Innovation Zone Snapshot – straw ban, NFC reusable cup packaging innovation and more
Welcome to this week’s ThePackHub Innovation Zone World Cup Special snapshot.
ThePackHub collates 20 new packaging innovations each week and we have picked four recent examples with a World Cup influence for you to peruse below.
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#1 Cashew leaf packaging biodegrades within 30 days
Flitwick, Bedfordshire based Colpac has introduced a new pack format to capitalise on money conscious, time poor consumers’ desire for eating in groups at home. The ‘Big Night In’ packaging format sees the formation of four snacks served in the same pack. Colpac suggest the pack is ideal for a variety of sweet and savoury snacks. SharePac comes in two configurations. The first being an outer square featuring a drawer on each of the four sides. Alternatively a rectangular shape with two drawers on each of the two sides can be produced. The design also comes with an optional aperture at the top of the pack for dips or sauces. SharePac can be made from recyclable or compostable paperboard and can be customized with printing in up to six colours.
More info in The Innovation Zone.
#2 Reusable coffee cup is powered by NFC capability
More info in The Innovation Zone
#3 Strawless lid will eliminate one billion Starbucks straws a year
1 in 100 coffee cups used worldwide has Starbucks branding and sustainability continues to press as a major issue. The global coffee giant has announced that they are replacing the much used green straw with a plastic lid by 2020. It is rolling out a PP lid with a raised lip as a straw alternative for the majority of its cold drinks. It’s a move that’s expected to eliminate 1 billion straws each year. The lid has a teardrop shaped opening with a raised lip. Replacing a plastic straw with a plastic lid has environmental benefits as the new lid is much more easily processed for recycling. The lid is already available in more than 8,000 United States and Canada stores. News of the move comes as Seattle, where Sturbucks’ headquarters are based, recently implemented a ban on the use of straws in the city. Starbucks is also testing paper straws in several UK locations.
More info in The Innovation Zone.
#4 Controlled release technology improves food preparation
The seemingly random process of preparing microwaveable food by puncturing the film with a kitchen utensil ultimately does not deliver consistent or controlled steam release. Bromsgrove based TLM Laser have combined with LasX Industries with a solution that set out to improve the situation. The PrimeVent technology provides multiple controlled release applications for flexible packaging. There are two new products now available. PrimeVent Steamable is for microwave packaging. Consumers just need to peel back a cover on the film to expose the vent. Their patent pending PrimeVent Degassing concept is designed to vent the carbon dioxide gases produced by roasted coffee. It features a combination of laser processing and a small pressure-sensitive valve to automatically release the gases. Tests have shown that the valve outperforms moulded valves currently on the market.
More info in The Innovation Zone.
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Please visit ThePackHub or call us on +44(0)118 963 9990 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.
Country: Republic of Ireland
Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has relaunched a new version of its pain relief brand Voltarol with a useful no-mess applicator. The new solution ensures that patients avoid touching the gel with their hands. GSK hope the change will result in increased sales as recent research from the company has indicated that 27% of patients found touching the gel with their hands was ‘one of the greatest barriers to purchase’. A contoured applicator allows users to evenly rub the back and muscle pain relief gel onto the affected area in a three step ‘unlock, pop, apply’ process. It is claimed that there is currently no other brand on the market providing a ‘no mess on the hands’ applicator. One 100g pack retails at £14.99.
Country: USA
