ACMA launches plastic-free, paper-based confectionery packs with pop-out dosage lids

04 Jun 2021 --- Italian packaging manufacturer ACMA, a Coesria company, is reducing plastic packaging in F&B applications with Ecoshell. The paper-based packaging solution features an asymmetrical design and a pop-open dosage function for easy out-of-home consumption. 

Ecoshell has pilot applications in the confectionery and cosmetics industries, where packaging aesthetics and functionality provide a competitive advantage.

“The target consumers are those who are attentive to sustainability and aesthetics of the product, who prefer packaging that is functional on the one hand and captivating and original on the other,” the company highlights.

Ecoshell is mainly intended for Europe and North America, which ACMA views as “developed and mature markets.” 

Innova Market Insights data reveals 44 percent of global consumers view paper packaging’s ease of opening as “good,” with a further 28 percent regarding it as “excellent.” 

Convenient packaging is the most influential purchasing factor for 45 percent of US consumers, while 37 percent of German and 22 percent of French consumers are most influenced by environmentally sustainable packaging.

Factoring out plastic
As plastic packaging contaminating lands and oceans continues to give the material a bad reputation, paper arises as a more natural and environmentally friendlier alternative.

According to Innova Market Insights’ 2021 survey, half of US consumers (49%) regard packaging’s recyclability as its most important sustainability credential, followed by reusability (44%) and recycled material use (35%). Meanwhile, 62 percent of US consumers recognize paper’s exceptional recyclability.Developed with Coesia Packaging Innovation Center, Ecoshell allows for convenient dosing and ease of use.

The whole Ecoshell project “revolves around sustainability,” the company maintains. ”The paper-based package can replace commonly used plastic solutions, resulting in a reduced environmental impact.”

“In fact, paper, if produced according to sustainable methods, represents an easily recyclable source capable of providing adequate mechanical performances,” says the Coesia company.

Made from a single flat blank, Ecoshells are lighter and less bulky compared to traditional plastic solutions, according to ACMA, allowing for more efficient logistics, reducing transport and storage costs.

Innova pegged “The Carbon Catalyst” as its second top packaging trend for this year, highlighting the increasing relevance of packaging’s carbon footprint as the key indicator of environmental sustainability amid increasingly alarming climate change warnings.

Tailoring to fit
ACMA maintains Ecoshells’ “intrinsic sturdiness” addresses the on-the-go packaging requirements of small bite-sized food items, ranging from dried fruit to candies and stick snacks. However, it is also suitable for personal care products, cotton buds or supplements. 

The single-dose lid allows end-consumers to portion their snacks with more control. The shells also offer “an extensive degree of customization,” says ACMA. 

Ecoshell is scalable in size and proportions and flexible to different commercial purposes, depending on the type of product packaged.

The move aligns with Innova Market Insights’ predictions of a rapidly evolving personalization trend throughout 2021.

By Anni Schleicher