Day: January 25, 2023

CCL Label has unveiled what claims to be the thinnest stretch sleeve on the market at a 30-micron thickness, made of mono-PE and designed to decorate returnable 1-litre PET water bottles without the need for adhesives or heat application.

Due to its elasticity, the sleeve is not thought to require adhesives or heat to attach it to a pack, instead holding itself in place. It is also said to be possible to integrate recycled content into the sleeve, including post-consumer recyclate.

“This extremely thin stretch sleeve was developed with sustainability in mind,” says Thorsten Umek, product manager at CCL Voelkermarkt. “With 30 micron the sleeve is a lot thinner than the ‘standard’ 45 micron sleeves that are usually used. This accounts for efficiency on the material side – a lot less raw material is needed to manufacture this sleeve and thus it helps reduce the carbon footprint of the product.

“We calculated that beverage brands can save up to 32 tons of plastic material per 100 million sleeves – which is approximately the weight of over 5 adult African elephants.”

“Stretch Sleeves have been a popular decoration technology for the German mineral water industry that traditionally has been a returnable scheme,” adds Stefan Schaeffert, business development manager at CCL Label. “Typically, reusable 1 Liter bottles made from rigid PET and increasingly rPET are used – which already is a very sustainable system itself. Now the bottle can have an even lower environmental footprint by combining it with the super thin stretch sleeves that we just launched.”

Back in 2021, CCL Label launched a closed-loop recycling solution for stretch sleeves involving the post-consumer de-inking and cleaning of printed sleeves, which are then melted into pellets and re-manufactured into new sleeves.

This was followed by the release of its floating, low-density polyolefin pressure-sensitive label last summer. The material is said to separate easily from heavier PET flakes through the sink/float recycling process.

Source:

https://packagingeurope.com/news/ccl-label-manufactures-ultra-thin-mono-pe-stretch-sleeve-said-to-hold-itself-in-place

Waitrose has announced that it will now sell its own-brand tea bags in certified home-compostable packaging in a move aimed at keeping 12.2 tonnes of material out of landfill and incineration.  

Having been accreditedwith TUV OK compost HOME certification, the company’s Duchy tea bags can apparently be placed in home compost bins or heaps at end of life. They are thought to be a source of nitrogen, encouraging plant growth by enriching the soil in consumers’ gardens. 

The tags attached to the tea bags have also been redesigned to cut down on the amount of ink used and encourage a more effective decomposition process.  

It is hoped that the switch will save 4.5 million Waitrose Duchy tea bags from going to waste in its first year. Although the remaining stock of non-compostable tea bags will still be used to avoid further waste, all Duchy tea bags sold online or in-store will feature compostable accreditation.  

“The reality is that our customers want to make whatever changes they can to ensure they’re shopping, eating and drinking more sustainably,” says Christina Capellaro, packaging development manager at Waitrose. “By securing accreditation for products such as our Duchy home compostable tea bags, we’re reassuring our customers that by making these little changes to their shopping habits, they can reduce their impact on the environment.” 

Back in 2021, Parkside utilised bio-based paper and Futamura’s NatureFlexTM metallicised cellulose films in a compostable redesign for Bird & Blend’s loose tea bag portfolio.  

On the other hand, Abel & Cole recently removed compostable plastics from the packaging of its Fruit & Veg Boxes range in response to UCL’s Big Compost Experiment – asserting that specific conditions are needed for decomposition to take place, and unless these are met, the packaging still contributes to plastic waste. 

Source:

https://packagingeurope.com/news/waitrose-implements-home-compostable-packaging-for-own-brand-tea-bags

Tesco is partnering with Keep Sea Blue to incorporate recycled plastics into its fresh fish packaging, with the goal of keeping 500 tonnes of discarded plastic out of the ocean.

The supermarket’s salmon, haddock, cod, and sea bass lines are set to be sold in trays containing at least 30% recycled coastal plastic collected from beaches, coastlines, and coastal communities within 10km of the Mediterranean Sea. This is hoped to facilitate the reduction of virgin plastics in both the packaging itself and at-risk environments near the ocean.

