Weekly Roundup: Mars Food to launch recycle-ready pouch, Ellen MacArthur Foundation welcomes first African member

26 Mar 2021 --- In packaging news this week, Mars Food revealed its recycle-ready mono-polypropylene (PP) pouch – developed in partnership with Amcor – will launch with Uncle Ben’s wholegrain rice in Tesco stores in April. Meanwhile, Silafrica became the first African plastic packaging manufacturer to join the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Global Commitment. Greiner Packaging recreated the “snap” of polystyrene (PS) yogurt multipacks with its more sustainable PP alternative.

In brief: Circular plastic innovation
Mars Food announced the initial rollout of its recycle-by-design mono-PP pouch for Uncle Ben’s wholegrain rice in Tesco stores from mid-April. Developed with Amcor, the use of high-performing mono-PP material will allow Mars to retain the shape, shelf life, functionality and high safety standards for its brands’ packaging while allowing the pouches to be recycled where the correct collection and recycling infrastructure exists. The move is recognized as a milestone step in Mars’ Sustainable Packaging Plan, which outlines the business’ commitment to achieving 100 percent recyclable, compostable or reusable packaging by 2025.

Greiner Packaging replaced yogurt multipacks made from PS with PP, and “Project Snap” has now successfully recreated the “snap” consumers love. Tesco was one of the first customers to move from PS multipacks to PP multipacks. “We needed to remove PS from our packaging and Greiner helped us with the move to PP,” said Denise Mathieson, Tesco’s senior packaging manager. “However, our customers were always accustomed to the easy ‘snap’ of the old PS yogurt multipacks and we needed to further develop this feature with the new recyclable PP packaging. Greiner has been at the forefront of these developments and worked with us quickly to re-engineer the PP multipack to give it the same ‘snap’ quality of PS.”Greiner recreated the “snap” of PS yogurt multipacks with its more sustainable PP alternative.

Smurfit Kappa Bag-in-Box reduced the amount of plastic used to manufacture bags by introducing the new light 60-micron EVOH film – E Compact 60. The film development process took more than a year. Before giving final approval, Smurfit Kappa applied its strict qualification criteria, guaranteeing the film’s mechanical and barrier properties are better than market average requirements. The solution is based on new, more resistant PE resin technologies, allowing for more sustainable packaging without compromising productivity and consumer convenience. The innovation reportedly represents a 16 percent bag weight reduction and 12 percent less CO2 emissions.

Macfarlane Packaging, reportedly the UK’s largest distributor of protective packaging, replaced its existing blown hand-applied stretch wrap with a film containing a minimum of 30 percent recycled material. The move puts Macfarlane’s stretch wrap in line with the proposed UK plastic tax, scheduled to begin in April 2022. The legislation aims to invigorate the UK recycling industry by stipulating that plastic packaging must contain a minimum of 30 percent recycled content. Packaging failing to meet this target will be subject to taxation of £200 (US$275) per ton.

In brief: Sustainability commitments and certifications
Silafrica became the first African plastic packaging manufacturer to join the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Global Commitment to create a circular economy for plastic packaging. As part of its commitment, Silafrica will screen its portfolio for “areas of concern,” eliminate unnecessary plastic packaging and publish its progress. The company currently recycles more than 1,600 tons of secondary industrial packaging (i.e., crates) annually and plans to increase the amount to 5,000 tons. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is working to ensure all plastic packaging can be easily and safely reused, recycled, or composted by 2025.

Mondi joined forces with the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) to support good water stewardship performance across its operations. AWS is a global membership collaboration comprising businesses, NGOs and the public sector. Members contribute to the sustainability of local water resources by adopting and promoting a universal framework for responsible water use – the International Water Stewardship Standard (or AWS Standard) – which drives, recognizes and rewards good water stewardship performance.Dolea’s recyclable and biodegradable paper straw.

