“Pressed” for sustainability: AR Packaging launches MAP pressed board tray to replace plastic

01 Mar 2019 --- Sweden-based AR Packaging has launched the market’s first gas-tight pressed board tray packaging for chilled foods in a bid to replace plastic trays. With sustainability in mind, the company employed the expertise in barrier materials and pressed board tray production of its two subsidiaries CC Pack and Flextrus, to create an environmentally friendly solution that enables a product shelf-life of 18 days minimum.

“We have invested lots of effort to develop this new revolutionary packaging solution. The shape of the tray is optimized to ensure tight packs which give a long shelf-life,” says Åke Larsson, MD at CC Pack. “We thereby meet the needs for a wide range of chilled food products, such as fresh meat and chicken, processed meat, cheese and ready meals.”

AR Packaging’s sustainable gas-tight board tray solution is an alternative to plastic with a high proportion of renewable materials and comes with a matching lidding material, which provides a safe seal and a barrier adapted to the packed product’s needs. The supplier also offers an attractive paper look and feel that supports product branding.

“The carton board part is, of course, biodegradable but the tray has an inner PET coating to ensure pack tightness and barrier to moisture, fat and oxygen. This is not biodegradable but would endanger the food protection,” Ingrid Lidbäck, Group Marketing Manager at AR Packaging tells PackagingInsights.
“Lots of effort has been put in to find the right combination of material and tooling in order to get tight trays. It is a delicate balance and requires good material knowledge and long experience in press forming or the trays will have breaks/micro-leakage,” Lidbäck notes.

Since it is the first sustainable solution of its kind available in the European market, the pressed board tray is currently in the testing phase with several major European chilled food producers.

“The board tray concept can be used for a wide range of products. Typical companies [testing it currently] are the food producers of fresh meat, processed meat products, fish and hard cheese but also the increasing range of different chilled ready meals,” explains Lidbäck.

AR Packaging has a comprehensive pipeline of new sustainable packaging solutions, covering anything from plastic-free packaging to optimized barrier solutions based on maximized renewable content, she notes. “AR Packaging is always developing solutions, considering the protection of the packed product and minimizing food waste,” Lidbäck concludes.