Berry Global supplies IS-FRITT with PCR containers, Sidel presents its expanded palletizing range at Interpack 2023

24 Mar 2023 --- This week in industry news, Berry Global collaborated with Scandinavia’s IS-FRITT for post-consumer recycled plastic (PCR) containers. Meanwhile, Sidel expanded its palletizing range, and Avantium reported its 2022 full-year results.

In brief: Partnerships 
Berry Global supported the sustainability strategy of one of Scandinavia’s leading de-icing brands, IS-FRITT, with the supply of PCR containers. IS-FRITT offers a range of “highly” effective de-icing products that are free of additives that can harm animals or nature. The solution from the company’s long-term packaging partner Berry was to retain the existing SuperLift container but to now include 50% PCR in its manufacture. In addition, the color of the container has been changed from white to a shade of gray to strengthen its distinctiveness. 

Fost Plus concluded a contract for a new recycling plant for plastic packaging with Morssinkhof Plastics Belgium, part of the Morssinkhof Rymoplast Group, a family business specializing in plastic recycling. The facility is the fifth new recycling plant for plastic packaging materials in Belgium. The factory, which is being built in Lommel, will be operational in October 2024 and will recycle packaging made of PP and PE into raw materials for new packaging. The new factory in Lommel will annually recycle around 40,000 metric tons of plastic packaging into regranulate or recycled plastic granules. 

Berry Global supplied IS-FRITT with PCR containers. Cannabis packaging supplier eBottles acquired the concentrate packaging line of products from Greenlane Holdings. The company will stock jars in clear, opal and black glass along with an inventory of decorated versions, including black with silver inside, black with gray inside and matte white. Flat and rounded top closures will be available in white and black with foil or PTFE liners.

In brief: Robotics
Sidel expanded its palletizing range with the introduction of the high-performing RoboAccess_Pal S. This new palletizing unit, which will be presented at the Interpack 2023 trade show, combines “the best of cobotic and robotic worlds,” said Sidel. It provides a “uniquely” capable solution that delivers improved agility, operability and compactness to the food, home and personal care market segments. With the introduction of cobotics in palletizing, Sidel said it meets growing market demand for compact and affordable cells, which generally replace manual operations. For more demanding lines, where robotic arms could offer higher technical performances, Sidel has drawn on its 50-plus years of palletizing expertise to create an all-in-one solution that combines small footprint, fast return on investment and higher case payload and speed. 

In brief: Retail news
Sainsbury’s announced it is “the first UK retailer” to launch own-brand liquid laundry detergent in cardboard cartons, saving 22 metric tons of plastic a year and reducing carbon emissions by 50%. Customers can recycle the packaging at curbsides or deposit the packaging at recycling banks. The new cartons are 35% lighter than the original packaging and will take 13 lorries off the road annually. The move will help the retailer make progress against its ambitious target to be net zero in its own operations by 2035. The change is across all own-brand 750 mL laundry detergents, replacing sleeved plastic bottle packaging with cardboard cartons. The products are available across Sainsbury’s tropical super concentrated, bio super concentrated, non-bio super concentrated, color super concentrated and lavender super concentrated lines.Fost Plus and Morssinkhof Rymoplast Group partnered for a new plastic recycling facility in Belgium. 

Albert Heijn expanded its paper clips for bread. Together with Borgesius bakeries, Albert Heijn is making it possible “for the first time” to use paper bread clips with bread bags that are closed automatically. After a period of testing, the paper clips are ready. They are strong enough for the machine and the sell-by or best-before date can be printed on them. 

In brief: Financials and launches
Avantium reported its 2022 full-year results, demonstrating the conditions for financial close were achieved, including a €90 million (US$97 million) Debt Facilities Agreement, which allowed Avantium to begin construction of the FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid) Flagship Plant. Construction of the FDCA Flagship Plant in Delfzijl, the Netherlands, is progressing well, with commercial production set to start in 2024, shared the renewable chemistry technology company. Total revenues increased by 63% to €17.8 million (US$19 million) compared to 2021, €10.9 million (US$11.7 million). Other income from government grants increased by 14% to €7.6 million (US$8 million), compared to 2021, €6.7 million (US$7.2 million), primarily related to the start of the construction of the FDCA Flagship Plant.

ClearBags launched two new packaging lines, creative iridescent colored boxes in various sizes and Home Compostable Child Resistant Bags. These two new lines expand existing product lines to push for more “unique” and sustainable packaging options. Made of food safe, high-density PET material with an Iridescent finish, ClearBags Iridescent Boxes can hold baked goods, candles, crafts, pet supplies, ornaments, cocoa bombs and cosmetics. Home Compostable Child Resistant Stand Up Pouches are ASTM-certified child-resistant and are a suitable packaging solution for dispensaries or pharmacies. The home compostable stand up pouches are made from a proprietary blend of materials that are food-safe and heat sealable. Safely package edibles, pills, medicinal herbs, infused products and pharmaceuticals. 

Sainsbury’s own-brand liquid laundry detergent in cardboard cartons.Sirane launched a fully recyclable cake board to the market. Traditional cake boards are either foil-backed or lined with plastic to give the required grease/moisture barrier – but Sirane said it developed a cost-effective alternative. The company’s new Earthboard Eco cake-boards are barrier-coated boards. Furthermore, the eco-friendly water-based coating gives the boards the required grease and moisture barrier and it can be recycled in the paper and board recycling stream.

In brief: Other news
Jokey’s newly built Spanish plant Jokey Iberica went into operation, and now the new photovoltaic system has been completed. The state-of-the-art plant in Murcia, Spain, uses the latest technical standards in terms of production facilities and building technology, making it significantly more efficient and energy efficient than the old, much smaller plant, explained the company. The installed solar panels help to further reduce the CO2 production footprint. Jokey invested around €12.2 million (US$13 million) for the construction of the new Spanish plant and a further €500,000 (US$539,000) is now invested into the new photovoltaic system.

EIT Food, the world’s largest food innovation community, announced the results of its Marketed Innovation Prize, designed to reward innovative food organizations that have successfully brought products or services to market. The top Marketed Innovation Prize of €10,000 (US$10,800) went to Austrian alternative protein startup Revo Foods, which developed a plant-based alternative to seafood using pea proteins, algae extracts and plant oils. Revo Foods successfully brought four products to market in over 20 European countries, including fish-free alternatives to smoked salmon and tuna spread. The Marketed Innovation Prize was introduced as a way to reward innovative and impactful agri-food companies whose products or services are supporting the transition to a more healthy, sustainable and resilient food system.

By Natalie Schwertheim