June 2023
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British supermarket chain Waitrose has announced that it will offer its customers a refill option for olive oil, the first in the UK to do so. The ‘Citizens of Soil’ olive oil will be available in a 500ml bottle and as a refill pouch in 155 Waitrose stores across the UK. The award-winning Citizens of Soil was founded in 2020 with the aim of championing small-scale female farmers who prioritise soil health and biodiversity in their olive groves. The pouches reportedly have a carbon footprint that’s fifteen times lower than the glass bottles, because they’re lighter and therefore require less energy to transport them. When customers have washed and dried their empty pouches they can drop them off at a soft plastic drop-off point at one of 295 Waitrose stores, or send them back to Citizens of Soil by posting them in any postbox. See also: Olive oil producer introduces refillable option in US.
The range of products now offered in refill pack formats continues to increase.
This has applications for Food, Beverage, Housh sector products.
June 2023
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French reusable packaging company Re-uz has been named an official Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games supplier. As part of the arrangement, Re-uz will be supplying reusable cups and containers during the events. The company will also look to install a deposit system at the sites and places where the games will be held, to encourage the spectators to give back the materials which have been provided. A spokesperson for Re-uz said they were proud to be associated with the biggest sporting event in the world, as It represented a unique opportunity to demonstrate the company’s know-how. This partnership is part of a global goal – to raise awareness of the ecological impact of sporting events and to support as many people as possible towards re-employment. See also: Reusable aluminium cups showcased at Super Bowl LVI.
Reusable cups and containers can work well in closed-loop sporting events like this, and the high-profile nature of the Olympics should create additional publicity for this activity.
This has applications specifically for Food and Beverage sector products.
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British snack food manufacturer Walkers is to trial ‘bagless’ multipacks of its Snack A Jacks range of rice cakes. Five packs of the snacks will be held together with a tape-like strip. The removal of an outer bag will apparently reduce the amount of outer packaging by 86%. Walkers says that the new outer tape as well as the individual packets qualify as officially recyclable under the UK On-Pack Recycling Label Scheme (OPRL) and can be recycled at flexible packaging collection points in supermarkets across the UK. The snack giant has invested over £2 million in new equipment to enhance reduced plastic packaging capabilities at the Walkers’ Skelmersdale site in Lancashire where Snack A Jacks are made. The new format will include Salt & Vinegar, Sour Cream & Chive and BBQ flavours, and will be first rolled out in Tesco stores across the UK. See also: UK crisp brand switched to paper-based multipack wrap.
There is ongoing work to reduce multipack impact as reported in the Innovation Zone through material switching and material reduction as we see in this example.
This innovation has potential applications for Food products.
May 2023
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TotalEnergies Corbion, in collaboration with COEXPAN, has developed a bio-based cup using recycled PLA (Polylactic Acid). The cup was validated and tested at COEXPAN’s INNOTECH centre in Madrid, Spain, and is available in white and high transparency options. The innovation employs Luminy rPLA, a bio-based polymer produced from sugarcane by TotalEnergies Corbion, with equivalent properties to virgin PLA. This bioplastic also has food contact approval in the EU, USA, and China. TotalEnergies Corbion aims to save manufacturers from additional investments in form-fill-seal facilities, whilst promoting carbon neutrality by keeping the carbon captured from the sugarcane in the cycle. TotalEnergies Corbion also promotes energy-efficient advanced recycling of PLA.
This development represents a step towards more sustainable packaging, leveraging recycled bio-based materials to reduce carbon footprint and environmental impact.
This has applications for Food products.
May 2023
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Florida-based Jabil Packaging Solutions has launched what it says is a more sustainable end-of-life solution for cosmetics, lotion, hair care and more. Their EcoJar is a hybrid paper packaging format that leverages recycled fibre for the outer shell and a recyclable inner liner that contains and protects the product. This two-piece format seamlessly connects the outer paper shell and interior liner to create a single-piece shell design. The outer shell and inner liner can be easily separated for recycling by removing the decal and applying pressure to the push tab on the pack’s base. This lightweight packaging format leverages post consumer recycled paper and reduces plastic consumption per unit by as much as 60%. EcoJar does not rely on adhesives to bond the paper and plastic, ensuring that recyclability is maintained.
This is a differentiated designs and one of many that attempt to improve recyclability.
This innovation has a specific application for cosmetics in the Health & Beauty sector.
