Weekly Roundup: DOW launches PCR film resin, BOBST scales back trade shows

29 May 2020 --- This week in packaging, Dow launched a post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic resin designed for collation shrink film applications in the Asia Pacific. The newly formulated PCR resin provides comparable performance to collation shrink film made with virgin resins and ensures products are delivered safely while reducing plastic waste. Also, BOBST announced that it will be significantly scaling back its attendance at trade shows and focusing on virtual customer experience. Ampacet unveiled a silky surface recyclable plastic masterbatch for low reflection enhanced readability of packaging graphics.

In brief: Eco-friendly plastics
Dow developed and commercialized a formulated PCR plastic resin designed for collation shrink film applications in Asia Pacific. The new resin is made with 40 percent PCR content, which creates a film with performance comparable to those made with virgin resins, DOW reports. The product, XUS 60921.01, is made with recycled plastics collected domestically within China through Dow’s strategic recycling partners and created at Dow’s external manufacturing site in Nanjing, China.Ampacet's Silky Bliss collection.

Ampacet global plastics masterbatch supplier introduced the Silky Bliss collection, designed to provide an elegant, silky surface treatment and recyclability to PET and rPET packaging applications. The Silky Bliss collection features a very low reflection for enhanced readability of packaging graphics and text and includes six shades: Diablo, Akoya, Crushed Ice, Mint Breeze Alaska and Sakura.

UL nonprofit announced that HP, a leading provider of personal systems, printers and 3D printing solutions, achieved recycled content validations from UL for five of their resins, which contain between 5-99 percent recycled content from “ocean-bound” plastic. HP is reportedly the first company to achieve validation from UL to the UL 2809 Environmental Claim Validation Procedure (ECVP) for Recycled Content Standard, which now includes auditing of social responsibility procedures.

Braskem’s production of I’m green polyethylene, a bio-based plastic made from sugarcane, was recognized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Global Compact Network Brazil as “one of the most transformational cases in sustainable development in Brazil, in the Industry & Energy category.” The recognition was made official during Braskem’s participation in the “Big Push for Sustainability,” a public webinar organized by ECLAC in partnership with the Global Compact Network Brazil.Sidel's CoboAccess_Pal cobotic palletizer.

In brief: Business developments
BOBST announced that it has started to virtualize the customer experience with live streaming demonstrations across all equipment in its existing Competence Centers, providing an engaging customer experience with less traveling constraints. The printing and converting equipment supplier is reducing its presence at industry trade shows to decrease its net environmental impact. For example, the company will not attend drupa and other industry trade shows in 2021, while maintaining limited participation in Asia.

BillerudKorsnäs and UPM agreed to extend the supply for pulp, steam and electricity for the production at BillerudKorsnäs’ mill in Pietarsaari, Finland. The original agreement was signed in 2012 in conjunction with BillerudKorsnäs’ acquisition of the Pietarsaari mill and was initially scheduled to expire in June 2022. The newly agreed supply contract is based on market conditions and will enter into force in June 2020. As part of the renegotiation, the parties have agreed that BillerudKorsnäs will pay a compensation of €15 million to UPM during the coming year in three installments.Smurfit Kappa's Vitop Blie tap for Bag-in-Box.

Klöckner Pentaplast (kp) pharmaceutical packaging films specialist has completed a “significant expansion” at its Cotia facility in Brazil. The project gives kp a larger and more environmentally sustainable facility and a coating capacity increase of over 30 percent to support the rapidly growing South American pharmaceutical market.

In brief: Product launches
Sidel launched an extension to its CoboAccess_Pal cobotic palletizing range, featuring the “highest case payload on the market in its category.” The new M version of Sidel’s cobotic palletizer features a Yaskawa HC20, allowing for a case payload of up to 14 kg with a very significant reach of 1,700 mm. Delivering maximum performance on a reduced overall footprint, CoboAccess_Pal M version maintains the best attributes of Sidel’s established cobotic palletizing range and still includes its proven industrial automation platform based on PC and PLC, guaranteeing high machine reliability and fast machine restart after stoppages.

Smurfit Kappa launched a Vitop Blue tap for Bag-in-Box cleaning products, which is first being used for Bag-in-Box hand sanitizer packaging – one of the most sought-after products during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although more testing will be undertaken to ensure compatibility with a wide range of hand sanitizers and other cleaning products, the Bag-in-Box packaging offers a “promising solution” due to its variety of sizes and flexibility to be used either by the end-consumer or as a refill solution.Berry Global brand ESE's semi-underground recycling bins.

Favini introduced a new paper with 100 percent recycled fibers called Shiro Echo Raw version. Already on the market in two white versions – Bright White and White – three new colors have been added to the range: Raw Black, Raw Sand and Raw Grey. Shiro Echo is a recyclable, biodegradable, FSC-certified and zero-emission paper through its neutralization of residual CO2.

Berry Global brand ESE unveiled one of the most comprehensive ranges of semi-underground waste collection systems to provide an effective and space-efficient solution for the disposal and sorting of both waste and recyclable items. The new BAGIO series is produced in cooperation with Berry CPI sister company Berry Promens Roto.

By Joshua Poole

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