Heated hygiene: Coveris eliminates food handling with on-the-go cartonboard range

09 Sep 2020 --- Coveris has launched a hot food on-the-move packaging range. The Heat range boasts dual ovenable and hot-hold functionality and eliminates the need for direct food contact. The board-only and window patched designs, including clamshell, nested box and wrap box formats, are designed for heat-instore applications such as pastries, wraps, toasties, and pastas.

“Cook-instore food products can often feature a three-touch cooking process: packaging removal, heat and serve. With HEAT’s dual ovenable and hot-hold properties, we eliminate the need for food handling,” says Michael Conway, food on the move sales director at Coveris.

Providing an alternative to plastic packaging, the FSC-sourced and recyclable range is made using printable dual-ovenable cartonboard and hybrid cartonboard and film formats.

The cartonboard can withstand cooking temperatures up to 220°C and hot holding up to 90°C. 

Click to EnlargeThe heat-instore range is designed for pastries, wraps, toasties, and pastas.The Heat range can operate as a carrier through packing, distribution, cooking and serving, reducing the number of packaging components used pre and post-cooking.

Moreover, the ability to print the range in up to six colors reduces the need for additional product labeling or packaging and improves brand positioning and visual impact. 

Windows and greaseproof patches
A greaseproof patch can be incorporated into Heat formats. The removable liner helps maintain product quality and maximize board recycling and recovery by minimizing food contamination.

A window patched box increases product visibility and quality assurance. “Heat’s window patched formats have below 10 percent film content, which means they are recyclable and eligible to feature the ‘Recycle’ logo under the OPRL rules introduced earlier this year,” Will Mercer, R&D director graphics, label & board, tells PackagingInsights.

“The film itself is not recyclable and will become detached during the recycling process for maximum board recovery.”

“Coveris’ Heat range is available now. We have validated various board-only and window patched formats and will continue to innovate the range to support customers with product launches.”

Printing and compliance challenges
Mercer describes printing and compliance as the main technical challenges in creating the Heat range. “We had to identify inks that offered the color gamut, and the quality of print and performance characteristics that worked with Coveris’ current press technology while ensuring compliance with EC1935-2004 contact regulations.”

Selecting the right grade of board to support the functionality required throughout the supply chain without the packaging becoming affected structurally by distribution, merchandising, heat or grease was another challenge.

In May, the European packaging manufacturer introduced a “revolutionary Bag-in-Bag” solution that makes it easier for consumers to recycle.

By Joshua Poole

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