JBM Packaging has launched EcoView, a plastic-free, windowed paper pack which uses a clear biodegradable film made from wood and cotton-seed fibres.
As a whole, the pack is designed to serve as an alternative to multi-material or “poly”film packages made of non-renewable sources. It comes in three different sizes – the sneak peek, partial view, and full display – to offer customers varied yet consistently clear views of the products within.
EcoView can be customised to meet individual customers’ sustainability goals, utilising differing percentages of recycled content and a variety of papers, closures, and hanging holes. As such, each package can be tailored to look unique.
The pack makes use of JBM’s FiberFilm, a proprietary transparent film derived from wood pulp – in itself said to be PEFC-certified, with the final film reportedly meeting TÜV’s environmental regulatory standards.
As it is made of diacetate, FiberFilm is compatible with kerbside recycling systems, but it has also achieved certification for home composting and is thought to serve this function bestin natural, freshwater environments.
“People want to enjoy natural environments without seeing plastic waste littered alongside hiking trails and waterways,” said David Warren, vice president of Sales and Marketing at JBM Packaging. “Our EcoView packaging line evolved from customers looking for curbside recyclable packaging solutions that showcased their product and eliminated plastic. EcoView delivers optimal packaging performance without the environmental impact.”
KM Packaging’s C-Cling clingfilm, meanwhile, is also said to be home compostable, as it is made from bio-based renewable materials. It is set to package fresh products in catering and retail and can be paired with compostable trays for a complete packaging solution
Inside the Kraft Heinz brand’s decision to eliminate the iconic shaker bag and save 900,000 pounds of plastic waste.
Less is more, addition by subtraction…those cliches are spot-on for The Kraft Heinz Company’s sustainably driven decision to eliminate the clear plastic “shaker” bag from Shake ‘N Bake packaging. The bag was used across the portfolio of 11 stock-keeping units.
The bag, which appears to be made of polyethylene, has been part of the brand’s story since the introduction in 1965.
That simple change is projected to eliminate 900,000 pounds of plastic waste, which is the weight equivalent of more than 270 mid-size cars.
Image courtesy of YouTube
In place of the bag, fans are encouraged to shake using a reusable container for adding that extra layer of crunch to their favorite recipes.
“As a family staple for over 50 years, we are proud to evolve with the world around us, ushering in a new effort to help our brand — and our fans – take steps toward a more sustainable future,” says Brianna Galvin, brand manager, Shake ‘N Bake. “While the ‘shaker’ bag is an important part of our legacy, our product is just as effective and delicious without the plastic waste, and we are excited for all the good to come from this simple, yet effective packaging change.”
Other than periodic graphics updates, it’s the brand’s first change inside the box across all these years, Galvin tells Packaging Digest.
It’s clearly a move away from a legacy of packaged convenience that stretches back to the 1960s done for the greater good of the environment.
Change driven by corporate strategy, research insights.
“In developing this project, we leaned into all of the insights that exist around consumers and their relationship with plastics,” Galvin explains. “Research shows that 86% of US consumers want to see companies lead in developing sustainable packaging solutions and 73% say they want to use less plastic but don’t know how.”
It’s also a direct result of Kraft Heinz’s broader Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy, designed to prioritize the issues that matter most to the company’s business and stakeholders.
“Specifically, this works towards a goal to make 100% of our packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025,” Galvin says.“We identified an opportunity and worked as quickly as possible to implement this change.”
Surprisingly, the now bagless-and-boxed packaging graphics design remains unchanged; wouldn’t it be helpful to inform consumers about the change and sustainable improvement?
“Change always comes with an adjustment but we look forward to ushering in a new effort to help our fans, along with our brand, take steps toward a more sustainable future,” Galvin tells us. “While we don’t have any external packaging updates to share at this time, we are exploring options for 2023.”
What also remains unchanged: the suggested retail price.
As savvy brands know, shape is a potent packaging design option that can trigger an emotional response from consumers.