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Istanbul-based Korozo Flexibles has announced the launch of its new 100% recyclable flat bottom pouch. Called KORORCY, (pronounced Kororecycle), it is a PE (polyethylene) monomaterial that can be used for a variety of products, from pet food to confectionery and instant beverages in the food industry, from agricultural products to cleaning and personal care products in non-food applications. It is side gusseted with five main panels and offers good product stability and shelf appeal. Additional options include multiple web, re-closure systems and easy carry handle. It can also have various finishes, including matt, high gloss, or a combination of the two, and a paper-look finish is also available. It can also be perforated or have laser scribing. These new recyclable flat-bottom pouches are suitable for products weighing 150 g to 10 kg. See also: 100% recyclable packaging launch for cat and dog food brand.
This is a good development for the pet food industry and is yet another mono-material pack development to improve recycling rates.
This has applications for Food, Beverage and Pet Care products.
May 2023
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A three-way collaboration of Finnish companies has resulted in a new food-safe pizza box featuring reduced material and ink usage. The box was designed by Futupack and the packaging was manufactured by Adara Pakkaus, while Metsä Board provided the lightweight paperboard substrate to provide a better, safer, and more sustainable solution for food-grade applications. It is a fully bleached, uncoated white kraftliner suitable for flexo, offset, and digital inkjet printing and is available in a basic weight range of 70-160 g/m². Despite the reduced weight, the E-flute corrugated board box’s structure provides the necessary rigidity. Compared to traditional solutions made of recycled fibre, the weight of the pizza box made of MetsäBoard Natural WKL Bright was up to 38% lighter, and its carbon footprint was reported as up to 50% lower, according to Metsä Board’s Sustainability Service.
This lightweighting initiative has potential applications for other food products. The carbon footprint reduction claims are impressive.
This new pack has applications in the Food sector.
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Leeds-based ecoMLR are the developers of ecoINS, a product designed to thermally insulate and protect both warm and cool products in markets such as food and pharmaceuticals. It is a sustainable and recyclable packaging solution, designed as an alternative to plastic-based products. It can maintain a temperature of below 8 degrees for a period of up to 48 hours and keep a temperature of above 40 degrees for a period of up to 2 hours. Various stock sizes are available, and after use, they can be disposed of in household paper recycling. The company says that ecoINS is already being used by one of the leading global meal-kit delivery providers who rely on the ecoINS to keep its contents as fresh as when they sent it. ecoINS is made from recycled Kraft paper and not less than 70% recycled content.
This ticks sustainability boxes to replace unrecyclable EPS with a recyclable alternative.
This innovation has opportunities for Food and Pharmaceutical sector products.
May 2023
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Belgian packaging company Sabert Corporation has announced the launch of Snap2Go, a fully recyclable solution for chilled meals and food-to-go outlets. The secure snug-fitting anti-fog rPET clip-lid protects food, while offering easy one-hand closing. It securely fastens to internal tabs, locking into place with one simple push and click. Easy to hold, Snap2Go is said to be leak, moisture and grease resistant as it features a webbed-corner design. Refrigerator friendly, the multifunctional Snap2Go tray, with snug clip-lid is a good choice for all food-to-go applications from salads to chilled meals. For operators, it is easy to use, as the sleek, space-saving design and rigid construction means that it is both stackable and nestable. The base is a recyclable board which is made from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) certified paper, while the recyclable 100% rPET clip-lid is made from high-grade, post-consumer PET bottle flakes.
This delivers both in terms of sustainability and functionality.
This has applications for Food products.
May 2023
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German protective packaging specialists Storopack has announced a new flexible and sustainable packaging solution, ideal for providing optimal protection for e-commerce products during transport. PAPERbubble from Storopack offers customers an innovative and sustainable alternative to traditional plastic air bubble film. This protective packaging is made from paper, a renewable raw material, and in combination with air, is 100% recyclable and reliably protects small to medium-sized goods during shipping. The ready-to-use, perforated paper sheets measuring 580 mm x 380 mm are available in a specially designed box and in user-friendly packaging units that offer maximum flexibility and allow the sheets to be removed easily and ergonomically directly at the packing station. This means that PAPERbubble does not require a machine system, making it a user-friendly and cost-effective packaging solution.
This appears to be another effective paper-based innovation, one of several alternatives to plastic bubble wrap reported in the Innovation Zone.
This has applications for a range of Consumer Goods products.
