GEA increases recyclability and reduces food waste with FoodTray launch

09 Oct 2019 --- GEA has launched FoodTray, a solution that combines all the advantages of thermoforming technology, cardboard and film to create sustainable packaging. FoodTray helps reduce food waste and meets the demands for significantly higher recycling rates for plastic packaging. The solution is a carton/film composite developed by GEA and its industry partners that is assembled on the company’s thermoforming packaging machine and whose components can easily be separated at the end of the supply chain.

This latest packaging innovation is made from cardboard – the most widely used packaging material worldwide - formed almost entirely from natural raw or recycled material, while film provides an outstanding barrier, helping to extend food shelf-life.

Reducing film content by up to 70 percent, fossil-based raw materials are replaced with fibers from renewable raw materials so that content is more than 80 percent recycled. At the same time, there is no compromise in terms of stability and, likewise, the cardboard and film can be easily separated and recycled by the consumer.

Thanks to the cooperation from the cardboard, film and engineering sectors, including the Roba Group, Schur Flexibles Germany and Van de Velde Packaging, FoodTray combines the criteria of product claim, haptics, safety, sustainability and industrial production processes. 

“FoodTray is a great solution for customers looking to reduce plastic in packaging without compromising on shelf-life, food safety and presentation,” says Greg Austin, GEA’s UK Sales Manager for Slicing and Packaging Equipment. “It is also an in-line system that fully integrates into our thermoformer process. The complete solution is available to see at the GEA Packaging Technology Day at our factory in Germany on 13th November.”

A specialist in food processing, packaging and refrigeration systems, GEA has been offering a proven alternative to pure plastic packaging for years with a carton/film composite solution, which has now been further adapted to market requirements and guarantees maximum flexibility. 

The film is thermoformed and sealed directly to the inside of the cardboard box, at which point the customer-specific packaging process can be implemented. GEA says the Investment costs are low and the result is ecologically sustainable packaging with MAP heights ranging from 20mm to 60mm and skin versions up to 20mm, while cardboard is used on the outer box.

Brand information can be printed over the entire surface, facilitating high-quality product presentation and labeling as required. Companies have the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to using resources more mindfully by investing in this sustainable solution.

Edited by Joshua Poole