One way to further leverage the visual impact and engagement is to have the packaging’s shape associated with the product.https://2f392b32a84f8d6542c038c7c03f7dd0.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
That’s why the redesigned packaging for America’s #1 selling peanut brand, Planters Dry Roasted Peanuts, works effectively on several levels — and with a sustainable improvement.
While curvier and more peanut-like looking than before, the new 16-ounce PET containers also reduce the amount of plastic required. The bottles use 8% less polymer than the prior bottle, saving up to 220 tons of PET plastic yearly.
“Our new packaging allows us to truly stand out with a unique ‘shell’ that is just as premium and satisfying as the delicious [nuts] within,” says Allie Abney, associate brand manager. “Now snack lovers can enjoy their favorite peanuts in an even better, crave-worthy bottle that puts flavor in the spotlight.”
The redesign makes the bottle’s two rounded sections more pronounced than before when the bottle’s upper section was flat.Image courtesy of Planters
“The peanut-shaped hourglass bottle more closely resembles a legume than the original 16-ounce bottle,” Abney points out.
Along with the bottle’s physical change, the brand redesigned the label graphics.
“The new labels spotlight one supersized peanut rather than a pile of peanuts, so snack-nut fans can easily see the detail and appetite appeal of each respective flavor,” Abney tells us. “Mr. Peanut is still front and center, and we’ve reduced the label surface area so shoppers can get a better glimpse of what’s inside the clear bottle. New typography emphasizes the dry roasted preparation of the product.”
Maintaining the same amount of peanuts in the redesigned bottle was a key challenge, according to Abney.
Kudos to Hormel for maintaining the net weight status quo in this era of rampant shrinkflation.
The peanutier bottle is rolling nationwide for three product varieties, salted, honey roasted, and sweet & spicy.
Hormel’s other sustainable moves.
Like the diminutive peanut, small changes like reduced plastic can help make a big impact.
This packaging update is part of ongoing efforts by the brand’s parent company Hormel Foods in which the packaging team’s sustainability initiatives reduced product packaging by more than 727,000 pounds in 2021.
Hormel reports that more than 80% of packaging by weight is recyclable, with more than 30% made from recycled materials.
Some examples:
Justin’s PET jars are using 30% less plastic in 2022. The new jars, which were redesigned, tested, and approved in 2021, will save more than 165,000 pounds of material annually.
Hormel fully cooked entrees packaging was redesigned to include 25% of material from post-consumer recycling (PCR), which saves more than 382,000 pounds of virgin material each year.
Club Part Trays reduced the height of the PET plastic trays and eliminated the shrink sleeve from the tray locking design. This saved more than 23,000 pounds of plastic annually for a club party tray product.
Improving the palletization pattern of Columbus turkey bacon reduced the number of pallets and trucks needed to ship the product, saving more than 114,000 pounds of material annually.
Last, but not least, Hormel also added How2Recycle labels to more than 250 items in 2021.
Stand-up pouches are among the most popular flexible packaging concepts for dried sausages and meat, cheese snacks, coffee, tea, spices, and sweets.
Now this format is moving into sustainable alternatives, including pouches with zipper or other reseal features.https://a06539b773baa1b7088919573a9313da.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
Südpack has developed an innovative packaging concept for this product market with a new mono-plastic solution, a polypropylene (PP)-based pouch that supports regulatory demand for recyclable packaging and with the same functionality of standard pouches.
“In addition to reducing the carbon footprint by substituting aluminum, the principal goal of this development was also to optimize recyclability and improve material efficiency,” says Holger Hoss, Südpack product manager.
The material is highly rigid and offers all the properties necessary for the efficient and safe packaging of food products. Depending on the products, the films can be supplied with different barrier properties for aroma, oxygen, moisture, or UV light.
By substituting the aluminum barrier with a coextruded barrier layer, the shelf life of salami sticks, for example, could be guaranteed for up to 70 days during a pilot project for brand owner zur Mühlen Group.
And with an integrated transparent window, consumers have a clear view at the packaged product.
PP pouches are 26% lighter in weight and highly machinable.
Another important aspect is that film thickness is reduced by about 10% for a 26% weight savings versus conventional packaging.