A network of collectors across the region – including local authorities, non-profits, volunteer groups, and the private sector – will apparently collect the plastic, at which point the PET packaging will be sorted, grinded, washed, and recycled to be utilised in food-grade packaging materials. Keep Sea Blue plans to ensure full traceability by monitoring and certifying the circularity of the plastics via its Blockchain Platform, powered by Oracle Blockchain technology.

“Where we can, we are reducing the amount of new plastic we use in our business,” said Sarah Bradbury, quality director at Tesco. “Re-using coastal plastic in our fish packaging is one way we can do that and at the same time keep it out of the oceans.” 

Lefteris Bastakis, founder of Keep Sea Blue, added: “Mismanaged plastic waste can only be solved by many partners working together. We are glad that Tesco is making a meaningful and active contribution to this programme towards protecting the Mediterranean Sea from plastic pollution and building a more sustainable future.” 

In another effort to keep plastic waste out of the ocean, Nozama’s Plastiks platform worked alongside Gravity Wave to certify the plastic it recovers and reuses from the Mediterranean Sea.

The non-profit Ocean Legacy has also launched its plastic pellets – made of 100% post-consumer processed recycled marine plastics – on the North American market, while UPM Raflatac has used a mass balance approach to incorporate certified ocean-bound plastic waste into its Ocean Action labels in collaboration with HHI, SABIC, and Taghleef Industries.

Source:

https://packagingeurope.com/news/tesco-includes-recycled-plastic-in-fresh-fish-packaging

Industry groups and NGOs have responded to the European Parliament’s vote in favour of stricter control measures for waste shipments and a ban on exporting plastic waste to non-OECD countries.

Aiming to protect the environment and human health, the proposal includes banning shipments of all wastes destined for disposal within the EU (except if “authorised in limited and well-justified cases”) and would require waste shipped outside the EU to be managed in what it describes as an “environmentally sound manner.”

The EuRIC (European Recycling Industries’ Confederation) said the proposal has both positive and negative repercussions for plastics recycling: “While many adaptations will facilitate recycling within the EU, some measures on exports including the ban on all green-listed plastic waste entries exported to OECD and non-OECD countries outside the EU and EFTA will instead hamper European recycling.”

In a letter, it called on EU decisionmakers to consider five actions from the European plastics recycling industry, including harmonised EU end-of-waste criteria for plastics as soon as possible; proportionate export rules for processed high-quality recycled plastics fully aligned with WTO (World Trade Organisation) law and the OECD legal framework; and harmonised revocations grounds for pre-consented facilities.

The FEAD (European Waste Management Association) has also shared its own concerns. It welcomed the “extension of confirmation deadlines for facilities to two working days, the acknowledgment of persistent and normalised delays in the authorisation processes, and the obligation for all Competent Authorities to accept documentation in English.”

However, it went on to add that although illegal waste shipments and waste-related crime have attracted public attention and “associated them with the need to end waste shipments altogether”, illegal practices mean that “the existing rules are circumvented, so that bans and increased financial and administrative burdens will not end such damaging practices, hampering the circular economy instead.”

Claudia Mensi, FEAD president also said this was “a missed opportunity for needed improvements, such as the reinforcement of pre-consented facilities.”

In contrast, the Rethink Plastic Alliance “applauds” the proposal. Lauren Weir, senior ocean campaigner at the Environmental Investigation Agency, said: “Great joy, the European Parliament’s decision today supporting a phased-in extra-EU/EFTA plastic waste export ban is welcomed.”

“Many of us across the world have worked tirelessly to highlight the unparalleled body of evidence and real-world experiences that demonstrate that the plastic waste trade is harmful and exploitative. Another important step to ending waste colonialism.”

Theresa Morsen, waste policy officer of alliance member Zero Waste Europe stated: “The European Parliament has shown today that it takes protecting member states from illicit waste shipment seriously. We are happy to see this strong stance on intra EU shipments of plastic waste that seeks to finally make the EU compliant with international rules set by the Basel Convention. Now the member states have to honour this ambition.”

