Category: Packaging Events

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.

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. If you would like to download a free sample report, please let us know.

Hold the date

ThePackHub’s next packaging innovation event will be on Thursday 4th October 2018 at Compton Verney, Warwickshire.

Save £100 + VAT

The first batch of Very Early Bird delegate places have now sold out. The next batch at £259 + VAT now available saving £100, while stocks last.

Find out more and enjoy your Early Bird discount by booking here.

#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.

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

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.

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.

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. If you would like to download a free sample report, please let us know.

Hold the date

ThePackHub’s next packaging innovation event will be on Thursday 4th October 2018 at Compton Verney, Warwickshire.

We have Early Bird delegate places available.

Find out more and enjoy your Early Bird discount by booking here.

#1 Cashew leaf packaging biodegrades within 30 days

Researchers from Mossoro in the western Potiguar, Brazil have developed a biodegradable pack made from cashew leaves, which takes about 30 days to break down. The Innovation Zone has reported around 25 different organic bio-materials including sugar cane, coffee, tomato leaves, whey, shrimp, bamboo, pasta waste and artichoke but this is our first report of cashew leaves being used. The development started in 2016, when the researchers noticed that a lot of cashew leaves were falling in their area and were not being put to good use. The Embacaju project has already won several awards including the Environmental Sciences category of the 32nd International Science and Technology Show.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#2 Do-it-yourself personalisation makes for thoughtful gift

More info in The Innovation Zone

#3 No-mess applicator ensures patients avoid touching gel

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.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#4 Thermochromic inks used as decorative tool for summer season

Coca-Cola in Turkey has introduced a new promotional range  using thermochromic inks as a decorative tool to add colour and fun to the design. Previously, the ink technology has been used to communicate temperature changes to indicate when the drink was good to consume. In this instance, the 70 million units produced in 10 different designs will be produced as purely a design feature, which is a first for the brand. Four inks have been used to create the designs that are invisible at ambient temperature but the cans  but come to life when they are chilled and the drinks are ready for consumption. Crown Bevcan were behind the initiative that encourages shoppers and consumers to interact with the brand at the point of sale as well as during consumption.

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 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.

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. If you would like to download a free sample report, please let us know.

Hold the date

ThePackHub’s next packaging innovation event will be on Thursday 4th October 2018 at Compton Verney, Warwickshire.

We have just a few delegate places available at the Very Early Bird rate of £199 + VAT. When they are gone they are gone. Full price £359 + VAT

Find out more and enjoy your Very Early Bird discount by booking here.

#1 Brazilian spirit brand transforms into a vuvuzela to up football fans’ noise

Brazilian spirit brand Catuaba Selvagem has introduced special bottles for the FIFA World Cup. In a move that is a nod to a musical instrument synonymous with the World Cup in South Africa in 2010, the bottles turn into vuvuzelas. When the contents have been drunk, they simply fit a doser, unscrew the bottom and use to make as much noise as they can. The 200,000 limited edition is being distributed in 105 different points of sale across Brazil. The brand also made changes to its traditional label by adding cheerleaders and a football. Created by Belo Horizonte based Pro Brasil creative agency.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#2 Noise-activated cups respond to cheering football fans

More info in The Innovation Zone

#3 Special edition can range allows Coca Cola football fans to make some noise

Coca-Cola has launched a limited edition range of ‘fan packs’ in time for the FIFA World Cup complete with three distinctive special edition Coke cans. The kit is available exclusively at the beverage brand’s Brazilian virtual store www.loja.cocacola.com.br and contains three 350 millilitre cans. The first is a ‘goal can’, which has a removable horn to help celebrate those crucial game changers. There is a also an ‘upside down can’, which has an inverted label and finally the ‘penalty can’ (zero sugar version), which has a special, more solid structure that does not crush like conventional beverage cans and is also reusable. Only 100 of the range is initially available.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#4 Snack pack for tomatoes shapes up for the football

Schur Star Systems have introduced a new pack shape that ties in with the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia. The distinctive t-shirt design is being used by two Swiss vegetable marketers for the launch of their snack tomatoes.The Schur Star bag has been introduced to create a distinctive look to promote healthy snacking with fresh vegetables in a pack that links back to the biggest sporting event of the year. The Schur Star Shape is available in a multitude of different shapes. In this case, the vegetable marketers can quickly change bag design after the World Cup to other shapes such as star or a heart-shape should they wish.

