Innovation Zone Snapshot – Temperature-sensitive label uses touch to determine juice expiration

Everything you need to know the global packaging trends and more! ThePackHub’s Global Packaging Trends Compendium 2021 will be packed with vital trend information, analysis and insight from a world perspective. Find out which brands, retailers and suppliers are bringing packaging innovations to market.

Watch ThePackHub’s latest webinar Book on our next webinar Thursday 4th February 2021 at 3 pm GMT FREE one hour webinar. Catch up on the latest sustainable packaging innovation trends with this whistle-stop tour of the latest initiatives. We will cover many recent in-market and developmental examples to inspire you and keep you up to speed. We will also be joined by Charpak who will be discussing their latest innovations. Hosted by Paul Jenkins, Managing Director of ThePackHub. Feel free to share with your colleagues. Register for free: Thursday 4th February 2021 at 3 pm GMT Book your free place now. Book on our other webinars here.

Please forward to your friends and colleagues to stay up to date with the latest packaging innovation news.  They can click here to subscribe.

#1 Temperature-sensitive label uses touch to determine juice expiration

A new temperature-sensitive label has made further developments in the pursuit of reducing food waste. The Mimica Touch solution is an indicator that aims to provide more accurate expiration guidance. The business estimates that the addition of just two days of shelf life could result in 50% less retail and 63% less home waste. Existing expiry dates are calculated based on a “worst-case scenario”.  Mimica Touch comprises a bumpy plastic base with a film layer that encases the gel in the middle. The gel reacts at the same rate that food spoils and starts to liquefy to create bumps. A bumpy label means that the food is spoiled. The development team added a flat comparison area so that consumer could tell what the bumps should feel like. The first product that Mimica will be trialling will be used on juice bottles. The focus will be on the waste from bottles included in meal deals and bigger packs that a family might use over a few days. The label will be integrated with a consumer-activated cap in order to ascertain when the bottles have been opened.  The vision is to be the global mark for freshness on all type of perishable products.

#2 Patented bag makes changing gear oil easier and less wasteful

Unilever has a global packaging commitment to halve the company’s use of virgin plastic, as well as to ensure all its packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025. As part of this vision, its eponymous Ben & Jerry’s ice cream brand is set to undergo a sustainable packaging overhaul. A new on-stick version of Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough flavour is being introduced to facilitate eating on the go. The ice cream variant is being sold in a new recyclable, paper-based wrapper format as a replacement for a plastic-based format. Unilever describes the pack as a “first of its kind tie-dye wrapper”. The wrapper is made with 88% paper and is widely recyclable. In another environmentally-driven move, Ben & Jerry’s tubs now contain 40% less plastic than was previously used, and the plastic that is used is now apparently made from a renewable plant source. See also Fully recyclable ice cream packaging makes UK launch.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#4 Closed-loop, zero-waste delivery service has next day empties collection

Good Club is a UK online retail business that specialises in the sourcing of sustainable food products. The retailer claims to have the world’s biggest range of sustainable zero-waste staples. Thee members-only online business is moving towards a more circular economy model. It is to introduce a new “zero-waste” delivery service that sees packaging empties collected the next day. More than 70 products (expandable to 150) will be made available in the new range delivered in reusable and returnable packaging. The process sees the customer decant their products into their own containers. They leave the empties out for collection the following day. Items such as nuts, oats, seeds, grains, pasta and rice will be available for this new method. Good Club washes and refills the empties for the whole cycle to start again. It is claimed that Good Club will be the first retailer to offer a next-day collection of empties.  The items are packed in BPA-free plastic jars that arrive in a plastic tote. Empties are left in the tote on the customer’s doorstep or can be dropped off at Hermes ParcelShops.The delivery crates can also be reused indefinitely. The process differs from the Loop reusable packaging scheme with consumers decanting the containers rather than using them to store the products. This means that the reusable packaging spends less time in consumer’s homes increasing the number of times the containers will be used.

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

Will the majority of companies meet their Plastic Pact goal of 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable plastic packaging by 2025?  Vote and comment now. 

Last time: 95% thought that brands, retailers and suppliers should share more information about Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) when announcing new packaging innovations.

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.