Weekly Roundup: Pregis joins Amazon’s Packaging Support and Supplier network

02 Aug 2019 --- This week in packaging, Pregis joined Amazon’s Packaging Support and Supplier (APASS) network, which will provide the US-headquartered supplier with guidance on how to design, test and supply packaging that meets the e-commerce company’s specific guidelines. Also, Smurfit Kappa created an innovative e-commerce packaging solution which has led to “impressive growth in sales” for Jardines de Los Andes, a leading Colombian fresh flower provider. In the UK, Marks & Spencer became the first major retailer to introduce a reusable container incentive for fresh food-to-go at its Market Place counters, as part of its plan to reduce single-use packaging.

In brief: E-commerce
Pregis, a leading protective packaging materials and automated systems manufacturer, joined the Amazon Packaging Support and Supplier (APASS) network. As part of the APASS network, Pregis can certify that packages meet the requirements of Amazon’s Frustration-Free Packaging programs and its three tiers of certification: Tier 1 (Frustration-Free Packaging), Tier 2 (Ships-In-Own-Container) and Tier 3 (Prep-Free Packaging). Pregis IQ, the company’s ISTA-certified packaging laboratory in Aurora, Illinois, US will be the primary testing facility.

Jardines de Los Andes’ flower e-commerce pack, designed by Smurfit KappaSmurfit Kappa tapped into the expertise and experience of its eSmart service to identify a packaging concept that would withstand Jardines de Los Andes’ complex flower e-commerce supply channel from Colombia to the US while preserving the quality and freshness of the flowers. The new packaging reportedly made an immediate impact with sales growth of a wedding bouquet line that was introduced a year ago surging by 300 percent. The branded packaging solution is 100 percent recyclable and biodegradable.

In brief: Miscellaneous
Marks & Spencer (M&S) introduced the UK’s first reusable container incentive for fresh food-to-go at its Market Place counters. The new scheme will incentivize customers to bring reusable containers to M&S’ Market Place by offering a 25p discount off each meal. M&S is aiming to encourage a change in consumer behavior and reduce the use of disposable items on the high street. M&S’ Market Place concept is available in busy city center stores and offers a variety of hot and cold lunch-to-go options, from rotisserie chicken and fish to freshly prepared salads. Over 70,000 people pick up lunch from Market Place each week, which is currently available in 23 stores including London Pantheon on Oxford Street, Newcastle, Norwich and Manchester.

The HERMA 211 HC Wrap-around LabelerHERMA US Inc., the subsidiary of HERMA GmbH – a Germany-based provider of labeling machinery and self-adhesive labels and materials to the global packaging marketplace – will introduce a new ultra-compact labeling machine at Healthcare Packaging Expo, Booth N-310, September 23-25 in Las Vegas, US. Designed to meet pharma sector demands for a fully FDA-compliant labeler in a very compact footprint, the HERMA 211 HC Wrap-around Labeler is a semi-automatic unit seen as particularly helpful in the transition from clinical trials to full production, as well as for the smaller-batch manufacturing typically found in biopharmaceuticals settings.

GEA will launch the redesigned high-speed vertical packaging machine GEA SmartPacker TwinTube at PackExpo (booth LS-5905) in Las Vegas, US, from September 23-25, 2019. The entire machine has been redesigned as a future-proof modular system with increased functional efficiency promoting higher operational uptime and ease of use.

GEA SmartPacker TwinTubeAn IMAS study of seabirds that had ingested plastic debris revealed a range of non-lethal impacts on their health and physiology. While seabird deaths due to swallowing plastic debris or becoming entangled in it have received global attention, the non-lethal effects on seabirds that survive plastic ingestion are less well-known. The study led by IMAS' Dr. Jennifer Lavers and published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology found that plastic ingestion can have a significant negative impact even on superficially healthy seabirds. “Our study found that birds which ingested plastic had reduced blood calcium levels, body mass, wing length, and head and bill length. The presence of plastic also harmed the birds' kidney function, causing a higher concentration of uric acid, as well as on their cholesterol and enzymes,” Lavers explained.

Original Beans launched an updated wrapper design printed on fine, sustainable paper made from FSC-certified wood cellulose, which was designed by Californian artist Kimberly Varella. The design gives a sense of the luxury chocolate whilst also conveying the sustainability message and the conservation which is the heart of the Original Beans social enterprise. Since 2008, Original Beans has ventured into remote rainforests around the world in pursuit of the rarest cacao beans to craft pure, additive-free chocolate that protects and preserves the sources from which it comes.

Original Beans' new pack designs, made with FSC-certified wood celluloseIn brief: Business news
Berry Global completed the sale of its Seal for Life (SFL) business to Arsenal Capital Partners for approximately US$330 million. The SFL business has annual sales of approximately US$120 million. According to Tom Salmon, Berry’s Chairman and CEO, “the decision to sell SFL was made as part of our ongoing portfolio analysis and decision to provide resources to further focus our efforts to deliver growth in targeted markets and advantaged. We will use the proceeds of the sale to repay debt and expedite our primary goal of improving our balance sheet.”

Waste management specialist, Veolia, through its subsidiary Veolia Energy North America Holdings, has sold its district energy assets in the US to Antin Infrastructure Partners for US$1.25 billion. The portfolio comprises steam, hot and chilled water and electricity production plants, including cogeneration, and 13 networks in 10 US cities. Veolia said that it regularly reviews its asset portfolio in the light of its strategy and development plan and that this review reinforces the capacity and flexibility of Veolia to position itself on the best growth opportunities, where the Group can bring the most added value, and in coherence with the next strategic plan to be presented early 2020.

By Joshua Poole