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. If you would like to download a free sample report, please let us know.

Hold the date

ThePackHub’s next packaging innovation event will be on Thursday 4th October 2018 at Compton Verney, Warwickshire.

We have just 10 delegate places available at the Very Early Bird rate of £199 + VAT. When they are gone they are gone. Full price £359 + VAT

Find out more and enjoy your Very Early Bird discount by booking here.

#1 Pack and product pet food gets the personalisation treatment

Telluride, California based pet nutrition company Side by Side is a new business offering pet owners the opportunity to customize their pet’s food through an online assessment tool. The solution also gives the chance to personalise their packaging for a truly customisable experience. Digital print has come to the fore in recent times to offer brands the opportunity to deliver personalised packaging designs. A few brands have taken the opportunity a step further, as is the case here, by combining pack and product personalisation. The online assessment guides pet owners through a questionnaire to determine key information about each cat or dog, including age, breed, weight, health and temperament. Food is packed in 10 lidded cups, packed in a pouch. The bags are resealable and fit easily into a freezer shelf and compress down as the product is used to save storage space. The bags are converted by De Pere, Wisconsin based Belmark using HP Indigo digital print technology.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#2 OLED technology brings beverage bottle to life

More info in The Innovation Zone

#3 You don’t need to get out of bed to eat your next pizza

Canadian-based restaurant chain Boston Pizza has nearly 400 North American outlets. The business has taken advantage of commercial and PR opportunities for Father’s Day with the development of a new pizza box unlike any other. This particular pack has been designed so that you can eat your Italian takeaway in bed! Boston Pizza’s solution is similar to a regular pizza box but has integrated legs that can be unfolded to create an opened pizza box  –  like a bed breakfast tray top allow grateful fathers to eat their meal without getting up!

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#4 Doughnut brand defies recent trends with switch to plastic

Kansas City based Hostess Brands is bringing freshness to the packaged doughtnut category with the launch of a new range of large doughnuts in a new plastic format. The solution makes snacking easier, keeps the product fresher for longer and improves portability. In a move that goes against recent anti-plastic sentiment, the execution sees six individually wrapped doughnuts packed in a resealable tub to give an extra layer of freshness as well as easy storage. Each one of the Jumbo Donettes are individually freshly sealed and wrapped.

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. If you would like to download a free sample report, please let us know.

Hold the date

Sustainable Packaging Innovations Seminar – ThePackHub’s next packaging innovation event will be on Thursday 4th October 2018 at Compton Verney, Warwickshire.

#1 3D-adaptable packaging cuts costs by up to 60%

E-commerce packaging continues to outpace the market in line with the continued growth of online sales. The sector is not without its challenges and ensuring that secondary packaging is fit for purpose and does not create unnecessary waste is a major area of consideration.  Leading corrugated packaging experts DS Smith has introduced a new solution that aims to improve efficiency and reduce unnecessary packaging waste. The Made2fit solution is claimed to be the first ever 3D-adaptable packaging in that it can be modified in three directions. The customisable packaging solution enables retailers to reduce packaging size and associated costs by reducing (by 80% on average) void fill as well as commensurate reductions in storage, shipping and administration costs. It also reduces product movement inside the pack to help reduce instances of damage. The minimising of size to the right size is claimed to reduce associated costs by up to 60%.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#2 Wrap made from organic cotton and beeswax launched as alternative to plastic

More info in The Innovation Zone

#3 Self-activated compact straw pops up for easy on-the-go drinking

Global leader in metal packaging for beverage, food and aerosol products Ball Corporation has created a fun and convenient can format for a Russian energy drink. Russian restaurant chain BlackStarBurger owned NRGet’s product is now resplendent in Ball’s Strawster technology. The Innovation Zone first reported on this capability from Ball three years ago. The innovation responds to the increasing demand for convenience in the ready-to-drink energy drinks in the Russian market. The brand uses Ball’s 25-centiliter slim Strawster solution. The technology is essentially a self-activated compact straw that pops up once the tab of the can is opened. For additional consumer impact, it is also possible to laser logos and brand messaging directly onto the straw.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#4 Paper-based alternative to bubblewrap is easy to recycle

