Category: Sustainability

Coca-Cola is set to launch a European trial for its recently announced first-ever paper bottle prototype.

The solution has been developed through a partnership between scientists at the Coca-Cola Research and Development Laboratories in Brussels and The Paper Bottle Company (Paboco).

The technology developed by Paboco is designed to create recyclable bottles made of sustainably-sourced wood that are capable of resisting liquids, CO2, and oxygen, and are suitable for liquid goods such as carbonated and still drinks, beauty products, and more. 

The current prototype consists of a paper shell with a recyclable plastic lining and cap made from 100% recycled PET. However, the company’s ultimate goal is to produce a bottle that can be recycled as paper.

“The trial we are announcing today is a milestone for us in our quest to develop a paper bottle”, said Daniela Zahariea, director of technical supply chain and innovation for Coca-Cola Europe.

“People expect Coca-Cola to develop and bring to market new, innovative and sustainable types of packaging. That’s why we are partnering with experts like Paboco, experimenting openly and conducting this first in-market trial. It’s part of delivering on our World Without Waste commitments.”

The trial is scheduled to take place in the second quarter of this year and will involve the company’s plant-based AdeZ drink being offered to 2,000 consumers in Hungary, through a partnership with Kifli.hu – one of Hungary’s fastest growing online grocery retailers.

Stijn Franssen, R&D packaging innovation manager, adds: “This trial will provide us with invaluable insight and feedback. We will get to see how the paper bottle prototype performs as packaging and what consumers think and feel about it. 

“This is an exciting step forward for us, as it means we’re out of the lab and into the real world. So for the first time, consumers will actually be drinking one of our products from a potentially new type of paper packaging.”

This move marks a further step in fulfilling The Coca-Cola Company’s global vision of achieving a “World Without Waste”, in which the company has pledged to ensure all of its packaging is collected, recycled, or re-used by 2030.

Source:https://packagingeurope.com/coca-cola-announces-european-trial-for-paper-bottle-prototype/

The Coca-Cola Company has announced it is to transition a selection of plastic bottles across the portfolio to 100% recycled plastic (rPET) material.

The total portfolio approach, which includes a new sip-sized bottle, aims to reduce the use of new plastic by more than 20% compared to 2018 – a 10,000 metric ton reduction in GHG emissions annually.

The initiative excludes bottle caps and labels.

The new sip-sized Coca-Cola bottles will launch initially in the USA in an all-new, 13.2oz (390ml) bottle made from 100% recycled material – conveniently sized in a more sippable package while reducing use of new plastic.

In an effort to optimize the package for recycling, all Sprite packaging will transition to clear packaging by the end of 2022. Clear packaging makes it easier for bottles to be recycled and remade into new bottles.

Additionally, 20oz bottles made with 100% recycled material will be available across Coca-Cola trademark and Diet Coke in some US states, while Dasani will launch 20oz (590ml) bottles made with 100% recycled material next month.

Smartwater will introduce 20oz bottles made with 100% recycled material in the US in July, while also introducing a resealable and reusable 18oz aluminum bottle in California and Florida this month.

Furthermore, Coca Cola is launchest its largest ever on-package reducing waste messaging effort; each new 13.2oz rPET package will feature a “Recycle Me Again” message on the label to inspire consumers.

Source:https://www.packagingnews.co.uk/news/environment/coca-cola-100-rpet-09-02-2021

Dow has today announced the first large-scale commercial use of its AGILITY CE resin, made with 70% recycled plastic. Plastigaur, a film converter based in Spain, is using the resin in its collation shrink film, typically used in the transportation of cans or PET bottles.

The resin is based on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) into which post-consumer recycled (PCR) material from shrink film is incorporated without, Dow says, sacrificing material quality and functionality in the final application.

Initially introduced in late 2019, AGILITY CE is Dow’s first post-consumer recycled (PCR) product offering, and the company says that it now has PCR product offerings in all its operating regions

Dow reports that the PCR content in the final shrink film developed by Plastigaur is 50%, which reportedly results in a carbon emissions reduction of 25%.

