Innovation Zone ThePackHub - thepackhub.com

 

Welcome to this week’s Innovation Zone snapshot from ThePackHub.

ThePackHub collates up to 20 new packaging innovations every week for our Innovation Zone database.

We have selected four new initiatives for you today.

 

More information on our Innovation Zone packaging database – https://www.thepackhub.com/the-innovation-zone/

 

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#1Bread bag incorporates oat hulls from milling process

 

Fazer is one of the largest businesses in the Finnish food industry. Founded in 1891, it now employs over 10,000 people. The business has been on the sustainable packaging development trail with the introduction of a bread bag made partially from oat hulls derived from the oat milling process. This unique packaging innovation was years in the making working with Tampere University of Applied Sciences, the Natural Resources Institute Finland and Design Forum Finland’s HerääPahvi! project. The new material is 25% oat hulls, and the pack can be recycled as cardboard. The oat hulls used come from Fazer’s Lahti-based oat mill. The bag is resistant to vapour in to help protect the contents. 11 versions were developed to create the final oat-hull paper suitable for food contact. Fazer’s bakeries will start baking their new Leipurin Kaurainen bread to be packed in the new oat-hull bags.


#2 Hidden barcodes printed with magnetic ink open up smart opportunities

UK-based Inspectron provides proven track, trace and quality control solutions that can be built into a variety of production processes. The business has announced the introduction of a new magnetic ink solution that opens the door to several smart packaging applications. Their MagID (short for ”Magnetic Identity”) solution offers a way to read hidden barcodes.  MagID is seen as a cost-effective alternative for the identification, track and trace and authentication of products. These MagID codes are printed with magnetic ink and can be covered by any non-ferrous material such as paper, plastic, aluminium and even paint and rubber. The MagID codes are read with a special reader, which can be incorporated into a production line or used as a handheld device. It can also be incorporated inside existing bank card readers. MagID codes can be embedded within plastic, or printed on paper, or inside or outside of labels or between laminated sheets. The versatile and robust MagID codes are not affected by dirt, washing, heating or cooling. MagID codes are cheaper than RFID tags and have virtually no environmental impact, as they consist of ink carrying small magnetic particles.  Codes can be serialised, customised or use the conventional EAN or UPC barcode formats. The MagID technology has been patented by Inspectron.

More info in The Innovation Zone.


#3 Reusable cap concept helps reduce waste and cost

The Packadore Collective has been busy since their inception creating several eye-catching packaging initiatives that solve consumer challenges or reduce the environment impact of the product. They have already announced some other innovative packaging concepts in the market. The collaboration that includes SGK Anthem, Vrijdag Premium Printing, Generous Minds, Neurensics, Kurz, Merck and Haval have this time created a conceptual design innovation for packaging closures. Glass jars and bottles are conventionally sealed with a metal closure with a plastic liner for sealing. The use of a combination of materials often means that the components are not recycled. Many products such as trigger spray bottles, jam jars and ketchup bottles all use the same or very similar closures across multiple different brands. The Packadore Collective see an opportunity for multiple brands to share these packaging components. ‘Cap Off’ is their answer that has been designed to encourage reuse. The plan would be for packaging in-store to be sold with a top seal with various reusable cap designs sold separately. The solution would help maintain the value of the reusable lids for longer and could incorporate additional value-added functionality because they will be used more than once. It would also increase the recyclability of the core packaging.

 

More info in The Innovation Zone.


#4 German chocolate bar launched in paper-based packaging

Mars Wrigley has a goal is to make all packaging reusable, recyclable and compostable by 2025 as well as to reduce the consumption of new plastic by 25%. The sixth largest privately held company in the United States has announced the introduction of a paper-based pack for their Balisto chocolate bar for the German market. This the first time Mars Wrigley is offering a chocolate biscuit bar in paper. The paper-based pack will be introduced as part of a collaboration with German retail partner EDEKA Minden-Hannover, which will be available in more than 500 outlets. The confectionery market is experimenting with paper-based solutions as part of a wider shift from the industry in making plastic-reduced environmental improvements. More than 90% of the packaging of the 100,000 multipacks is made of paper and sees a reduction in the use of packaging plastic by around 440 kilograms.  The new packaging system needed to deliver in terms of maintaining product taste and quality as well as protecting it from contamination and moisture. The packaging developed for Mars is more than 90% natural fibres and is FSC and PEFC certified. A thin barrier coating protects the chocolate. Lessons learned from the pilot will feed into the future design of the packaging for the Mars chocolate bar portfolio.

More info in The Innovation Zone.


Watch our latest ThePackhub Expert Interview

 

Peggy Cross discusses EcoTensil’s range of utensils that are the ideal alternative to disposable plastic cutlery. You can watch here. 


Packaging question of the week

Do you feel you get enough information from the market about the latest packaging innovations?  Vote and comment now. 

Last time: A real close one! 298 total votes. 51% think paper bottles have a future as a beverage packaging material.


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.

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