Day: March 22, 2023

The custom polyethylene bags leverage a unique partnership between direct-to-consumer compost brand Tend, Salerno Packaging, and mechanical recycler EFS-plastics.

It’s that time of year that people across much of the US think spring, which brings to mind greener grass and blooming gardens. And that means the return of lawncare.

For the 2023 season, NOCO company Tend’s 1-cubic-foot volume bags of Brian’s Best STA Approved Compost for lawns and gardens will contain 20% post-consumer resin (PCR).

A mix of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and linear LDPE (LLDPE), the PCR is obtained from post-consumer sources such as curbside recycling programs and commercial recycling programs in distribution centers and retail stores.  

Buffalo River Compost launched Tend in 2022, a brand geared for direct-to-consumer lawn and garden products. The company sought sustainable packaging solutions, yet found scant options. 

“Some places around the country are starting to require minimum recycled content standards for plastic packaging such as garbage bags, but due to features such as UV protection and anti-slip, we weren’t able to immediately identify suppliers that used PCR in lawn and garden bags,” says Bobbie Thoman, Tend’s director of sustainability and innovation. 

The brand then settled on using standard LLDPE bags.

Tend had to track down a company that could make their bags more sustainable.

After contacting several vendors and learning that PCR lawn and garden bags were not currently available, Tend reached out directly to EFS-plastics in Canada. EFS-plastics is a mechanical recycling facility that creates customized plastic resin to help customers across North America develop cost-effective solutions for products and packaging.   

“The collaboration between Tend, Salerno Packaging, and ourselves is exactly the type of engagement this industry needs to advance PCR usage in packaging,” says Martin Vogt, CEO and president of EFS-plastics. “We’ve been pushing the envelope at our film recycling plants and can produce a range of high-quality LDPE and LLDPE PCR that are tailored for different consumer facing applications. We are proud of this joint achievement and hope to see more of such projects coming to life soon. Only then, we can make plastics circularity in flexible packaging a reality.”

Salerno Packaging, an affiliate of Inteplast Group, of which EFS-plastics is a joint venture, worked in partnership with Tend over the past year on everything from thickness and durability of the product to graphic design, and manufactured the new lawn and garden bag.  

“Salerno recognizes the importance of using PCR in packaging and is excited to be at the forefront of innovation,” says Roger Sullivan, Salerno vice president of sales & marketing. “We see the need for an increase in recycled content in the packaging we produce. It’s an important environmental effort, and we are seeing an increase in customers, like Tend, requesting this type of product.” 

“As composters we truly understand the importance of using recycled products to support circular programs and projects like this show what is possible when companies come together to innovate,” adds Thoman. “Composters are generally mission driven people and want to improve the environment through waste diversion and soil health. These bags wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for the enthusiasm from the entire supply chain throughout the production process. It’s an important step for an industry that relies on packaging to bring products to market.”

Recycling of the bags is a work in progress.

The bags are recyclable wherever programs accept these kinds of plastic bags; however, that presently does not include store drop-off locations because mulch and soil bags are not allowed, according to BagandFilmRecycling.org.

Along with Tend, EFS-plastics is working diligently to make that happen, Hendrik Dullinger, the US VP of business development, tells us. “We’re working directly with the Bag and Film Recycling group to get it accepted in the Northeast. We believe the store drop-off program is the best way to get these bags recycled as many municipalities do not have curbside pickup for these materials yet.”

As Tend’s Thoman points out, “retail take-back programs would be the [best] way to return the bags.”

For now, consumers will have to check directly with recyclers in their area.

Buffalo River Compost’s bags of Brian’s Best Compost will also be available for sale this spring at local garden centers in Western New York.

Source:

https://www.packagingdigest.com/flexible-packaging/compost-bags-boast-20-post-consumer-recycled-content

McCormick’s new herb and spice PET bottles use 50% recycled content paired with new SnapTight lids that preserve freshness longer.

For the first time in nearly 40 years, McCormick & Co. made a packaging change across the global flavor brand’s core red-cap branded herb and spice bottled products.

It’s a significant one and involves more than just a packaging change. The new PET bottles that have been tested and preferred by consumers address their desire to cook with the freshest herbs and spices. The brand’s new signature SnapTight lids will assure home cooks that the bottles are closed tight, locking in flavor and freshness between use.

The new bottles have begun to rollout on retail shelves nationwide, and the transition will continue through the year for all McCormick red cap products. This includes the most essential herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, garlic powder, paprika, parsley, and crushed red pepper.

