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You will receive two printed volumes delivered free of charge plus a searchable PDF to download.

Order today and save £180

Sustainable Packaging Compendium 2020 comprises more than 600 pages across two volumes and is available now.

Our Packaging Innovation Briefing Report for January 2020 is out now. This comprehensive and unique review of the month’s global packaging innovations ensures you and your team are kept up to speed on all the latest packaging innovations.

#1 First-ever recyclable toothpaste tube starts market roll-out

Toothpaste tubes are notoriously a pain to recycle. They are made from a combination of different plastic laminates that are sandwiched around a thin layer of aluminium. The mix of materials makes it almost impossible to recycle through conventional methods. The Innovation Zone has previously tracked Colgate-Palmolive’s progress in developing a recyclable HDPE toothpaste tube. See Recyclable toothpaste tube improves long-standing challenge. The brand is rolling out the first-ever recyclable toothpaste tube recognised by RecyClass for the Smile for Good brand. The pack is made from HDPE. Its heavy use as the plastic for milk packs assures that the material is widely recyclable. A major technical challenge was overcome to be able to combine different thicknesses of HDPE laminate whilst still being recyclable as well as ensuring that it still protected the product and was easily squeezable. As previously noted, Colgate-Palmolive is sharing its technology to help ensure that all toothpaste tubes can be recycled.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#2 Reusable water bottle doubles as foam roller

Manufacturer of dairy products and one of the largest companies in Finland, Valio has united with pulp and paper manufacturer Stora Enso to test wood fibre-based reusable lids created from a biocomposite material. 10,000 reusable lids will be distributed to test the wood-based solution for food packaging applications. The programme will assist the companies to understand how the lids react when in contact with food. The lid has been designed to protect unused crème fraiche and quark products. The packs are a part of Valio extensive plans to reduce the carbon footprint of milk to zero by 2035. The lids are made from Stora Enso’s DuraSense, a biocomposite that combines wood fibres and polymers. The lids are both durable and can be washed and reused. See Wood-fibre based alternative to plastic can also be recycled. It is claimed that the biocomposite helps to reduce carbon footprint as it cuts plastic content by half. The lid is designed to protect the food from going out of date during storage and therefore reducing waste. See also Bio composite drinks lids reduces carbon footprint by 60%.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#4 Window removed from pie brand makes pack plastic-free

The drive to reduce the amount of plastic used in packaging continues at pace. One area of resistance to change is the view that plastic with its transparent properties helps shoppers see the product inside. Plastic windows, therefore, can create an important role to communicate what the product looks like.  UK pie brand Pukka is going against this trend with the introduction of recyclable, plastic-free packaging with a window-free box. The change is being implemented alongside a brand design tweak as well as updated recipes. The change is being rolled out across Pukka’s chilled single and sharing portfolio, the packs are made from FSC-certified cardboard. The removal of the plastic window saves 11.4 tonnes of plastic annually.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

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.

You will receive two printed volumes delivered free of charge plus a searchable PDF to download.

Order today and save £180

Sustainable Packaging Compendium 2020 comprises more than 600 pages across two volumes and is available now.

Our Packaging Innovation Briefing Report for January 2020 is out now. This comprehensive and unique review of the month’s global packaging innovations ensures you and your team are kept up to speed on all the latest packaging innovations.

#1 Fully recyclable ice cream packaging makes UK launch

Like coffee cups, many ice-cream containers are paper-based but cannot be easily recycled due to a plastic barrier lining that is hard to separate. However, UK ice cream brand Northern Bloc has announced the introduction of recyclable packaging for their new salted caramel and almond swirl vegan flavour variant. The new tubs achieve moisture barrier protected with an organic coating, rather than using plastic. This allows the packs to be recycled in conventional kerbside recycling facilities.  The barrier’s natural compound is made from sugarcane, the by-product of which is fully reusable and breaks down naturally. The new variant is available in UK Co-op stores for £5. No information on the recyclability of the cap is available.  See also: Compostable and recyclable ice cream pack saves 500 tons of plastic annually.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#2 Easily removable label improves yoghurt packaging recycling

Salisbury, Maryland headquartered Perdue Farms is one of the largest meat processing firms in the United States. Packaging plays a significant role for the business to deliver preservation and protection of the product and consequent demands on the environment. The non-recyclable foam packaging for meat products is a pain point for consumers. To move in the right direction, Perdue Farms has announced that it will start packaging some of its products using a compostable foam made of cornstarch. The material promises to disintegrate under running water making a new and novel way for consumers to dispose of their packaging. If consumers do not want to pour cornstarch down their drain, the foam will dissolve in landfill. The new packaging will be available initially for online sales. The meat shipped is encased in a recyclable box and a foam cooler made from the water-soluble cornstarch. Perdue Farms aims to make all of its packaging recyclable in due course.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#4 Water brand gets noticed with dumbbell-shaped bottle

Disruptive pack shapes can be a key tool to help create stand out and get noticed on shelf. This is further enhanced when the shape helps to enhance and communicate the product proposition.  This is the case with Flexwater, which is a US fitness and wellness water brand that comes in three product-lines. The brand turns heads with a trademarked dumbbell-shaped 24-ounce (710ml) bottle that doesn’t follow water bottle packaging convention. The shape of a weight-lifting item helps to communicate the fitness aspect of the proposition. It also acts to help drinkers easily hold the bottle. Flexwater has a retail price of $2.99. See also PET beer bottles shaped for success.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

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.

