Coveris and Veetee support Aldi UK’s own-label circularity goal with recyclable rice packs

28 Jan 2022 --- Coveris is partnering with UK rice supplier Veetee to launch fully recyclable packaging for Aldi supermarket’s own-brand rice. Aldi has pledged to offer fully reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging for its own-label products by the end of this year. 

The retailer has switched to Coveris’ recyclable MonoFlexE mono-material polyethylene (PE) to PE laminate packaging for its own-brand Worldwide Foods 1 kg basmati rice and 1 kg brown rice. 

It previously packaged its rice in non-recyclable, oriented polypropylene (OPP) to PE mixed laminate.

Communicating recyclability
Coveris explains the move to MonoFlexE will enable around 30 metric tons of film to enter the soft plastic recycling stream annually. The MonoFlexE packaging launched in January 2022 for 50% of the two stock-keeping units (SKUs), with the remaining 50% to switch throughout January and February.

Scott Yourston, national account manager at Coveris, tells PackagingInsights: “Aldi, Coveris and Veetee are all members of the On-Pack Recycling Label (OPRL) UK scheme, designed to deliver consistent messaging on packaging to help consumers correctly recycle materials.”

“The Aldi MonoFlexE packaging features OPRL messaging to encourage and guide recycling, and opportunities for consumers include home recycling and instore collections, where available.”

Pioneering extrusion and film science
The packaging supplier says the launch of MonoFlexE packaging for rice is the result of a two-year development project with Veetee.

Packed in the same block bottom, form, fill seal (FFS) format, MonoFlexE for rice was developed with like-for-like shelf life properties and packing speeds as the former mixed laminate substrate. Alid’s switch to MonoFlexE will push 30 tons of film into the soft plastic recycling stream annually.

Coveris has used its pioneering extrusion and film science capabilities to support the performance, functionality and clarity of the recyclable MonoFlexE rice packaging. MonoFlexE rice packaging is available with up to nine color HD flexo print and gloss or matt varnish for on-shelf appeal.

Richard Gorman, plastics and packaging director at Aldi UK, says: “We are always open to innovative solutions to reducing plastic waste, so we are pleased to work with Coveris and Veetee to launch our own-brand rice in fully recyclable packaging, which marks a further step toward achieving our plastic and packaging goals.”

Technical and pandemic challenges
Yourston says this is the company’s first launch of MonoFlexE packaging for rice, and the main challenge was developing the mono-material PE laminate to perform during packing with comparable speeds as the mixed material, unrecyclable laminate previously used.

“Performance, efficiencies throughout the supply chain, functionality and product protection are integral in Coveris’ development of new, recyclable materials,” he adds.

The national account manager says that throughout the pandemic, sustainability and environmental protection have continued to be prevalent topics in society, including the use and disposal of packaging.

“Many of us have spent more time indoors and home cooking, so the launch of Aldi rice in MonoFlexE packaging is a real positive with the same food protection and safety, but now recyclable,” he concludes.

At the end of last year, Coveris launched a range of lightweight, fully recyclable pouches for Tesco’s grated cheese products in collaboration with Ornua Foods.

By Natalie Schwertheim

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