Beyond The Headlines: Veolia and One Stop partner for milk bottle recycling, Mondi wins German Packaging Award

18 Aug 2023 --- This week in industry news, Veolia and One Stop collaborated for milk bottle recycling and Mondi won the German Packaging Award 2023. Meanwhile, ProAmpac presented its flexible packaging solutions at the SuperZoo trade show in Las Vegas, US, August 16-18.

In brief: Partnerships and launches
One Stop teamed up with global resource management company Veolia to recycle over 380,000 milk bottles from their stores annually. Own Label milk bottles from the stores’ relevant vending machines and staff refreshments are collected from One Stop’s distribution centers by Veolia every week. Veolia takes the milk bottles to its Dagenham Plastic Facility, where the bottles are washed, shredded and turned into pellets which can then be blown back into milk bottles and ready to reuse. 

Mitsubishi, MC Packaging, Suntory and ENEOS agreed on building a supply chain for sustainable PET bottles derived from biomass, such as used cooking oil, applying a mass balance approach to allocate bio-based materials. Neste will supply bio-based feedstock produced to replace fossil-based naphtha. Mitsubishi said the partnership represents the “world’s first” production of sustainable PET bottles using bio-paraxylene (PX) derived from bio-naphtha on a commercial scale. By the end of 2023, bio-PX equivalent to approximately 35 million PET bottles will be produced, which will be used as a raw material for Suntory’s sustainable PET bottles in 2024.

Laphroaig unveiled a more sustainable design to its iconic packagingScotch whisky Laphroaig unveiled a refreshed, more sustainable design to its iconic packaging. The new packaging will reduce the brand’s carbon emissions by 30%. It supports Beam Suntory’s Proof Positive sustainability strategy and long-term commitments to achieve net zero carbon emissions across its value chain by 2040. The new packaging design retains the green bottle with distinctive black and white label but replaces the plastic bar top with a beech wood alternative and switches the secondary packaging tube with carton. The new packaging was said to result in a reduction of 1,184.74 metric tons of GHG annually.

In brief: Awards
Mondi won the German Packaging Award 2023 in the category “material substitution" for Protector Bag ExpandForm. Developed in collaboration with Megaflex Schaumstoff, Protector Bag ExpandForm replaces the current plastic packaging for mattress roll packing with a flexible and recyclable paper bag solution. The packaging helps to reduce plastic waste and ensures optimal product protection and handling during the transportation and storage of rolled mattresses. Its “unique” design and “superior” strength provide secure packaging that retains its shape and protects the mattresses during transportation. 

Berry Global won Sika Corporation’s first North American Sustainable Packaging Challenge. Berry’s customer, Sika, hosted a call for sustainable packaging solutions among suppliers. Berry took top marks out of a group of 20 suppliers for its proposal of a fully recyclable five-gallon pail with 30% PCR resin featuring in-mold label decoration. By making the switch, Berry’s proposed solution saves 221 metric tons of GHG emissions annually. 

In brief: Trade show news 
ProAmpac showcased film-based and paper-based sustainable packaging innovation at the SuperZoo pet packaging trade show in Las Vegas, US. The flexible packaging giant highlighted the latest additions to the ProActive Recyclable suite of products: ProActive Recyclable R-2000 series for treats packaging, PRO-EVO Recyclable grease-resistant paper bags and QUADFLEX Recyclable flat or pinched bottom quad bags. These were presented in addition to ProAmpac’s conventional products, including thermoseal weld poly woven bags, retort pouches, paper bags, and quad-sealed bags and pouches.Berry's fully recyclable five-gallon pail with 30% PCR resin featuring in-mold label decoration.

Nordson Electronics Solutions announced it, a global leader in electronics manufacturing technologies, will demonstrate the latest solutions for semiconductor advanced packaging at the SEMICON Taiwan trade show in Taipei, Taiwan, at booth L0800, in hall 1. SEMICON Taiwan will be held at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, September 6-8. At the booth, visitors will can see the Asymtek Vantage fluid dispensing system. Nordson’s most advanced dispensing platform is designed for high-end semiconductor packaging and assembly. TFast and accurate, the Vantage, when configured with dual IntelliJet valves, can jet into gaps less than 200 um and up to 90,000 dots per hour. Furthermore, Tt The newest Asymtek Forte fluid dispensing system will also be displayed. It offers “exceptional” dispensing productivity and accuracy for high-volume consumer electronics, flexible circuit, micro-electro-mechanical systems and electromechanical applications. Both systems offer fine-line dispensing capabilities to meet requirements for underfill, gap fill, sealing lines for fan-out/fan-in, strips and module assembly.

Ishida Europe’s stand at this year’s PPMA Show in Birmingham, UK, September 26-28, will showcase three key products from the company’s weighing and inspection portfolio. PPMA is the UK’s largest event for processing equipment, packaging machinery, industrial robots and machine vision systems. The machines on display – the recently-launched next-generation CCW-AS multihead weigher, the proven Fresh Food Weigher and the advanced entry-level IX-EN X-ray inspection system – all demonstrate Ishida’s ability to support the industry with tackling these challenges.

By Natalie Schwertheim