Find out which brands, retailers and suppliers are bringing new sustainable innovations to market as well as those universities and research institutions working on the sustainable packaging of the future.  The Sustainable Packaging Compendium 2020 also includes a supplier contacts directory featuring a comprehensive list of names and contact details of the top suppliers in sustainable packaging.

You will receive a printed copy delivered free of charge plus a searchable PDF to download.

Pre-order today and save £200

Sustainable Packaging Compendium 2020 comprises more than 600 pages and is available on Friday 10th January.

Our Packaging Innovation Briefing Report for January 2020 is out this week. This comprehensive and unique review of the month’s global packaging innovations ensures you and your team are kept up to speed on all the latest packaging innovations.

#1 Honeycomb-shaped filling material effective at absorbing shocks

A new packaging concept has been introduced made from cardboard that has good filling material functionality and offers a good alternative to plastic-based bubble wrap. The distinctive pack initiative was developed for Ikea Russia and uses leftover packaging waste from local distribution centres and sales outlets. Structurally, the material is reminiscent of honeycomb-shaped egg cartons. The flexible substrate does a good job as a protective packing material and effectively absorbs external shocks. The concept looks almost ‘homemade’ in its design. It is easy to fold and bend and easily wraps flexibly around goods of many shapes and sizes.  The “Aggkopp” concept from Soemz won a Red Dot Award for Brands & Communication Design.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#2 Refillable popcorn bucket keeps cinemagoers loyal

Some product categories are harder to switch out of plastic than others. The toothpaste industry is one that has not seen significant switching out of the under-fire material. Toothpaste tubes have been plastic-based for many years and are made from using many layers making them tricky to recycle. A way around this has often been to offer bespoke recycling processes. See Difficult to recycle oral care packaging made possible through collection scheme. It is estimated that more than 900 million toothpaste tubes are thrown out every year across the globe. Progress has been made with this format. See Recyclable toothpaste tube makes US debut. Change Toothpaste has developed a proposition as an answer to reducing the amount of plastic used. The pack consists of one month supply of 65 toothpaste tablets in a 100% compostable pouch that is deemed perfect for everyday use including airplane travel (no liquids). The tablets are made in Edmonton, Alberta. Users simply place one tablet in their mouth, chew it, wet their toothbrush and brush as normal. The compostable pouch breaks down within 12 months although no information is available on what conditions are necessary to make this a reality.   See also A new way to dispense toothpaste reduces plastic use.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#4 Hair bleach container weighs less and needs less space

Cincinnati, Ohio headquartered pouch specialists ProAmpac has helped L’Oréal develop a new flexible packaging solution for the brand owner’s Redken Flash hair bleach offering. Two of the three rigid containers in the range have been replaced with a flexible bag with a spout nozzle. The solution has both environmental and functional advantages. The disruptive design delivers a distinctive look and feel for the category. The new container requires less space and weighs less than the rigid packaging it replaces. The new pack improves manufacturing efficiencies as well as reducing distribution and storage costs.  Research indicated that users did not usually seal the tube lid, so the previous solution was not effective in maximizing the product’s shelf life. Another factor that prompted the change was a desire to improve sustainability through a format that would take up less space and be easier to transport.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

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.

#1 Chocolate wrapper free of foils, laminates or plastics makes trial debut

Mondelez International declared its strategy back in 2018 to make all of its packaging fully recyclable by 2025. A significant step in that direction may on the horizon with the announcement of a world-first for the business via the trial of a paper confectionery wrapper. The packaging is free of foils, laminates or any plastic. The exciting test launch for the New Zealand market is for its Cadbury Energy bar and will roadtest the ‘durability and effectiveness’ of 100% paper packaging. The pack is 100% recyclable and uses sustainably-sourced paper. Mondelez notes that many other paper-based packs on the market have a thin plastic film.  See also Paper snack bar packaging set to shake up the confectionery sector.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#2 New fragrance refillable in 200 stations across UK

Wrag Wrap is a UK business selling reusable gift-wrap as an alternative to the often unrecyclable single-use version. The business is expanding its offering with the introduction of a collection of 11 new designs for its reusable fabric gift-wrap. The new range has been launched for the Christmas gifting period and is made from 100% recycled plastic bottle waste. Most single-use paper gift wrap is either not recycled or cannot be recycled and consequently ends up in landfill. Each of the new Reversible Crackle Wraps from Wrag Wrap is made from the recycling of around 12 plastic bottles. Each durable wrap is completely reusable and is estimated that it could save over 100 metres of traditional single-use paper gift wrap over its lifetime if used to its full potential. The double-sided designs have a Christmas print on one side and a design for all occasions on the other.  At the end of the wrap’s usable life, Wrag Wrap will take it back for refurbishment or for recycling.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#4 Reusable egg cartons make food store debut

US organic egg brand Pete and Gerry’s is embracing the rise in popularity for reusable packaging with the introduction of a new egg carton offering. It has been introduced the recycled BPA-free plastic containers to Co-Op Food Stores in New Hampshire and Vermont. The cartons retail for $2.99 (£2.30) and are refillable from a display of loose eggs in store. The eggs have a small discount to give shoppers some compensation for the initial cost of the reusable packaging. Pete and Gerry’s objective is to moving consumer behaviour from recycling to reuse. The cartons are designed to be sturdier than the single-use packaging they replace.  It has been reported that the company has sold 500 reusable cartons during the pilot so far. Pete and Gerry’s cartons are intended to be washed at home by the user and it is not clear about the potential health consequences of any pathogen contamination created as a consequence.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

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.