out more about the range of packaging innovation services we offer. We’ve delivered projects for a number of brand owner, retailer and packaging suppliers.

Until next time. Happy innovating.