In addition to the above attributes, these high-performance films also boast excellent machinability, resulting in a high level of process and packaging reliability.
That’s because “single-material solutions require much more sensitive processing, in most cases the design of current machine peripherals isn’t suitable for such packaging materials,” Hoss explains.
However, due to its wide transparent seal, Südpack’s new material can essentially with or without minor adjustments be used on current lines that are designed for processing aluminum composites.
At the same time, the structure of the sealing layer ensures the simple and efficient integration of polyolefin resealing systems such as zippers made with widely available PP or polyethylene (PE) plastics.
The packaging film is printed using the company’s Sustainable Print Quality (SPQ) technology reduces ink and solvent consumption while significantly improving print quality.
“The substitution of aluminum with our recyclable monomaterial solution, combined with excellent material efficiency and sustainable printing technology, results in an overall improvement in the carbon footprint of every single [pouch],” says Hoss.
The all-plastic pouch also directly addresses an aluminum shortage.
BRAZIL – Leading global supplier of rigid packaging products, Crown Holdings, is leading the sustainable packaging movement in Brazil through its partnership with local suppliers.
Recently, in August, the company’s local subsidiary Crown Embalagens Metálicas da Amazônia S.A, partnered with Brazilian beverage producer, Socorro Bebidas (Socorro) to sustainably expand into the mineral water space.
Instead of plastic, which is de-facto package for water, Socorro opted for infinitely recyclable beverage cans from Crown.
The brand, Acquíssima, is currently available in supermarkets across Brazil in two SKUs: Personnalité (natural mineral water) and Passion (carbonated mineral water).
Both SKU are now available in 355ml (12oz.) sleek cans to support a premium, modern image that is in line with consumer demand for sustainable packaging.
A 2021 Global Buying Green Report found that 67% of consumers say it’s important that products they purchase be packaged in recyclable material, and 67% consider themselves environmentally aware—the same share as before the pandemic.
The sleek cans also include a matte varnish, adding a touch of elegance to the package and helping it stand out on store shelves.
The matte varnish was applied to the full body of the can to help boost a premium look and feel to attract consumer attention.
“We are thrilled to help Socorro launch the Acquíssima brand,” added Altair Frulane, Commercial Director of Crown. “Beverage cans are an ideal format for water brands thanks to their sustainability credentials, portability and ability to keep the product colder for longer periods of time.”
Socorro’s entry into the mineral water scene is a strategic move as still packaged water consumption per capita in Brazil has increased by 105% over the last decade and continues to take market share from tap and bulk water.
Socorro, as the brand with a robust social responsibility program in place wanted to do it the right way as moving the plastic bottle trend would have greatly impacted the environment and greatly impacted its carbon footprint.
Beverage cans have multiple inherent sustainability benefits, including providing a powerful barrier against light and oxygen, which will keep the water in the same fresh condition as when it was canned.
In addition to its functional benefits, aluminum cans are 100% and infinitely recyclable, making them a perfect example of the Circular Economy at work.
While Brazil already enjoys a high recycling rate for aluminum cans – consistently over 95% – the country recently joined Every Can Counts initiative to advance recycling even further.
The regional campaign, called Cada Lata Conta (Portuguese for “Every Can Counts) and led by Abralatas, will utilize public education and other activities to transform the way consumers think about recycling beverage cans.
GERMANY – Packaging and bottling machine manufacturer, Krones has unveiled what it describes as the world’s first wet-end block achieving an output of 100,000 0.5-liter water bottles per hour.
According to Krones, the innovation represents a quantum leap in blockchain technology and responds to the need for appropriate machine speeds to meet the rising demand for packaged water.
With the ErgoBloc L, the company also proves that a single larger line offers better performance in terms of both energy and media consumption per packaged unit than multiple medium-output lines.
Even though it processes up to 100,000 containers per hour, the ErgoBloc L comes with great benefits to the manufacturer.
For instance, it requires up to 70 percent less space than a line consisting of individual machines, saving hundreds of square metres of hall surface.
