ProAmpac devises recyclable heat-resistant PE wrappers for Ocean Spray snack range
12 Jan 2021 --- Flexible plastic packaging specialist ProAmpac has created a high-barrier recyclable plastic wrapper for F&B manufacturer Ocean Spray’s snack range.
ProAmpac used its Recyclable R-1000 film, a polyethylene-based (PE) film designed to lend high-barrier properties to products requiring a strong sealant against oxygen, to create the solution.
The film is also designed to have strong heat resistance for high-speed production applications and is suitable for both US and EU markets.
ProAmpac says R-1000’s properties “outperform typical recyclable mono-material films.”
Speaking to PackagingInsights, ProAmpac's market segment manager Nathan Klettlinger explains how R-1000 has superior recyclability properties to standard market alternatives.
“Multi-material laminates are generally not recyclable via mechanical recycling, and would typically have lower yields in advanced recycling processes. Our mono-material R-1000 products are designed to be accepted at store-drop off locations and can be included in the flexible PE film recycling stream.”
“When developing R-1000, we wanted to ensure it maintained the speed of vertical and horizontal form fill sealing machines and ran much faster than typical mono-material films currently in the market,” says Hesam Tabatabaei, vice president of product development and innovation for ProAmpac.
Ocean Spray’s snack range now comes packed in ProAmpac’s R-1000 recyclable film.The wrapper has been engineered with high heat-resistance and unique sealant technology that resists “gum up,” burn-through and deformation during high-speed packaging.
The packs are used in Ocean Spray’s Craveology Tuscan Herb snack mix range, which features three separate products.
ProActive Sustainability campaign
Ocean Spray’s new range of ProAmpac packaging joins a line of designs released by the packaging company as part of its ProActive Sustainability campaign – designed to boost the environmental friendliness of food packaging.
The campaign features a range of products operating under the motto “Less Waste in the First Place.”
The company is actively looking to bring attention to the impact industry can make by using flexible packaging in particular.
Easy storage, reclosability, extended shelf life, microwaveability and portability are some key features it says can contribute to resource reductions and energy savings.
For every 50 pounds of glassware used in packaging, a mere 1.5 pounds of flexible packaging is needed for the same application on average, asserts the company.
Lightweight packaging translates into transport and associated energy savings, with one truck being able to carry the same quantity of packs in flexible packaging as 26 trucks carrying glass jars.
Last year, ProAmpac maintained its push toward a circular economy by using digital technologies to circumvent the issues raised by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company launched an online tool called Makr by DASL, which allows for packaging designs and materials to be chosen and constructed remotely.
By Louis Gore-Langton