The BIR (Bureau of International Recycling) responded by saying there is a fine line between “applying the proximity principle for wastes, keeping them in the EU, and commercially disadvantaging trading partners outside the EU, denying them resources”, adding that “the Parliament recognises the need for improved recycling and waste management capacity within the EU, but does not address how that will be paid for.”

Highlighting “the ever-tightening classification of wastes containing persistent organic pollutants”, it also mentioned the “accompanying movement restrictions that will lead to pressure on local final disposal operations to irreversibly transform or destroy them.”

Ultimately, the BIR apparently “fully supports regulations that aim at the protection of both human health and the environment, but also supports that recyclables can be moved to facilities that are environmentally soundly managed, and that raw materials from recycling should continue to be transported to manufacturing industries in the global circular economy.”

The next step of the adopted proposal will be for MEPs to start negotiations with EU member states.

Source:

https://packagingeurope.com/news/industry-responds-to-european-parliaments-proposed-plastic-waste-export-ban-to-non-oecd-countries

Ringo is working alongside Rimi to pilot reusable packaging in its ready-made food self-service counters at its Põhja, Telliskivi, and Tornimäe stores in a move expected to encourage the use of and increase access to reusable packaging amongst consumers.

Previously, Rimi customers wereoffered free disposable boxes to use at the food counters, with the additional option of bringing their own packaging to the store. Now a new system will be trialled in which consumers can choose between a 30-cent single-use pack or a 50-cent Ringo pack with a fully returnable deposit.

Consumers can then take the reusable pack back to a return box, where the on-pack QR code can be scanned to save the package to their phone number rather than an app. Once the package has arrived at the Ringo washing centre, the deposit will be returned to the consumer’s bank or charity account.

“The pilot will last 6 months, and we chose such stores where we think more environmentally conscious people already visit,” said Katrin Bats, PR & CR manager at Rimi. “At first, of course, this is a big change, but today no one doubts the necessity of reuse. 

“It’s certainly exciting for us to see how many people are still ready to use reusable packaging, but we believe that our customers will also like this kind of pilot.”

“Today, draft laws are being prepared throughout the European Union that will gradually increase the share of packaging reuse,” continued Janek Maar, project development manager at Ringo. “The normality of the future is to put salad and coffee in a package that is returned like today’s deposit bottles and used hundreds of times. 

“It is a great pleasure that the Rimi chain of stores has taken the initiative in the Estonian retail trade as a means of reducing disposable packaging waste and is getting used to the new reality early on.”

Burger King ran a trial with Loop earlier last year to pilot a new range of reusable and returnable packaging for burgers, sides, and drinks across selected restaurants. To participate, consumers could opt into paying a £1 deposit for a reusable cup or container, then return it by scanning the barcode through the Loop app and placing them in a dedicated Loop bin outside particular Burger King establishments.

Additionally, Confidex’s RAIN RFID tags for tracking reusable takeaway food packaging at events – encouraging returns via reverse vending machines and facilitating convenient deposit refunds – were nominated under the Recyclable Packaging category at the Sustainability Awards 2022.

Source:

https://packagingeurope.com/news/rimi-and-ringo-to-trial-reusable-packaging-for-self-service-food-counters

Vetroplas has supplied Templespa decorated glass packaging with droppers for two high-end skincare products in its portfolio.

It’s All Good nutritious boost facial oil comes in the 30ml Elsa bottle, with an acid etched frosted glass finish and silk screen printing.

The pack also features a Rimini pipette style dropper with silver aluminium cover and black TPE bulb.

Additionally, Light Relief CD skin booster oil is a ‘superfood’ face and body oil enriched with hemp, CBD and green mandarin oil – and comes in the 10ml slim fragrance bottle, which is sprayed to the

brand’s colour matched pantone, and is silk screen printed.

Michael McClean, head of product, said: “Glass bottles are still our ‘go-to’ choice for oils It’s All Good and Light Relief. Vetroplas has helped us create distinctive packaging which conveys a simple but important message: nutritious, high quality, natural ingredients. The packs are also easily recognisable to help differentiate these oils from other products in our full top to toe range.”