ErgoBloc L is also great in energy saving as it uses energy-efficient components such as servo motors, and electromagnetic stretching system.
Energy intensive sections such as conveyors and buffer sections and operations such as container rising and drying are also removed from the process, further enhancing energy saving profile of the machine.
The entire process from stretch blow moulding right through to the capping of the containers can be looked after by just one person, reducing processing time and cutting labor costs.
Krones notes that the basic production sequence of this 100,000-bph block is just the same as in a conventional ErgoBloc L which was released in 2018 with a rating of 2,750 containers per blowing station.
In order to cope with the very high output of the stretch blow-moulder, some additional, optimised components, functionalities and assemblies were incorporated in the Ergomodul, Krones revealed.
The two Contiroll stations and the Multireel magazines for label reels now feature a new buffer system which keeps the label tension at a constant maximum level, thus offering ideal preconditions for thin label films, a boon for sustainability.
Another of the machine’s key features is the “no bottle – no label” function which ensures no label or glue is wasted and any gaps in the container flow no longer affect the efficiency of the line.
Finally, the two modularised filling units and two modularised closing units were incorporated into the single machine to be able to achieve the 100,000 bottles an hour output while still maintaining a stable process.
According to the German Foundation for World Population, approximately 9.74 billion people will live on our planet by 2050. Making sure that all of them are reliably supplied with packaged water is just as important as furnishing them with enough food.
With greater speeds, Krones is confident that water companies can be better equipped to meet one of humankind’s biggest challenges at present: supplying the world’s population with enough food and drink.
SOUTH AFRICA – South African advocacy group Healthy Living Alliance (Heala) has rolled out a nationwide campaign titled ‘What’s in our Food?’, urging consumers to question what hidden ingredients can be found in pre-packaged foods.
The media campaign is calling for bold front-of-package labels (FoPLs) alerting people that products are high in nutrients of concern such as in salt, sugar, and saturated fat.
Following global trends, South Africans are consuming an increasing amount of ultra-processed foods.
Nutrients of concern, according to reports by Bizcommunity contribute to non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.
Worryingly South Africans have a 51.9% chance of dying from an NCD – diabetes, heart diseases and stroke being the most likely culprits – according to the NCD Countdown 2030, in addition to having one of the highest prevalence rates of diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa.
When shown images of foods with warning labels, parents indicated that they would buy fewer foods high in nutrients of concern that were labelled as “high in sugar, sodium, saturated fat” and switch to non-labelled healthier, foods.
This is according to a study by researchers from the University of Limpopo, the University of Western Cape, and the University of North Carolina on parents’ food purchasing decisions and perceptions of unhealthy food.
The researchers noted that poor nutrition knowledge and affordability surfaced as some of the leading influencers of parental food selection.
Heala states that parents looking to make better health choices for their families are bombarded by confusing and overly technical nutritional information buried at the back of the tins, boxes, and bottles at the store, and that easy-to-read front-of-package labelling could translate the information consumers need to know into simple language.
Better labelling enables decision making
The organisation wants “HIGH IN” front-of-pack warning labels to clearly identify products that are high in things like sugar, salt, saturated fat, to help consumers easily spot unhealthy foods.
Nzama Mbalati, Heala’s programme’s manager, says, “New research shows that warning labels on unhealthy packaged food would be a feasible and equitable policy to help South Africans identify and reduce purchasing of unhealthy food.
“While new draft legislation on packaging is waiting in the wings, there have been protracted delays, so Heala is urging consumers and community organisations, traditional leaders and NGOs to call for change. It is time to empower shoppers with the information they need to make the right decisions and protect their families’ health.”
Mbalati continues, “At the moment, one needs to be as informed as a dietician to know what the information at the back of a packet of food means. To empower consumers, we need front-of-package labels to help them identify what the industry is selling to them.”
The research further showed that poor buying choices were also the result of lack of nutritional knowledge amongst parents and caregivers who were the main decision-makers when purchasing food for children, even consumers who were aware of nutrition-related issues quickly became discouraged when attempting to read food labels.