“Our new bottle redesign is not only a milestone celebration for the brand, but for our home cooks as well,” says Nikki French, group vice president marketing, NA Consumer at McCormick. “These changes deliver a new standard when it comes to our passion and continued pursuit of flavor.”

From packaging through at-home use, McCormick has implemented several changes that give consumers reasons to add them to cart. Leveraging the redesign as a substantial opportunity to further their environmental commitments and listening to consumer feedback, the new bottles are made from a 50% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic. Prominently printing product names and best by dates on the lid, will help consumers reach for the right flavors.

Clear label designs showcase the transparency and quality of McCormick herbs and spices.

A change was made on the packaging line as well. An improved bottling process draws out excess air during filling, reducing the amount of oxygen inside that can impact freshness over time; and new proprietary SnapTight lids audibly seal in flavor, so herbs and spices remain fresher, longer.

The company’s commitment to using 50% PCR bottles for McCormick’s everyday herbs and spices reduces the bottles’ carbon footprint by approximately 18-23% across all sizes.

Entering Pringles packaging lineup are mustached players including Gonzaga’s Drew Timme, UVA’s Ben Vander Plas, and Duke’s Dariq Whitehead.

Pringles mascot Mr. P has sported a burly and well-recognized world-class mustache for generations.

Now he’s going to share the on-package starring role in time for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament by celebrating a March Madness of ‘Staches with new, limited-edition “Pringles March Mustache Collection” packaging.

The canister collection features stylized renderings of several college basketball players with all-star level fuzzy faces including Gonzaga University’s Drew Timme, University of Virginia’s Ben Vander Plas, and Duke University’s Dariq Whitehead. The collection honors each player’s unique and elite ‘staches including Mr. P’s The Pringle, the horseshoe, the pencil, and the caterpillar.

The limited-edition packaging assists fan favorite flavors Pringles Original, Cheddar Cheese, BBQ, and Sour Cream and Onion.

One of the most recognizable faces for those like me who follow college basketball is that of Drew Timme, star forward of Gonzaga University’s team. That’s because the team regularly makes it deep into the tournament including three appearances in the Elite Eight or better since 2017.

“My mustache has always been part of my identity and it’s amazing to see the facial fuzz trend catch the attention of one of the most beloved ‘stache’d sporting brands, Pringles,” Timme says. “I’m pumped to be featured on these new cans with some of my favorite ‘stache’d opponents — game-on fellas.”

The brand is also making a slick move on social media to support the mustachioed campaign. Pringles is furthering the facial-hair love by encouraging fans to show their ‘stache for a chance to win a stash…of the Pringles March Mustache Collection that is.

Starting at 8:00am ET on March 15 running through 8:00am ET on April 4, fans can enter for a chance to win the Pringles March Mustache Collection by showing off their tourney-inspired ‘stache whether it’s naturally grown or faux fuzz on Instagram using #PringlesMarchMustacheEntry. The “fan-stache-tic” possibilities are endless – whether you draw it, glue it, fake tattoo it, show off your makeup skills, rock ‘stache-shades or grow it yourself.

“Pringles has a deep bench of ingenious flavors and ‘staches of all flavors are having a moment on college basketball courts,” says Mauricio Jenkins, Pringles US marketing lead. “We’re thrilled to celebrate the sensational players whose unique ‘stache flavor have captured the hearts of fans everywhere and give fans nationwide a chance to join in the ‘stache fun.”

With interest in the annual tournament at a feverish pitch, this packaging redesign is a marketing slam dunk.

Source:

https://www.packagingdigest.com/packaging-design/pringles-march-mustache-packaging-spotlights-ncaa-basketball-stars

New packaging for Propel, a PepsiCo brand, includes a larger logo featuring the Gatorade bolt in the center.

Propel Fitness Water is rolling out a major brand refresh that includes a new packaging design and logo. The new packaging first appeared on store shelves in early 2023 and will be fully rolled out by summer. PepsiCo, Propel’s brand owner, executed the project inhouse.

Propel products are made with Gatorade electrolytes — ideal for exercisers looking to replace electrolytes lost to sweat — and the refresh emphasizes Propel’s Gatorade connection. The new Propel logo, for example, features the orange Gatorade bolt at the center.

The packaging redesign affects the entire Propel product portfolio, including 20-oz and 1-L bottles, as well as powder packets and cartons.

“We recently wrapped our eighth consecutive year of growth, and our size has nearly doubled over the last six years,” says Anuj Bhasin, chief brand officer, Gatorade. “As we continue growing, we’re leaning into over 55 years of Gatorade science by pulling the iconic bolt into the heart of Propel and re-establishing the brand as a modern fitness authority.”

