Weekly Roundup: Ampacet enhances rPET appearance with new masterbatch, Amcor announces US$740 million buyback

23 Aug 2019 --- This week in packaging, Ampacet introduced a plastic pellet masterbatch that has been specifically formulated to enhance the appearance and functionality of post-consumer resins. Known as Blue Edge 78, the masterbatch increases bottle brightness and transparency. In business, Amcor announced a US$740 million buyback in Australia and the US, which it will fund from the proceeds of its recently sold plants in Europe and the US. Also, Henkel partnered with ALPLA to invest in infrastructure and equipment for a new bottle production area on the US-based Henkel Bowling Green campus.

In brief: Innovations
Ampacet launched Blue Edge 78, a masterbatch that enhances the appearance and functionality of post-consumer resins. Developed for use in recycled PET (rPET), the masterbatch improves the look of post-consumer resin and increases bottle brightness by imparting a lighter bluish tone for a clearer, fresher look with increased consumer appeal. Blue Edge 78 has been introduced in the new mini-pellet masterbatch form for enhanced distribution and processability, lower let-down rates and decreased energy consumption. In addition to water bottles, Blue Edge 78 is also suitable for personal care bottles.

DS Smith's injection-molded crate palletsDS Smith promoted its injection-molded crate pallets as a more effective alternative to wooden pallets as winter planning gets underway. Specifically, when the beer industry goes through its low period and thousands of empty crates and bottles must be stacked and stored outside breweries at the mercy of the weather, the wooden pallets on which they rest rapidly degrade over the winter months leading to unsightly and dangerous towers in storage yards. DS Smith recommends its injection-molded pallets because the rims on the lower deck prevent scuffing, “rain tire”-like plugs guarantee effective forklift handling and strong skids ensure stable loading. Also, large openings between the upper and lower deck help handling, there is four-side forklift access, visibility in poor light with customized inserts, while reinforced corners deliver greater durability. The pallets can be made from 100 percent recycled old crates with the same rigidity specifications as those made from virgin material. At the end of their long life, the pallets are 100 percent recyclable, repeatedly.

Waitrose & Partners customers in Oxford, UK, where the retailer is conducting its “Unpacked” test, are using a range of cotton bags to carry their shopping, thanks to a partnership with Jutexpo, a leading eco-friendly reusable bag company. In June, the retailer transformed the store to take hundreds of products out of their packaging to help determine how customers might be prepared to shop in a more environmentally-friendly way in the future. The Botley Road shop in Oxford reportedly has the largest number of loose fruit and vegetable lines of any national supermarket and has removed the plastic wrap from its flowers and indoor plants. It also has refillable options for wine, beer, cereals and coffees as well as cleaning products. To help shoppers carry their shopping without the need for plastic bags, Jutexpo has provided the shop with an exclusive range of reusable cotton-based bags.Jutexpo's reusable cotton bags

GEA reported further orders for its transcritical CO2 refrigeration technology from two new cruise ships to be built in China and for a Dutch fishing trawler, the second largest in the world. GEA signed a contract last year with P&O Cruises for its new transcritical CO2 refrigeration technology. The environmentally-friendly refrigeration technology has already been installed onboard the Arcadia, a 2,000-passenger ship from P&O Cruises, where it provides energy-efficient refrigeration for all the ship's food and beverage refrigeration systems. The use of sustainable cooling systems with environmentally-friendly CO2 is relatively new in the marine business as it is difficult to develop flexible CO2 cooling systems that can be safely installed in the confined and mobile environments of seagoing vessels. Cooling systems using environmentally-friendly CO2 as an alternative refrigerant are already in use in the retail sector.

In brief: Business
Amcor announced a US$500 million buyback in Australia and the US which it will fund from the proceeds generated by recent sales of packaging plants in Europe and the US. Meanwhile, Ron Delia, CEO of Amcor, confirmed in an earnings call that the supplier remains on course to meet its 2025 sustainability goals. “One of the most important organic growth opportunities for Amcor comes from the increasing consumer demand for more sustainable or environmentally-friendly packaging. And we see this as an opportunity because we start from the premise that there will always be a role for primary consumer packaging for food and healthcare products,” he said. Amcor stated that the remaining US$50 million proceeds from the packaging plant sales would be used to accelerate the supplier towards its global sustainability goals.The Henkel Bowling Green campus, US

Henkel partnered with ALPLA to invest in infrastructure and equipment for a new bottle production area on its US-based Henkel Bowling Green campus. The laundry & home care, beauty care and adhesive technologies company also teamed with ALPLA to invest in building infrastructure and equipment to enhance laundry product production at the same facility. The combined total invest totals more than US$130 million. “Over the last three years, Henkel has already invested more than US$100 million in the Bowling Green plant. This new investment will transform our 25-year-old plant into the factory of the future with a modernized infrastructure, new equipment, and modern IT systems – all designed to enhance efficiency and support future growth,” noted Kurt Naxera, the Henkel Bowling Green Plant Manager.

By Joshua Poole