“People cannot make sense of what all of those numbers on food labels represent. We also found that a lot of people do not read labels because of lack of time.
“The ingredient list is long and few people can go through each and every item, so they end up looking for just one or two specific ingredients,” highlighted the team.
Heala notes that its decision to ramp up its campaign this year is in line with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations that governments must legislate the use of easy-to-understand nutrition labels so that consumers think twice before placing foods that are high in sugar, salt or saturated fat in their shopping baskets.
Front-of-package label regulations have already been implemented in at least 10 countries, including Argentina, Mexico and Chile.
Through its campaign, Heala encourages parents, caregivers, and ordinary citizens to join its call to The National Department of Health (NDoH) and sign its petition.
“Addressing non-communicable diseases needs legislative, regulatory and other measures agency to help save lives now. South Africa needs front-of-package labelling on its toolbox to help consumers make better choices and live healthier lives,” says Heala programmes head, Nzama Mbalati.
KENYA – Non-profit social enterprise, Enaleia has partnered with ClimeCo to tackle plastic pollution in Kenya via a plastic collection project producing plastic credits under Verra.
This partnership will support Enaleia’s newest project in Kenya, contributing to the generation of plastic credits through Verra.
With additional funding from ClimeCo and the sale of the credits, Enaleia estimates they will collect 1,000-3,000 tonnes of plastic annually in Kenya.
The two firms are collecting plastic on land and in the ocean to reduce pollution and improve marine biodiversity conservation.
Chris Parker, ClimeCo’s Director of Plastic Program said: “A plastic credit is an environmental commodity that represents the collection or recycling of one tonne of plastic material, which can be used in companies’ ESG, CSR, and sustainability programs. Our approach is to create a system solution to the ocean plastic challenge.”
Enaleia, along with other professional entities that are experts in sustainable development, are collaborating with ClimeCo and the Kwale Recycling Center in Kenya to make sure that the plastic will not only be collected but also integrated into the circular economy.
The Kenya project supports over 350 fishers in Kwale County by empowering them to collect abandoned nets, gear, and marine litter.
This number will increase to 800 people from the coastal communities in the following months.
The waste is then taken to Kwale Recycling Center, a local collection and recycling company that transports and processes it into useful materials and products.
“Through the plastic credit model, we can set up large-scale plastic cleanup projects that can create a real impact on our oceans,” said Lefteris Arapakis, Enaleia’s Co-Founder and Director.
“Taking into consideration that around 20% of ocean plastic is lost fishing gear, by empowering the fishing communities at this scale, we can not only clean up significant amounts of plastic but also prevent further ocean plastic pollution.”
This project incentivizes and encourages the fishing community to use more sustainable fishing practices, including the reduction of overfishing by pausing and limiting their fishing activities while collecting plastic.
It also provides a supplemental source of income to an area experiencing some of the highest poverty rates in the country.
SOUTH AFRICA – University of Portsmouth has embarked on a pioneering scheme to reduce illegal waste dumping and increase plastic recycling in South Africa.
The project, which is funded by the Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will see a team from the University of Portsmouth working alongside locals in KwaMhlanga (Mpumalanga) and the wider region.
The University will also work with the region’s Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (DARDLEA) and WasteAid – an international organization that works with communities around the world to build circular waste and recycling systems to benefit current and future generations.
The aim is to reduce the illegal dumping of plastic waste, increase recycling rates and understand why there is a lack of knowledge and resources for waste collection, to stimulate a market for recyclable materials.
Dr. Cressida Bowyer, Deputy Director of the University’s Revolution Plastics program is a leading expert in using creative methods to change human behaviors around waste and pollution.
During her trip, to learn waste management practices, she met with local artists and musicians, who will co-design and produce murals, street art, music and recycling interventions.
The University will work with these South African creatives to develop arts-based behavior change campaigns to drive improved collection, separation, sorting, and recycling of plastics at the household level.
The locations of the interventions to improve recycling rates in Mpumalanga have already been identified following community meetings with the traditional local Chief, Municipality ward Councillor and residents.
