Weekly Roundup: P&G’s Dawn unveils one-handed bottle design, Sappi launches label paper for improved printability

14 Jan 2022 --- In packaging news this week, Dawn launched a one-handed washing liquid bottle design targeted at disabled consumers. Meanwhile, Sappi unveiled a one-side coated face stock label paper for improved printability, and Smurfit Kappa had its emissions reductions targets approved by the UN’s Science Based Targets initiative.

In brief: Inclusive design
Dawn, a dishwashing liquid company, launched EZ Squeeze, a one-handed bottle designed for ease of use, targeted at disabled consumers. Dawn says it devoted more than five years, hundreds of designs, and thousands of hours of testing to the product’s development – making it one of P&G’s most “researched and rigorously tested products in the company’s 50-year history within the dish soap category.”

In brief: Paper and pulp
Sappi launched a one-side coated face stock label paper called Parade Label SG, which boasts improved printability, opacity, and stiffness and more options for further processing. Semi-gloss face stock paper with high-quality performance characteristics. It is suitable for a wide range of applications like food and non-food labels, cosmetics products and printing applications, and available in 77, 78 and 80 gsm. Sappi’s Parade Label SG label paper.

Stora Enso introduced NaturaFluff Pulp Eco – an oxygen-delignified fluff pulp, meaning no bleaching chemicals are used in its production. As a result, the fluff pulp has a warm, natural beige color and a roughly 30% lower carbon footprint in comparison to traditional fluff pulp, without compromising on product performance, says the company. 

Premier Foods revealed a new sized Bisto Gravy product, which will now come in caddies that are 8 mm smaller than the previous edition. The company says this will save 40 tons of paper annually at Premier Foods’ Bisto manufacturing line in the UK. Using recyclable paperboard drums produced by Sonoco, the new Bisto packaging gives shoppers an additional 20cg of gravy granules. 

In brief: Business news
SK Geo-Centric and chemical recycling company PureCycle Technologies signed a non-binding agreement to open Asia’s first recycled polypropylene plant in Ulsan, South Korea. The facility is expected to have an annual capacity of 60,000 tons and an expected completion at the end of 2024. Stora Enso’s NaturaFluff Pulp Eco.

Sun Chemical acquired SAPICI, a specialist in high-performance polyurethanes for coatings, flexible packaging and industrial adhesives. The duo says its combined resources and technologies will provide a comprehensive and unique polymer portfolio for areas such as industrial coatings, elastomers, industrial adhesives and sealants. 

Berlin Packaging acquired global cosmetics and beauty packaging supplier Premi, which specializes in dynamic and innovative solutions for the beauty and cosmetic industries. Premi boasts a variety of services, including formulation services, compatibility and stability testing, sustainability solutions, branding services and digital marketing.

In brief: Awards and approvals
Smurfit Kappa had its emissions reduction targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative as consistent with levels required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. The targets covering greenhouse gas emissions from Smurfit Kappa’s operations (scopes 1 and 2) are consistent with reductions required to keep global warming to “well below” 2°C, says the company. Sonoco’s paperboard drums for Premier Foods’ reduced Bistro Gravy packs.

Constantia Flexibles was awarded an “OK Compost Industrial” by TÜV Austria for its EcoPressoLid, a lidding material for coffee capsules. It is Constantia Flexibles’ first certified compostable product. The packaging boasts a high oxygen barrier, high sealability for a compostable coffee capsule, suitable for conventional capsule-closing machines, and “remarkable” coffee brewing performance, says the company. The material can be used to close both the top and bottom of the capsules.

Avery Dennison and UPM Raflatac were granted limited compatibility approval for their non-removal adhesive solutions for HDPE products. Recyclability evaluation company Recyclass determined through laboratory research that Avery Dennison’s acrylic adhesive label materials and UPM Raflatac’s Smart Circle polyethylene labels with acrylic and hotmelt technologies do not hinder the recycling process of the colored HDPE stream. However, Recyclass notes removable solutions remain preferable.

By Louis Gore-Langton