Graphic Packaging unveils paperboard carrier for standard beverage cans in recyclability boost

29 Mar 2022 --- Graphic Packaging International (GPI) has launched EnviroClip – a minimal material, paperboard carrier alternative to plastic rings and shrink film for standard beverage cans.

The new GPI solution is made from a single ply of paperboard, produced using renewable fiber from sustainably managed forests. No adhesive or plastic laminations are utilized in the solution’s construction, asserts the company.

“Our beverage clip portfolio uses virgin fiber, which is needed for the strength properties due to the grains being longer and stronger. GPI sources wood near the paper mills in the Southern US, which provides [environmental] sustainability benefits due to local sourcing,” Adriana Dale, senior marketing manager for Global Beverages & Machinery at GPI, tells PackagingInsights.

“Some 60% to 70% of GPI’s wood supply is sourced from small family-owned tree farms, which supports local communities and provides a source of income for these families,” she adds.

EnviroClip is made from a single ply of paperboard, produced using renewable fiber from sustainably managed forests.EnviroClip
EnviroClip relies on equipment with a small footprint that can run at a range of speeds from manual application to high-speed automation. It can also be used alongside KeelClip for customers who want to employ different pack formats depending on production quantities or because they have a multi-tiered product strategy. KeelClip rolled out in 2020 as a minimalist paperboard packaging solution on multipack cans in Europe.

The solution can be used for both 12-oz (330 ml) and 16-oz (500 ml) standard cans in four- and six-pack configurations. The company says its high-speed equipment features a proprietary custom overhead clipping system, which delivers consistent application of the EnviroClip ring to the cans and helps to ensure pack quality and performance.

The cans remain easy to detach at the point of consumption while the overall pack design features finger holes to ensure easy and comfortable carrying. Further benefits include the space to print high-impact brand and sustainability messages.

Demand for minimal material
Dale says the concept for EnviroClip was born from understanding customer requirements for minimal material solutions to replace plastic alternatives. “We offer a range of clip designs, which provide us with a base of knowledge for the further development of EnviroClip.”

“We had the technical challenges of making a design that would perform with such minimal material and the machinery system that would be able to apply these at the speeds and consistency required by our customers. Our team’s expertise and knowledge, with a little bit of thinking outside the box too, made the entire total solution (carton and machinery) a reality.”

EnviroClip employs equipment with a small footprint that can run at a range of speeds from manual application to high-speed automation. Topping plastic
When asked how the fiber-based packaging material compares to plastic alternatives, Dale highlights that the material will behave and perform differently due to its natural characteristics. “EnviroClip provides a good solution for maintaining cans securely but the performance won’t be identical to plastic.”

“Customers need to consider the fitness for use requirements and not rely entirely on existing specifications. We have a full range of options in our portfolio that provide different levels of performance for our customers to evaluate and determine what ultimately is the best option for them.”

“Paperboard provides other advantages [over plastic], such as being made from renewable resources. Furthermore, paperboard is highly recycled both in the US and Europe. Another advantage of paperboard solutions is the high-quality printing for added billboard space that can support branding.”

Last year, GPI partnered with Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company Ireland and Northern Ireland on new paperboard solutions for all multipack can configurations as part of its World Without Waste strategy.

Furthermore, the company also launched a line of non-PE coated, single-use foodservice cups branded OptiCycle. OptiCycle technology provides an alternative to traditional PE- and PLA-coated products.

By Natalie Schwertheim

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