Reflecting on her visit to Mpumalanga, Dr. Bowyer explains the problem she saw: “The area is characteristic of many underserved regions when it comes to plastic waste collection and recycling.
“ Some waste is taken to the municipal landfill site if transport is available and the motivation is there.
“The waste is very mixed, with no separation into recyclables and non-recyclables – plastic nappies are really common. Informal waste workers pick through and reclaim uncontaminated high-value plastic waste. The remainder is often either burned or buried when the volume becomes problematic.”
Dr. Bowyer is hopeful that her team can help locals in Mpumalanga achieve a 70 percent recycling rate for plastic by 2025, a goal set by South Africa’s Plastics Pact.
Pick n Pay has expanded its private label offering with a more premium range dubbed Crafted Collection. Promising “a premium taste intertwined with affordability”, the Crafted Collection has been designed to drive innovation and differentiation within the newly revamped middle- to top-end Pick n Pay stores.
Pick n Pay’s CEO Pieter Boone announced earlier this year that, as part of the group’s new Ekuseni strategic plan, its supermarkets will be organised into two customer-facing brands, each designed around specific customer needs. The Crafted Collection will be stocked at Pick n Pay stores that aim to satisfy the needs of middle to top-end customers who are looking for innovation and inspiration. The new range forms part of the 18,000 products the stores will stock, which has a strong focus on innovation.
Growth of private label
Pick n Pay’s private label range now accounts for 25% of its sales. This is up from 18% five years ago showing the growth opportunity. Bridget Dore, head of customer insights at Pick n Pay, says that many customers are seeking value-for-money products and are increasingly choosing private label products.
This is a global trend as many countries experience rising inflation. A recent survey of US shoppers showed that shoppers are buying more private labels over known food and grocery brands than before the pandemic. Of the 41% of shoppers who said they’d bought more private label products, 77% said they plan to continue buying store brands. The Power of Private Brands report by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) also revealed that apart from value and lower costs, quality and taste are also driving this purchasing behaviour.
Pick n Pay first introduced its private label in 1976 with the ‘no name’ range as a way to offer customers excellent value at preferential prices. From just 14 ‘no name’ products, its private label now boasts over 4,800 products and Pick n Pay states that it has launched several ranges over the decades to suit its customers’ changing needs, aspirations and budgets.
‘Mainstream premium’ food and grocery products
The new Crafted Collection by PnP range currently has over 70 products in store, with a further 100 products expected to launch by the end of the year. The range focuses on innovation across food and grocery items, and will soon extend into more categories.
Nicki Russell, head of product and technical at Pick n Pay, says that customers have been asking for a new affordable top-tier product range following the retailer’s Finest private label range. “We’ve spent a lot of time understanding customers in this space, and have crafted this range to be sophisticated yet mainstream, at surprisingly good prices.”
Crafted to deliver a unique foodie experience to customers, the range has elevated much-loved products into high premium. Some of these include a Fynbos Flavoured Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Chai, a Smoky Tomato Ketchup and a wide range of Exotic Mushrooms.
“The flavours aren’t too chefy or unattainable. We haven’t gone for extremely niche flavours, but rather ‘mainstream premium’ that pushes the boundaries. We wanted our customers to relate to the flavours, and feel confident using them,” says Russell.
Indulgence is another strong focus of the range with its range of crafted chocolates, biscuits, shortbread and hot chocolate. This is tapping into the ‘spoiling myself’ trend which has strongly emerged post-Covid. Customers are increasingly looking to treat themselves to food indulgence that doesn’t break the budget.
Supporting small business
Pick n Pay states that it has always used its private label to help develop small businesses, and the Crafted Collection is no different.
Ninety percent of the range is locally sourced or produced by local suppliers. “Our dedicated product team has worked closely with local businesses to craft and develop these products. We have sourced the finest local products, and have only used imported products if they weren’t available locally.”
According to the retailer, the range’s packaging follows the global trend of ‘blue is the new black’. “We wanted customers to feel proud to place it on the dining table or to gift it to someone,” says Russell.