The company has also worked with Plastigaur to reduce the thickness of the film from 45 to 40 microns. By reducing the thickness while apparently maintaining the packaging functionality, Dow claims that the new solution enables an additional CO2 saving of 11%, while reducing overall environmental impact by 32%.

Agnieszka Godlewska, marketing manager for industrial and consumer packaging at Dow, comments: “By working in close partnership with Plastigaur, we’ve been able to accelerate our innovative PCR product offering, demonstrating a commercially viable solution that uses high-quality packaging made from recycled content.

“This is not a concept or a project anymore, this is reality. We’re excited to continue working with more partners across the value chain and pushing forward industry standards in post-consumer recycling offerings with the ultimate aim of reducing plastic waste and CO2 emissions.”

“We are very excited with the development of these new collation shrink films. They bring us, and the Brand Owners, closer to reaching our sustainability goals,” adds Luis Artola, managing director at Plastigaur.

“The integration of recycled materials can be a challenge, but the newest technologies and our experience in the industry enabled us to push the boundaries and we could not be prouder of the results.”

Source:https://packagingeurope.com/successful-commercialization-of-shrink-films-using-recycled-plastic-dow/

PakTech is announcing the release of its latest packaging innovation for the CBD beverage market. PakLock, made from the same recycled and recyclable HDPE as PakTech’s multipacks, is a child-resistant cap designed for CBD-infused beverages.

The new packaging is designed to be a safe, secure, and simple solution to allow adults to enjoy their CBD-infused beverages worry-free while ensuring the safety of children.

Developed by PakTech’s engineering team, PakLock is aimed at the growing cannabidiol beverage market.

According to a recent report from Cannabis Business Plan: “The current market size for CBD in Europe is about €450 million, representing 31% of the global CBD oil market share, second only to North America with a market share of 40%.”

The solution seeks to provide a cost-effective solution to child-resistant packaging needs that is easy to apply, fits on all standard 202-260 aluminum can formats, and is removable by adults.

“With the cannabis extract market growing rapidly across the world, we started to receive inquiries about whether we had any child-resistant or tamper-evident packaging,” said Lloyd McGriff, director of sales at PakTech. “That was when we realized we could leverage our experience from our PakTech can carriers and meet this new market need.”

Source https://packagingeurope.com/paktech-reveals-child-resistant-cbd-packaging-made-from-recycled-hdpe/

Mondi has created three recyclable packaging products for a brand-new range of vegan products from food manufacturer Orkla.

The branded consumer goods company worked closely with Mondi to create the packs for the Swedish launch of its Frankful plant-based Tex-Mex range – soft tortilla wraps, tortilla crisps, and taco spices.

Each solution has been designed with the aims of providing premium product freshness for consumers and ensuring a standout appearance on the shelf for retailers. Mondi also says that it was able to support Orkla’s sustainability agenda, which includes launching healthier food products, reducing food waste, and offering environmentally friendly choices

Soft tortillas will be one of the first food products to be packaged in Mondi’s BarrierPack Recyclable solution, which uses a high-barrier, lightweight mono-material and a reclose tape to keep the food fresh in its original packaging.

Meanwhile, Orkla’s spice mix will be packaged in a paper-based laminate, created from FSC-certified paper and a film made from renewable resources. According to Mondi, the high paper content ensures suitability for Swedish recycling paper streams.

The company says that the tortilla crisps will be kept crunchy and fresh in its metal-free high-barrier laminate, which makes it recyclable. This solution reportedly eradicates the need to include a metallised layer while retaining crispness and avoiding grease leakage.

Commenting on the launch of the partnership, Thomas Kahl, Mondi’s EcoSolutions project manager, said: “Our aim is to work closely with our valued partners through our customer-centric approach, EcoSolutions, in order to create sustainable packaging that works for the products, the customer and the environment.

“The challenge with Frankful was to find a solution that would ensure recyclable packaging materials while offering the required functionalities such as barrier protection, and still run on the existing machines at full speed.”

Åsa Gisel, marketing manager at Orkla Foods Sweden, added: “As a market-leading consumer goods company distributing across the Nordic region, we are committed to meeting the UN’s sustainable development goals – and as responsible sourcing is a key point in our strategy, Mondi has provided invaluable support to create improved sustainable packaging. The Frankful range offers consumers fresh, climate-smart Taco meal products that look good and of course, taste delicious.”

