Novolex division Waddington Europe unveils high-clarity rPET Hot Fill soups and sauces line

20 May 2021 --- Waddington Europe, a division of Novolex, is augmenting its TamperVisible range of protective packaging to include a high-clarity recycled PET (rPET) Hot Fill option.

The European thermoforming specialists’ Hot Fill option boasts superior shelf appeal and a clearer view of the contents compared to thicker and typically opaque polypropylene and crystallized PET hot-fill containers.

TamperVisible Hot Fill can withstand temperatures of up to 185 F° (85°C), making it a convenient packaging option for sauces, soups, noodles, pate, ready meals and desserts such as steamed puddings, while also being microwavable.

Moreover, a snap mechanism on the corner of the pack that must be physically broken before the lid opening can be accessed ensures consumer safety.

The packaging line is also optimized for storage and increased shelf life as they easily fit inside most refrigerator door shelves.

Recycled content blends
TamperVisible Hot Fill is available in four recycled content blends, from a minimum of 30 percent to Waddington Europe’s full Eco Blend 100 packaging made from 100 percent recycled content, which is also fully recyclable.

Branding and recycling information are displayed via a patented “clip-on” decoration, making for easy and correct separation and recycling.

“Our new TamperVisible Hot Fill line makes no trade-offs – we combine food safety and hot-packaging performance with recycled materials made for the circular economy,” says Eduardo Gomes, managing director at Waddington Europe.

“Our in-house innovation team was tasked with providing a more convenient and sustainable option for the food and retail sectors, and they answered the call.”

“Customers now have a best-in-class closed-loop solution for hot fill packaging with TamperVisible Hot Fill.”

Weight savings
Thermoformed packaging made with rPET can also have a thinner gauge and be up to 30 percent lighter than packaging made with polypropylene.

With a significantly reduced carbon footprint, TamperVisible Hot Fill also is RecyClass end-of-life grade A, which means it can be recycled back into bottle grade flake and is also compliant with the new UK Plastic Tax.

The UK government has released draft legislation and a draft policy paper on the tax – effective from April 2022 – for public consultation.

The draft legislation is proposing a £200 (US$282) per ton tax rate for plastic packaging produced or imported into the UK with less than 30 percent recycled plastic. The measure is expected to impact around 20,000 plastics packaging producers and importers.

Similarly, The EU’s Plastics Strategy requires all packaging to be recyclable or reusable in an economically viable way by 2030, while its recently introduced plastics tax imposes a €0.80/kg (US$0.98/kg) levy on non-recycled plastic packaging waste.

Edited by Joshua Poole