Source:

https://www.packagingnews.co.uk/design/new-packs/vetroplas-supplies-templespa-with-decorated-glass-packaging

Canpack has partnered with Svijany Brewery to create new limited-edition cans for Christmas.

The new design carries predominantly purple tones to strike “notes of luxury and festivity”. Canpack said that it implemented superwhite printing ink with a matt finish over the can.

Stephen McAneny, chief commercial officer at Canpack, said: “Using these innovative techniques allowed us to create custom cans that tell a great story and create a festive feeling. We believe this purple edition of 2022 will attract new consumers to the drink.”

Roman Havlík, chief executive at Svijany Brewery said: “Svijany wanted to create a collectable edition that captures the spirit of the season and the deep traditions of their celebrated brew. Drawing on several years of fruitful partnership, Canpack collaborated with Svijany to achieve these cheerful goals.”

Source:

https://www.packagingnews.co.uk/design/canpack-works-on-special-edition-festive-cans-for-svijany-brewery

Cointreau, the French orange liqueur, has launched a redesign of its iconic bottle.

The most momentous of its kind in 140 years, the newly designed Cointreau bottle is strikingly different yet still instantly recognisable. The revamped bottle is an ode to the cocktail pioneer’s history and a celebration of the orange itself.

Made from recycled glass, the landmark new bottle retains the essential aspects of its original design while ‘honouring modern French elegance’, from its label to its shape.

On the aesthetic side, the new Cointreau bottle underlines the product at the heart of the liqueur, the orange, illustrated on the bottle for the first time.

Also, Cointreau’s original distillery, based in Angers on the edge of the Loire Valley, is depicted both on the label and in the engraving; a tribute to Cointreau’s historic roots.

However, the new bottle also sees modern ergonomic enhancements too – the iconic shape has been lengthened for ease of pouring without increasing its weight – a major technical challenge – while larger 70cl bottles also now feature a QR code for the first time, which grants instant access to a dedicated online experience on cointreau.com; the go-to source of nearly 400 cocktail recipes and expert tips.

The bottle’s copper cap now comes with a mention of the brand’s savoir-faire as a “Distillateur-Liquoriste”, and new textured, embossed finish inspired by the skin of an orange.

The new bottle is made from two-thirds recycled glass. The emblematic amber colour enhances the silhouette of the bottle, and features materials sourced from France and surrounding European countries.

Fanny Chtromberg, international director at Cointreau, said: “The Cointreau L’Unique bottle is iconic. We certainly wanted to modernize it, but above all we wanted to preserve its vintage codes and respect the allure imagined by Édouard Cointreau. We therefore drew on Cointreau’s genesis. Its origins in Angers; its know-how as Liquorist-Distiller; and its precious fruit, the orange. We are particularly proud of the work accomplished, a feat of creativity but also of design.”

The redesigned bottle is due to be available worldwide now.

Source:

https://www.packagingnews.co.uk/design/new-packs/cointreau-unveils-redesign-of-iconic-bottle

Eviosys has created new packaging for Barilla’s premium pesto range.

The new packaging, features a revised logo, graphics, and jar design. It features a deep closure while Barilla’s plants in Italy have installed new capping machines.

Olivier Aubry, chief commercial officer at Eviosys, said: “Eviosys and Barilla are a natural fit for this partnership. Both value high-end, sustainable products, and ensuring that their offering the best qualityand preserving the planet. Barilla’s Pesto Barilla range was the first in the pesto category to bring basil from sustainable agriculture to a global level, while Eviosys’ commitment to innovation drives the sustainable revolution in the packaging of high-end food products.”

Matteo Gori, Pesto Barilla global marketing director at Barilla, added: “Our partnership with Eviosys has been instrumental in making our new packaging design and evolution of the Pesto Barilla range possible. I believe Barilla Pesto will command greater recognition on the shelf, thanks to the perfect combination of packaging that exemplifies quality, Italianity and sustainability.”

Source:

https://www.packagingnews.co.uk/design/new-packs/eviosys-and-barilla-partner-on-new-jar-for-pesto-range