Innovation Zone

ThePackHub Innovation Zone Snapshot

Welcome to this week’s Innovation Zone snapshot from ThePackHub.
ThePackHub collates more than 1,000 new packaging innovations a year for our Innovation Zone database. We now have 5,414 searchable initiatives listed. 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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#1 UK retailer trialling paper lining for cereal brand

Multinational food manufacturing brand Kellogg’s are testing a paper lining for their iconic Corn Flakes variant for the UK market. The trial will take place in a small number of Tesco outlets. The paper lining will be introduced as a replacement for the plastic bag that has been traditionally used in Kellogg’s Corn Flakes packaging that is not widely kerbside recyclable in the UK. A few challenges were encountered and overcome in the production of the new packs. Kellogg’s needed to ensure that the paper would survive the filling and sealing processes while maintaining the barrier properties. Fres=hness maintenance and integrity of the product inside was also an obstacle to overcome, but Kellogg’s achieved the high standard they were striving for and is hoping that it is maintained throughout the trial.

 

#2 Gel packs replaced with frozen water bottles

Amazon Fresh in Singapore is maintaining the freshness of deliveries of frozen and chilled food products by moving to recyclable frozen water bottles instead of using more traditional unrecyclable gel packs. The water bottles will be used on products such as meat, seafood and ice cream. The bottles have been extensively tested in order to find the correct solution for Singapore’s hot and humid environment, and they proved to give the same cooling effect as the original gel packs. The bottles contain drinking water, or the water can also be used for cooking or watering plants. After use, the bottles can be recycled like any other PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle in the country’s blue recycling bins. The initiative is part of Amazon’s ambitions of building a sustainable business for their customers, employees and communities, the goal being net-zero carbon shipping.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#3 UK brewery launches refill scheme for alcoholic beverages

The reusable and refillable packaging market continues to develop with several initiatives coming to our attention at the Innovation Zone. This time we track English brewery Adnams, who have launched a new scheme in four of their shops nationwide. Shoppers can purchase a refillable bottle from special refill stations at any of the participating shops, or simply bring their own. Customers can purchase Adnams branded refill bottles or beer growler. There are 0.5 litre, 1 and 2 litre bottles for several brands of beer, gin and wine, that can be inexpensively refilled at the breweries. This initiative will prevent the use of single-use packaging. With consumers dispensing the product themselves, any spillages could get expensive.

More info in The Innovation Zone.

#4 Plant-based PET bottle made from wood chippings and molasses

Japanese multinational brewing and distilling company Suntory has developed a prototype plant-based PET bottle. The new design is intended to be used for their Japanese Tennensui brand and Orangina with its sales base in Europe. It was developed in collaboration with Pearl River, New York-based Anellotech, a sustainable chemicals and technology company. The technology involves extracting paraxylene from wood chippings, which are then turned into terephthalic acid (PTA), which is commonly used as the main component in polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This plant-based material is then combined with mono ethylene glycol (MEG), which is made from molasses. At the end of the bottle’s use, they can be recycled back into bottles to complete the circularity.

 

Latest ThePackHub Expert Interview

Marika Knorr of CCL Label discusses her company’s Ecofloat sleeve material can enable brands to meet their recycling targets.

Packaging question of the week

Would you buy wine in a paper bottle? Vote and comment now. 

Last week, 89% thought there should there be more regulation to help reduce greenwashing in packaging.

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