Espoo, Finland based producer of fibre boxboards, food service boards and white kraftliner paperboards Metsä Board has announced the winning contribution from their design contest “Better with Less – Design Challenge”. “Stretching Inner Part” was created by from design student Iiro Numminen and has excellent sustainable packaging credentials. The inner part of the corrugated board has been designed to allow variously shaped products to be packed without using protective bubblewrap. The design is adaptable to many uses. The fabric-like but rigid surface inner part ensures that the product stays attached to the pack throughout transportation and the rigours of the supply chain. The inner part is based on triangularly cut areas. Each corner is attached at the tip of the triangle to form a “triangle network.”  To pack the product, users push it into the triangular surface. The design is claimed to be particularly suitable for luxury products.

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. If you would like to download a free sample report, please let us know.

Hold the date

Sustainable Packaging Innovations Seminar – ThePackHub’s next packaging innovation event will be on Thursday 4th October 2018 at Compton Verney, Warwickshire.

#1 Eye catching egg-shaped shrink sleeve smashes technical challenge

Clondalkin Flexible Packaging Bury has created an unusual shaped shrink sleeve for the Maidstone, Kent based egg-shaped eco-friendly laundry and cleaning brand Ecoegg. The eye catching execution was a complex technical challenge due to its shape. A production requirement was for the shrink sleeve to fully encapsulate the container. It also needed to stay in place during the use of the cleaner. A perforation around the product is twisted open by the consumer to reveal the contents in both halves of the egg.  A cold seal adhesive is applied to allow the shrink sleeve to remain on the container whilst twisting the product open.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#2 Snack pack for tomatoes shapes up for the football

More info in The Innovation Zone

#3 World’s first reusable cup made from recycled paper cups launched

The recent surge in demand for more sustainable packaging has led to a noticeable shift in demands for single-use packaging reductions. This is reflected in a spike in reusable ideas making their way into the Innovation Zone. On this occasion, John Lewis Partnership retail group has introduced what is claimed to be the world’s first reusable cup made from recycled paper cups. Both Waitrose and John Lewis are introducing the reusable cup that are 100% recyclable as well as leak proof and insulated. John Lewis is stocking the rCup in a bid to reduce the 1 million takeaway cups used by the group each week. Designed by Ashortwalk, rCups retail for £12 and will last for more than 10 years.  The cup offers ‘360° drinking’ functionality rather than access from a small hole. Making products from used cups also creates a reason for recycling firms to process the cups.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#4 Carbon-based super desiccant could revolutionise packaging moisture control

Sydney based University of New South Wales (UNSW) scientists have developed a new carbon-based material that could revolutionise moisture control for packaging as well as have applications for industries as diverse as electronics, air conditioning and even helping to keep footwear fresh by removing the smell from shoes! The School of Materials Science and Engineering team of the UNSW have developed the new material. The new ‘super dessicant’ is made from graphene oxide, which is a compound of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen in variable ratios, obtained by treating graphite with strong oxidizers. See other Innovation Zone graphene-based initiatives here. The dessicant is twice as absorbent as silica gel. The material’s excellent adsorption and desorption rates are achieved through high capillary pressure. The ability to modify the spaces between the layers of graphene oxide will allow for customisation of dessicants to control moisture as required by specific application.

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. If you would like to download a free sample report, please let us know.

Hold the date

Sustainable Packaging Innovations Seminar – ThePackHub’s next packaging innovation event will be on Thursday 4th October 2018. Venue in the UK midlands to be confirmed.

