Weekly Roundup: DS Smith develops temperature-sensitive e-packs, Nestlé Purina purrs with TerraCycle Loop refillable cat litter containers

13 Nov 2020 --- In packaging news this week, DS Smith teamed with TemperPack, developing a recyclable, expanded polystyrene foam-replacement packaging solution for temperature-sensitive deliveries. The launch comes as DS Smith’s research identifies long-term e-commerce growth inspired by COVID-19 social restrictions. Also, Nestlé Purina partnered TerraCycle’s Loop on the US’ first refillable cat litter container, and Tesco UK supermarket wiped out 260 tons of plastic annually from its own-label hard cheeses.

In brief: Pack launches
DS Smith launched a sustainable packaging solution for temperature-sensitive deliveries. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated e-commerce demand. DS Smith’s research revealed European consumers plan to continue or increase buying groceries online (62%) and order home meal kits (49%). To answer the sustainability challenges raised by e-commerce growth, DS Smith and TemperPack partnered on ClimaCell, a thermal insulation barrier for temperature-sensitive goods such as meal kits, perishable groceries and medical products that can be easily recycled in paper recycling bins. ClimaCell replaces difficult to recycle expanded polystyrene foam, over 350,000 tons used in packaging annually, with just a third of this plastic packaging waste being recycled in Europe.

Walki developed an ovenable tray made of renewable fiber. The WalkiPack Tray is PET-free, easy to recycle and can stay in the oven for up to 60 minutes. The trays are suitable for various applications, including frozen or chilled ready-made meals, such as fish and baked goods. The solution can be used for folded and pressed trays and the inner part of the tray is available in brown or white.The WalkiPack Tray is PET-free, recyclable and ovenable for 60 minutes.

Symphony Environmental Technologies launched SYM Fresh, reusable press n' seal fruit and vegetable bags, developed to keep climacteric fruit and vegetables fresher for longer. Climacteric fruit and vegetables release ethylene gas, causing them to ripen after picking. The maturation can alter the color and texture of the produce, shortening shelf life. SYM Fresh bags are made with Symphony's d2p ethylene absorber technology, reducing spoilage.

Lifestyle Packaging created a range of sustainable plastic containers for vitamins, minerals and supplements. The BioPAC VMS packaging is fully recyclable where accepted by local recycling schemes. If a container ends its life cycle in landfill or the natural environment, it will degrade in 10 years – up to 200 times faster than traditional plastic packaging. The jars are available in clear, amber, blue, green and white.

Schur Star Systems developed paper bags specifically for the Schur Star Concept, a comprehensive solution with high packing capacity. The bags are produced pure, unbleached, and non-coated paper material – a renewable resource recyclable in pure paper streams. The contamination level is as low as 0.6 percent, and even with 10 color flexo print, it does not exceed the accepted 1.5 percent for recyclability. Schur Star Systems has a patent pending for the raw material structure and production technology.

In brief: Eco-action
Nestlé Purina launched the first cat litter in a durable and refillable container in the US. The Tidy Cats LightWeight Free & Clean cat litter is available via TerraCycle’s Loop, a global shopping platform for foods and household goods aimed at eliminating waste through the use of reusable and refillable packaging. Cat owners can get the litter in a refillable jug. When finished with the litter, the packaging is collected, cleaned and reused – as part of Loop's circular shopping system. Tidy Cats LightWeight Free & Clean litter will initially be available to purchase on Loop's eCommerce platform in 10 states, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, Delaware and the District of Columbia.Nestlé Purina partnered TerraCycle’s Loop on the US’ first refillable cat litter container.

Tesco UK supermarket changed its own-label hard cheeses packaging, saving 260 tons of plastic each year. The saving – equal in weight to 20 double-decker buses – is achieved by switching from the traditional square block shape to oblong packaging and removing the re-sealable zip. New 400 g pack sizes are replacing 460 g packs and both they and existing 220 g packs with nearly 40 lines of Tesco’s own brand territorial hard cheeses have been reformatted. The 260-ton saving is also achieved by Tesco ditching the plastic delivery trays for a new cardboard shelf-ready format.

Sorbos and Green Nature Marketing worked with Tropical Smoothie Cafe to feature Sorbos edible straws as a limited-time offer, beginning 11 November 2020. Tropical Smoothie Cafe is the first restaurant franchise system to offer Sorbos straws in the US. Sorbos claims to be the first company to produce an edible, flavored and biodegradable straw. Sorbos’ product attributes include the ability to stay rigid for up to 40 minutes in cold and frozen beverages. Each straw is packaged individually for enhanced food safety.

In brief: Machinery and masterbatches
Ulma Packaging unveiled the FS 400 horizontal flow pack wrapping machine for meat and poultry products on trays. The FS 400 wrapper uses stretch shrink film, stretched around the product during the packaging process by a belt-based film stretching system. The wrapper also removes the air from inside the packaging before it is sealed, making it unnecessary to perforate the film before shrinking it. Despite being extremely thin, the seals used to seal the packaging lengthwise and crosswise are extremely strong and reliable, enabling printing on both the top and bottom of packs.Tesco saved 20 double-decker buses worth of plastic in own-label hard cheeses packs.

TurboFil Packaging Machines introduced a servo-driven chuck capper, offering precision torque and gentle handling without costly bottle change parts. Ideal for manufacturers producing multiple SKUs, the company’s Acrobat Chuck Capper is available in single and dual-head formats capable of processing up to 90 units per minute. The new capper’s proprietary technology and parallel belts eliminate the expense of making and storing change parts for most bottles.

Ampacet introduced halogen-free flame retardant masterbatches, Halofree 709 and Halofree 229, featuring outstanding flame retardancy in polyethylene film at low addition rates and compliance with health and environmental safety regulations. The masterbatches provide high-quality optics and film clarity and can be colored with masterbatches from Ampacet’s color portfolio.

By Joshua Poole