Weekly Roundup: Iceland reverse vending machine trial success, Noluma warns against poor light protection in dairy packaging

04 Jan 2019 --- As 2019 kicks off, UK supermarket chain Iceland revealed encouraging results from its reverse vending machine scheme for plastic bottles. Iceland has been rewarding eco-conscious shoppers with 10p vouchers for every deposited bottle since June. Also in recycling, Indorama Ventures is raising its sustainability ambitions with the acquisition of a PET recycling facility in Alabama, US. In this weeks’ big research news, light protection technologists Noluma warned that insufficient packaging can result in the rapid degradation of dairy nutrients by up to 51 percent.

In brief: Recycling action
Iceland has announced a successful first trial of reverse vending machines for plastic bottles. Figures show that 311,500 plastic bottles were recycled through the scheme which launched in June 2018, rewarding shoppers with more than £30,000 (US$38,000) to date. “We’ve gained hugely valuable insights into both consumer interest and the functionality of the schemes, and it’s clear from the results that consumers want to tackle the problem of plastic pollution,” comments Richard Walker, Managing Director at Iceland.

Indorama VentureIceland supermarket's reverse vending machine for plastic bottless, a global chemical producer has entered into an agreement to acquire a PET recycling facility from Custom Polymers PET in Alabama, US. The facility consists of two production lines: Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (rPET) Flake and food-grade rPET Pellets, with a combined capacity of 31,000 tons per year.

In brief: Business updates
In Latin America, Taghleef Industries, a global producer of biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film, has completed the transaction to acquire Biofilm, one of Latin America’s leading manufacturers of BOPP films for flexible packaging, labels and industrial applications.

Braskem will invest R$50 million (US$13.29 million) to expand its innovation structure in Brazil. The initiative involves the construction of a new 2,800-square-meter building at Braskem's Technology and Innovation Center in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. It will create new equipment and laboratories for developing and testing technologies for the production of thermoplastic resins around the world.

US-based Crawford Packaging is expanding into Mexico with the goal of bringing produce packaging solutions to the entire North American supply chain. With the creation of a local service team – and the addition of a bonded warehouse in Leon – the goal is to offer produce packaging solutions to the growing Mexican market.

In Europe, AR Packaging Group AB has acquired all outstanding shares in Istragrafika, d.d., a producer of high-quality folding carton products for the tobacco, food and consumer goods segments. Istragrafika, headquartered in Kanfanar, Croatia, has a workforce of approximately 160 employees.

Foil suppliers API Group has relocated its Amsterdam distribution facility to SEGRO Park Amsterdam Airport (SPAA), creating a distribution hub to better service regional customers. The 1,700 sqm warehouse and office space, located next to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, will provide the company with a state-of-the-art site from which it can distribute to its European customer base.Braskem's new thermoplastic resin building in Brazil

In Brief: Notable research
Light protection technologists Noluma has released new evidence highlighting the rapid degradation of nutrients in dairy as a result of light exposure. The report finds that damage to nutritional values comes from all light, including common retail and refrigerator lighting. The report also reveals the rapid loss of key nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin D and riboflavin in dairy – in some instances up to 51 percent. Noluma debuted state-of-the-art patented technology earlier this year that measures the ability of packaging to protect contents from light damage with more accuracy and efficiency than existing methods.Noluma scientists use a known marker ingredient in the contents of test packages, exposing them to intense light that replicates two weeks of exposure in just two hours. This testing allows manufacturers to better understand the vulnerabilities of their packaging and work with Noluma to design packaging that better blocks the degradation of nutrients, taste and efficacy from light exposure.

By Joshua Poole