Source https://packagingeurope.com/mondi-reveals-three-recyclable-packs-for-orkla-vegan-tex-mex-range/

International beauty packaging manufacturer and provider Quadpack has unveiled Woodacity – a new range of closure systems for fragrance packs, each cap crafted from a single piece of sustainably-sourced wood.

“Our experts have effectively mechanised wood,” said Quadpack’s head of categories, Pierre-Antoine Henry. “Woodacity elevates this natural material beyond the aesthetic, to become a fully-functional component of a beauty packaging solution. This full-wood innovation is the first of its kind, bringing sustainable added value to beauty brands.”

Quadpack claims that its new closure solutions offer the same functional properties and stability as plastic, along with the qualities of wood. In addition, the designs of the products obviate the need for a plastic insert, making them mono-material structures.

Three systems are available, all made in Europe at the Quadpack Wood factory, using wood sourced from what the company describes as “sustainably managed forests.” ‘Solo Snap’ is a globally patented snap-on cap, with a unique pattern of interior ribs and a secure ‘click’ closure. Meanwhile, ‘Solo Push’ is a friction-fit cap that closes the pack with a smooth push gesture.          

The last member of the range, Solo Turn, is a thread cap with a screw closure, which matches with Quadpack’s Regula Glass jar, also made in Europe.

Woodacity was conceived following a two-year research and development project to turn wooden fragrance caps into working packaging components. A team of designers, engineers, and technicians investigated the material in different conditions, shapes, and combinations at Quadpack Wood, to achieve the first three closure systems available today. The company says that more variants are currently under development

source https://packagingeurope.com/new-range-of-mono-material-closure-systems-made-from-wood-revealed-by-quadpack/

Mondi has introduced its latest e-commerce innovation – a recyclable corrugated packaging solution to keep perishable food cool while in transit.

According to the company, the solution uses thermo-insulation to keep food chilled below 7C for up to 24 hours without using a cooling truck. Inner corrugated panels enclose the shipment from all sides, reportedly providing “enhanced insulation.”

Meanwhile, the pack is made from 100% recycled material, is recyclable, and gives users the ability to use different cooling agents.

For reasons concerning consumer safety, the COVID-19 pandemic has boosted the e-grocery sector. PWC reports that, during the 2020 European lockdown, 28% of people in urban areas used online shopping as their main channel for buying groceries – a 10% increase compared to before the pandemic

Furthermore, 80% of European consumers who started buying groceries online say that they plan to continue doing so.

“We are proud to introduce a reliable solution that is proven to handle all the challenges that online food retailers face. After having tested various scenarios, we came up with a formula for the perfect composition. BCoolBox means cooling trucks are no longer needed to transport food and we can play our part in reducing food waste,” says Sofia Backstrom, product innovation manager for e-commerce at Mondi.

“Our approach is to listen to our customers and evaluate their needs along the entire supply chain. Our aspiration is to create packaging for the e-commerce sector that is sustainable by design. This corrugated packaging solution expands our wide offer for the online food shopping market,” adds Tarik Aniba, sales and marketing director for corrugated solutions at Mondi.

https://packagingeurope.com/mondi-expands-e-commerce-portfolio-with-recyclable-bcoolbox/

Employee-owned packaging business, Kite Packaging, has expanded its range of packaging for the food industry by adding wax-lined boxes to its b2b ecommerce website

Wax lined boxes, also commonly referred to as ‘meat boxes’ are suitable for direct contact with food thanks to their PE (wax lining) and are strong, robust, fibre-based, solid board boxes ideal for packing moist and chilled solutions, even in humid environments.

One of their added benefits is that food can be directly frozen or stored in the box without the need for additional bags, however, if additional bags are favourable, they can be used in conjunction with Kite‘s range of blue tint gusseted bags.

Commonly used within the food industry to transport or store raw meat, poultry, cakes, vegetables and much more, they are available in two sizes, both of which are easy and simple to erect.

Source

Kite launches range of wax-lined boxes for food

A newly-formed group comprising leading companies including Procter & Gamble, Mondelēz, Unilever, SIG, Tetra Pak, and Amcor has committed to a new set of design principles with the aim of improving the recyclability of plastic packaging.