#1 First of its kind aluminium tray skin pack extends poultry shelf life

Cannock headquartered foil container manufacturer Advanta has successfully trialled a unique skin pack aluminium poultry tray and film combination, which is claimed to be the first of its kind for the foil packaging market. The skin pack market has grown significantly in recent times as a viable shelf life extension alternative to modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). This solution is aimed at poultry businesses and combines an aluminium foil tray with a vacuum pack to eliminate oxygen to help extend shelf-life. Tests has shown that shelf life can be extended by up to 300%. The new product has an temperature range of -40 to 400 0C ensuring that it remains shatterproof when frozen as well as rigid whilst being cooked in the oven. The aluminium tray is, of course, also 100% recyclable.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#2 Air pillow film can be composted post use

More info in The Innovation Zone

#3 Surplus poultry feathers used as packaging material

A London based start up is using waste feathers from the poultry industry to develop more sustainable packaging solutions. Aeropowder converts feather waste into an array of valuable repurposed products with several potential packaging applications. In the European Union alone it is estimated that 3.1 million tons of feathers are generated from the poultry industry.  Traditionally, disposal has been a real challenge with the most viable option being conversion into low-grade animal feed. Feathers have good natural insulating properties and Aeropowder’s first solution to be launched is called Pluumo. It is designed to match the thermal performance of PE and be used as a more sustainable alternative insulation material for food product deliveries. This is similar in principle to another initiative reported in the Innovation Zone from Woolcool.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#4 Packaging sourced from kombucha plant is edible

A new edible packaging material is in development that could allow farmers to grow their own packaging. Scoby is a fully edible, recyclable packaging solution grown from kombucha and is the product of fermentation. It is hoped that farmers could wrap their produce to achieve zero packaging waste. Kombucha is a fermented drink made with tea, yeast and bacteria. The solution is the brainchild of Polish design student Roza Janusz from the School of Form in Poznan, Poland. The production method involves adding sugars and organic substances to the kombucha with the average growth time per sheet being just two weeks. During fermentation, a skin forms in layers that can be used as a packaging material. It is envisioned that Scoby could be used for herbs, seeds or even instant meals where the wrapper is cooked as part of the meal.

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. If you would like to download a free sample report, please let us know.

Hold the date

Sustainable Packaging Innovations Seminar – ThePackHub’s next packaging innovation event will be on Thursday 4th October 2018. Venue in the UK midlands to be confirmed.

#1 Wooden barrel pack has an array of beverage applications

Martin Emballages are headquartered north of Lyon, France. The business has developed a mini wooden barrel for the packaging of wine, fruit juices, olive oil and even liquid soap. Their Tonely solution is a distinctive mini-barrel made from poplar wood. The patented lightweight pack is a nod to the bygone days of the cooper profession. The wooden pack has a three litre capacity and is 200 mm in height. It consists of two baskets assembled by interlocking one above the other. A plastic bag ensures the liquid contents stay secure. Martin Emballage are targeting professional distribution channels as well as wine merchants and plans to invest up to two million euros in the next two years to support this project.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#2 Plant used to produce tequila may have packaging applications

More info in The Innovation Zone

#3 Reusable straw offers single-use alternative

Startup business FinalStraw are raising funds via Kickstarter on a new initiative to reduce the amount of single-use plastic straws. The product has come under increasing environmental scrutiny in recent times. On this occasion, FinalStraw have introduced a reusable stainless steel straw alternative that reduces down into a portable case about the size of a cigarette lighter and can be attached to a key ring. FinalStraw’s body collapses like a tent pole and can reused over and over as alternative to single-use plastic alternatives. The product weighs just 80g and can be washed in a dishwasher. It can also be cleaned on-the-go via a handy squeegee which works like a portable pipe cleaner.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#4 Self-chilling can makes convenience store debut

Self-chilling can technology is taking an important next step to commercialisation with an small introduction that will road-test its viability. The concept has recently been covered in the Innovation Zone database. The concept is moving to reality with convenience store chain 7-Eleven introducing the self-chilling cans for its Fizzics Sparkling Cold Brew Coffee. The cans will be available in 15 Los Angeles stores. Consumers twist a bottom cap of the Chill Can to activate the built-in internal heat-exchange unit to lower the temperature by about 30 degrees within 90 seconds. The Chill-Can technology comes to market via The Joseph Co. International. The Chill-Can is 100% recyclable and uses technology that uses CO2 that is recaptured from the atmosphere and reused.

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.

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.