Weekly Roundup: Santa wrapper production set for record high as Co-op-Alupro campaign urges consumer action on aluminum recycling

06 Dec 2019 --- This week in packaging, the European Aluminum Foil Association (EAFA) reiterated the full recyclability of aluminum wrappers amid expectations that Chocolate Santa Claus production will hit record highs this Christmas. Meanwhile, UK supermarket Co-op launched a campaign to prevent tons of aluminum, including Christmas mince pie wrappers, getting binned unnecessarily in landfill. Also, UK environmental charity Hubbub announced the results of its on-the-go recycling trial in which over 1.2 million coffee cups, 140,000 cans and 160,000 plastic bottles were recycled across Leeds City Center, UK.

In brief: Sustainability
EAFA spotlighted the recyclability credentials of aluminum foil as Chocolate Santa Claus production appears set to break more records in 2019. Across Europe, more than 156 million Santas were sparkling on shelves last season, while in Germany alone, more than 151 million versions of the jolly white-bearded man were sold – an increase of 4 percent from the year before, EAFA reports. It is estimated that the surface area of the foil used to wrap all the Santas produced in Europe is now close to four million square meters, enough to cover several major European cities. “In these highly environmentally aware times, it is also worth noting that Santa’s wrapper can be completely recycled. With recycling rates for aluminum packaging in Germany now well above 87 percent, it is great to know there is a Sustainable Santa, as well as the tastiest of Christmas treats,” EAFA notes.

Co-op launched a campaign to foil tons of aluminum becoming discarded in landfill this Christmas after the supermarket’s research revealed that more than one in five (22%) UK adults do not recycle household aluminum. It is estimated that over 3,000 metric tons could end up in landfill on average each month. Co-op and Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro) are urging all UK local authorities to accept the material along with food cans and glass bottle collections. Currently, 18 percent of local authorities do not accept aluminum foil, yet all of the councils have an aluminum food can and glass bottle collection in place, Co-op points out. The process to collect aluminum foil is the same as these other materials at kerbside collection and if the foil has been rinsed out, the packaging can be recycled.Camvac is set to showcase its Camfresh Compostable Lidding Film at Packaging Innovations 2020 in Birmingham.

Hubbub revealed the results of its 12-month on-the-go recycling trial in the UK. The pioneering pilot, launched in October 2018 by Hubbub and Ecosurety, introduced 186 new recycling points and new technology in the square mile of Leeds City Center. The aim was to test the impact of different bin designs, bin locations and communications for a year. Notable findings include that of the 1.2 million coffee cups recycled over the year, 117,000 were from on-street bins, over 469,000 from managed locations such as workplaces and universities and over 608,000 from retailers. Also, the number of people recycling in Leeds City Center nearly tripled from 17 percent to 49 percent over the course of the year and the number of people recycling their coffee cup almost quadrupled from 14 percent to 53 percent by the end of the trial.

Camvac, a supplier of metalized films, clear barrier films and laminates, announced that it will showcase its Camfresh Compostable Lidding Film at Packaging Innovations Birmingham, UK, in February 2020. Camfresh Compostable Lidding Film is available for several applications including fresh food packaging, confectionery and snacks. Developed in-house, the eco-friendly lidding film has been manufactured to provide high clarity, modified atmosphere to increase product shelf-life. Certified compostable, the film is heat sealable and available in peel and non-peel options. The lidding film material is made from a certified compostable structure.

In collaboration with Stora Enso and Schur, Stjärnägg AB in Sweden revealed that it will switch from plastic to paperboard in its egg packaging to reduce plastic. The new packaging solution is fully renewable and recyclable. Instead of the traditional shrink film plastic, the eggs lie on a plate made of pressed cardboard wrapped in a sleeve made from board CKB by Stora Enso. The packaging solution is provided by Schur Pack Sweden and packaging machine supplier Schur Technology. The structure of the package enables consumers to see the eggs inside while being stable enough to put on top of a shopping bag.

Mondi committed to join the 4evergreen alliance founded by CEPI, the pan-European association representing the forest fiber and paper industry. The alliance aims to increase the share of fiber-based packaging in a circular and sustainable economy to minimize its environmental impact. The 4evergreen alliance is a three-year-long project and will begin in January 2020 bringing together companies and organizations across the value chain.

RKW film manufacturer published its Sustainability Report 2.0. In the report, RKW discloses all of the company group's efforts and plans related to sustainability. For example, as a founding member of Crop Plastics Recycling Germany (ERDE), the supplier of films and foils volunteered to collect and recycle 65 percent of all silage and stretch film sold on the German market by 2022.Netherlands-based CM Packaging's facility, recently acquired by Hoffmann Neopac.

In brief: Business
Xeikon, an innovator of digital printing technologies, opened a state-of-the-art innovation center in Shanghai, China. Designed to support the expanding Chinese markets, the facility will be a dedicated and welcome place of interaction where visitors and customers will have the ability to test a variety of applications and options for new revenue streams and business growth. Xeikon continues to develop new and innovative solutions for the label and packaging markets to meet the current challenges in today’s fast-moving and evolving world of consumerism. The Shanghai Center will be equipped to house the latest Xeikon equipment and technologies, and Xeikon staff will be on hand to offer expertise, guidance, and demonstrate creative solutions and applications for a significant variety of markets and sectors.

Hoffmann Neopac, a global provider of high-quality plastic and metal packaging for a broad array of industries and applications, acquired a longstanding metal packaging partner, Netherlands-based CM Packaging. As of January 1, 2020, the company intends to operate as a single entity. The parties have agreed not to disclose the acquisition price.

By Joshua Poole