Bhasin adds, “We’re going all-in on reaching exercisers with this brand visual identity refresh [that was] designed to reinforce the efficacy of our Gatorade electrolyte roots and commitment to fueling the goals of exercisers.”PepsiCo

Before (left) and After (right)

Bottle gets sleeker and mirrors ticker tape from sports fashion.

Highlights of the packaging refresh include a new structural design for 20-oz Propel bottles. The bottles are sleeker and more contemporary looking than previously, and the redesigned label graphics include a larger logo for visual flare on-shelf.

The new graphics also incorporate a color-coded, ticker-tape-style band displaying product flavor. Ticker-tape trim on athletic wear inspired this touch.

Updated colors also play a key role. “With this redesign, we went bigger and bolder with our color choices, adding modernity and depth to the portfolio with the introduction of electric blue, a flavor palette rooted in the world of fitness apparel, and of course the instantly recognizable orange Gatorade bolt,” says Sean Huls, senior design director with PepsiCo Design and Innovation.

Limited-time bottle connects with Creed III movie.

PepsiCo also recently announced its first limited-edition Propel bottle, created in conjunction with brand partner Michael B. Jordan. Graphics on the bottle picture Jordan in character as boxer Adonis Creed from Creed III, a movie Jordan starred in and directed.

The limited-edition 1-L Propel berry-flavor bottle launched in late February 2023, a few days before the US premiere of Creed III. The packaging will be available through summer.

Label graphics on the Creed III bottle include a QR code, which fans can scan (until August 20, 2023) to enter a promotion with weekly prizes such as Creed III tickets and virtual fitness classes. Consumers can also enter the promotion online.PepsiCo

Source:

https://www.packagingdigest.com/beverage-packaging/new-packaging-electrifies-propel-fitness-brand

Recycling businesses in Togo and Nigeria, bioplastics made from invasive plants from Lake Victoria, and a process of waste conversion to create safe and affordable cooking fuel in Kenya are amongst the recipients of £4 million as part of the Afri-Plastics Challenge, which aims to cut down on plastic pollution in Africa.

Run by innovation prize experts Challenge Works and funded by the government of Canada, the Afri-Plastics Challenge initiative aims to reduce amount of plastic waste both on land and in the ocean in and around the African continent.

Amongst the companies receiving funding in Strand 1, Green Industry Plast – Togo, based in Lomé, involves the foundation of collection units and sorting facilities for plastic waste in collaboration with local authorities in Togo’s major cities. As well as reducing the amount of pollution in the natural environment, the solution aims to utilise conversion machinery to produce bricks, paving slabs, whiteboards for use in schools, and more.

Furthermore, it is expected to create new jobs and facilitate further education about environmentalism by recruiting and training vulnerable women and young people who no longer attend school to sort and reuse waste materials. Each town is set to be equipped with bins for selective sorting.

“Up to 40% of households in Lomédump their rubbish in the natural environment – it is a public health menace and destroying the Togolese coastal and marine ecosystem,” explains Gado Bemah, CEO of Green Industry Plast – Togo. “We are building a sustainable and effective solution to plastic waste management in Togo for an inclusive circular economy by integrating the collection, sorting, and recycling of plastic waste. A grassroots approach will result in cleaner cities and prevent water pollution.

“Our ambition is to implement and increase recycling schemes for waste plastic and to build new warehouses to increase storage capacity. We want to equip every stakeholder in the city’s living environment – from City Hall to private citizens – with the tools to recycle to improve public health and living conditions.”

Meanwhile, Chanja Datti is an in-house, technology-driven, end-to-end process for plastics waste recycling involving the direct purchase of collected plastic from waste pickers and aggregators in an effort to support marginalised groups. With a series of recycling hubs currently operating across Abuja, the purchased waste is transferred to Chanja Datti’s aggregation, processing, and manufacturing plant, where it is processed into post-consumer recycled plastics to be sold to manufacturers.

Olufunto Boroffice, CEO of Chanja Datti, continues:“Over 64 million tons of waste is generated annually in Nigeria; unfortunately, only 10-15% of this is collected and recycled, with approximately 200,000 tons of plastic waste entering our water-bodies annually.

“Our aim is to establish a series of recycling hubs across northern Nigeria, building on our success in Abuja. The collected plastics will be processed and sold as post-consumer recycled plastics to plastics manufacturers for use by large bottle-to-bottle manufacturing companies.”