Ball and Damm launched the “world’s first” Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI)-certified beverage cans in Spain. Damm became the first beverage company in the world to achieve double certification, guaranteeing high environmental, ethical and social standards for the whole aluminum chain – from the production of the aluminum to can production, brewing and recycling.

Lessebo Paper became “the first paper producer in the world” to achieve Cradle to Cradle Certified Gold award for its white ranges of uncoated, premium graphical paper: Lessebo Design and Scandia 2000. Cradle to Cradle Certified is a globally recognized measure of safe, sustainable products made for the circular economy. To receive certification, the products are assessed for environmental and social performance across five critical categories: Material Health, Material Reutilization, Renewable Energy, Water Stewardship and Social Fairness.

In brief: Bio-based developments
DSM launched the CirculariTeam coalition, aiming to drive the transition toward renewable bio-based and recycled materials. CirculariTeam provides a common platform to share knowledge, resources, and technological solutions, with the goal of closing the loop on Dyneema, the “world’s strongest fiber.” The cross-industry coalition consists of parties from across the value chain using Dyneema in their products.

Dolea launched a recyclable and biodegradable paper straw for soft drinks, hot drinks and alcoholic beverages. A heat-sealed single seam along the length of the straw provides an even flow of liquid, removes the need for glue and reduces material consumption by an estimated 25 percent. Dolea straws originate in Finland and will soon have converters producing the straws locally worldwide.

Graphic Packaging International (GPI) unveiled two innovations to extend its award-winning PaperSeal tray range to new applications. Both the new PaperSeal Slice and PaperSeal Wedge offer brands and retailers a recyclable, barrier-lined, paperboard packaging alternative to plastic thermoformed trays for sliced meats and cheeses. “Compared to traditional plastic trays, PaperSeal Slice typically reduces plastic by 75 percent and PaperSeal Wedge by 80 percent. The innovative new designs also use lighter weight paperboard to deliver reduced pack weights to support our customers' packaging sustainability goals. Both are available as formed or flat trays,” shares Ricardo De Genova, SVP, global innovation and new business, at GPI.Graphic Packaging International’s new PaperSeal Slice.

Mantrose-Haeuser expanded its VerdeCoat compostable barrier coatings line for food packaging. VerdeCoat WB Overprint Varnishes provide a superior, sustainable finish, using water-based chemistry for paper and paperboard foodservice packaging, the company says. Key attributes include outstanding gloss, abrasion-resistance and resistance to water, oil and grease staining. VerdeCoat OPV coatings can replace traditional graphics arts OPV’s in various compostable food packaging applications.

In brief: Acquisitions and investments
ProAmpac acquired IG Industries and Brayford Plastics, private businesses based in the UK producing a broad portfolio of recyclable packaging products. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. IG Industries and Brayford Plastics are leading suppliers of flexible packaging products for the bakery, meat, fish, poultry and fresh produce markets across the UK and Western Europe. This acquisition expands ProAmpac’s manufacturing capabilities for plastic film, resealable bags and premade pouches and extends its commitment to provide customers with a broad offering of recyclable packaging.

O-I Glass announced an investment of approximately US$75 million to expand its Zipaquirá, Colombia facility. Upon completion by the end of 2022, the project is expected to add nearly 2 percent capacity to the company’s Americas segment and produce about 500 million bottles annually. “Our customers recognize the strong brand building characteristics and superior sustainability profile that make glass the preferred packaging substrate. In particular, strong market growth and affinity for glass are fueling significant demand for glass packaging in the Andean market,” commented Andres Lopez, O-I CEO.

In brief: Connective packaging technologies
Pizza Hut served up its “Newstalgia” campaign, celebrating “what fans know and love” about the pizza restaurant, but with a contemporary twist. Bringing the campaign to life, the brand unveiled a limited edition Pac-Man box featuring an augmented reality game and a chance to win a custom Pac-Man game cabinet. Consumers can play the game via their smartphones.

By Joshua Poole

Pizza Hut unveiled a limited edition Pac-Man box featuring an augmented reality game, accessible via smartphone.