The Plastic Waste Coalition of Action, whose members have a shared revenue of more than 1 trillion euros and represent more than 10% of the global plastic packaging market, has pledged to adopt these rules wherever possible by 2025.

The first design rule aims to improve the economic viability of PET bottle recycling by removing colouring pigments and labelling methods that impact recycling rates.

The second design rule will remove materials that, the group argues, are problematic for recyclers from all forms of plastic packaging – such as carbon black, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and EPS (expanded polystyrene).

By implementing these rules, the group hopes that recycling will become easier, cheaper, more efficient, and quicker to scale – resulting in less waste leaking into the environment.

The members have also committed to reporting on their implementation of the rules through a process aligned with Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy Global Commitment reporting.

Alan Jope, CEO of Unilever, said: “We must urgently take action to stop plastic waste and move to a circular model. This is the number one priority for us as a Coalition. No one business can achieve this on its own, which is why we’ve joined forces to drive change across our own industry and to hopefully set an example for other sectors.”

Peter Konieczny, Amcor’s CCO, added: ” Our business has achieved consistent success in using our innovation capabilities to eliminate materials that hamper recycling and we continue to use more recycled content in our packaging. We are keen to use our expertise alongside the Plastic Waste Coalition of Action to help consumers make a positive contribution to protecting the environment.”

Source

https://packagingeurope.com/leading-names-in-consumer-goods-commit-to-new-sustainable-design-principles/

A group comprising leading companies operating across the polyester packaging value chain – including businesses involved in the manufacture, use, collection and recycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic packaging – is aiming to help to address the problem of plastic waste by accelerating the commercialisation of BP Infinia enhanced recycling technology.

BP Infinia is designed to turn opaque and difficult-to-recycle PET plastic waste, that can degrade in quality each time it is recycled using conventional methods, into recycled feedstocks that can be used to make new high-quality PET plastic packaging again and again, with no loss in quality.

The consortium intends to combine the capabilities and experience of its members – packaging and recycling specialist ALPLA; food, drink and consumer goods producers Britvic, Danone and Unilever; waste management and recycling specialist REMONDIS; and energy and petrochemicals producer BP – to develop a new circular approach to dealing with PET plastic waste.

According to BP, of the total number of PET plastic bottles collected globally, more than 75% are recycled, but only 12% of those collected make it back into new bottles. The remainder is apparently currently lost from the bottle-to-bottle loop, as it is used for other applications which are usually disposed of directly after use to landfills or incinerators due to lack of separate collection.

The consortium members believe by joining forces they can speed up the commercialisation of the technology, infrastructure and demand needed to process billions of opaque and difficult-to-recycle PET bottles and food trays that are currently disposed of each year, including those that are difficult to recycle by current conventional recycling methods.

Rita Griffin, BP Chief Operating Officer, Petrochemicals said: “This is an exciting step towards a circular economy for the polyester industry. BP is experienced in developing and scaling up technology and we’ll do this again with our innovative BP Infinia process. But we know we cannot create circularity on our own. That’s why we are thrilled to be working together with industry leaders to develop and prove a practical business model that can hopefully contribute to making all types of polyester waste infinitely recyclable.”

It is intended that each member of the consortium will contribute resources and distinctive capabilities and experience in areas such as waste management and recycling, technology development, intermediate processing and product design to develop a business model that takes into consideration the infrastructure, supply chain and demand requirements of all parties that will be involved in creating a circular economy for polyester and PET plastic.

Unilever’s Chief Supply Chain Officer, Marc Engel commented: “Joining this consortium is an investment in the future of recycling technology which is critical to keeping plastic in the loop. By working together, we can help accelerate the industry towards a circular economy.”

“We are very happy with this development by important players in the PET industry,” said Wim Hoenderdaal of the PETcore Special Industry Group PET Monomer Recycling. “It underlines the recycling opportunities of PET resin and polyester articles, in addition to mechanical recycling, it can also be recycled via de-polymerization and the re-use of its monomers. Both technologies together will bring 100% circularity of PET without any decrease of properties.”

Source

https://packagingeurope.com/pet-consortium/