Mega Gas is based in Nairobi, Kenya, and seeks to convert unsorted plastic waste, especially polyethylene, into clean and affordable cooking gas through a patented process. Its thermal cracking process of distillation and compression is thought to produce clean gaseous fuel without generating emissions, residue, or further pollution, with the fuel harvested in metal cylinders for easy use and handling.

“4.2 million people die annually from indoor pollution because they do not have access to clean and affordable energy; meanwhile, humanity produces about 300 million tons of plastic waste each year, with much of this ending up in our rivers and polluting our planet,” says CEO Peter Njeri. “Mega Gas aims to solve both of these problems by recycling plastic waste into clean, affordable energy source. We use a patented thermal cracking process that converts plastic waste into a gas which is harvested, compressed into cylinders, and sold at affordable prices.”

In Strand 2, Chemolex’s Biopactic solution claims to be a recyclable, reusable, and 100% biodegradable material that hopes to replace single-use plastic polymers in food and product packaging. Produced from invasive water hyacinth plants that grow in Lake Victoria, Kenya, the solution hopes to cut down on the environmental, economic, and health impacts of their aggressive growth as well as cutting down on plastic waste.

“We supply 100% biodegradable and sustainable bioplastic material – Biopactic – that is a superior alternative to the single use plastic polymers used in food and product packaging and diaper manufacturing,” says Clifford Okoth Owino, founder and CEO of Chemolex. “Our patented precision bio-conversion technology enables us to sustainably utilise the invasive water hyacinth plants for bioplastic production to replace the use of these single-use plastics.

“Over the course of the last year, we have completed market research and analysis for our products and have started commercial production and supply. We currently supply more than 8,000 pieces of biodegradable bread bags and other customised packaging solutions across the Kenyan market. Chemolex has also developed biodegradable diapers and sanitary pads which are currently available in the Kenyan market.”

As a Strand 3 winner, Ukwenza VR reaches out to Kenyan consumers via virtual reality technology to demonstrate the journey taken by discarded plastic at end of life. This is hoped to raise awareness of the environmental damage caused by plastic waste and encourage consumers to dispose of their plastic waste effectively.

“Plastic pollution is a challenge that affects many cities and communities in Kenya,” says Ukwenza VR co-founder Njeri Ndonga. “The main cause of this in informal settlements is an over-reliance on plastic and a lack of adequate waste management systems. There is also inadequate sensitisation within communities to the effects of plastic waste on their lives and environment.

“Schools generate a significant amount of waste. School children lack skills, knowledge, and support because they have no basic formal or comprehensive environmental curriculum that teaches about plastic waste. While the current school curriculum touches on plastics, it is not enough to bring about behaviour change without an investment in their supplementary education.

“We work to bridge the learning gap by providing immersive and engaging educational virtual reality (VR) content that complements the current educational systems in urban areas in Kenya. VR encourages problem solving, decision-making and behaviour change in both children and adults.”

Additionally, Baus Taka Enterprise’s #StopPlasticPollution Campaign is intended to promote the segregation of plastic waste from its source and spread awareness of responsible waste management practices. Its mobile app hosts competitions on plastic segregation with monetary incentives, as well as offering redeemable points for medical services in partnership with health clinics.

According to co-founder and CEO Dr Tayba Hatimy, “Mombasa is Kenya’s second largest city and East Africa’s largest port. It generates an estimated 708 tons of waste daily, 42 tons of which is plastic waste, of which 44% is uncollected. Households in Mombasa do not have access to public waste management services, and so turn to informal waste managers, who often illegally dump mixed waste. This waste then makes its way into Mombasa’s rivers and oceans.

“The #StopPlasticPollution Campaign addresses this plastic mismanagement challenge at the source, to reduce marine plastic pollution. The Baus Taka mobile app is a platform to collect data on waste, and provide monetary incentives to members of the community who sort and trade their used plastic, which is then collected by Baus Taka and transported to recycling centres. Users are rewarded with points which can be traded for health services at partner health clinics, or access to entrepreneurship training to support their success as plastic waste managers.”

In Europe, an AI-based waste sorting solution from Lixo and a reusable alternative for e-commerce packaging from Rhinopaq recently received their own funding as part of Circular Valley’s Circular Economy Accelerator Programme.

Bionanopolys has also launched an open call to give five projects fully-funded access to its fourteen upgraded pilot plants and complementary services for the development, testing, and/or scaling up of bionanomaterials.

Source:

https://packagingeurope.com/news/afri-plastics-challenge-provides-funding-for-african-recycling-businesses-new-bioplastics-waste-conversion-processes-and-more/9548.article