Weekly Roundup: SIG launches combismile carton pack for juices, Toppan unveils PE monomaterial barrier packs for liquids

14 Oct 2022 --- This week in industry news, SIG equipped Riedel’s juice products with its on-the-go combismile carton pack, and Toppan added PE monomaterial barrier packaging for liquid contents to its product range. Meanwhile, Swedish pulp and paper giant BillerudKorsnäs simplified its name to Billerud.

In brief: Launches and releases 
Dutch company Riedel became the first in the Netherlands to offer its juices in SIG’s on-the-go combismile carton pack. Riedel’s Appelsientje, CoolBest and DubbelDrank juice brands will apply the design of combismile, which is also paired with SIGnature Full Barrier packaging material, where a small number of polymers used are linked to certified forest-based renewable materials via a mass-balance system. 

LyondellBasell and Henkel’s new reclosable packaging. Toppan added PE monomaterial barrier packaging for liquid contents to its range of GL Barrier1 brand products, which are transparent barrier films. Toppan leverages its proprietary GL Barrier technologies to overcome the difficulty of vapor deposition on PE and deliver barrier performance superior to existing PE mono-material packaging. Toppan’s new packaging is suitable for boiling sterilization and combines drop strength for liquid product use with the environmental performance of a more readily recyclable monomaterial composition.

LyondellBasell and Henkel developed new reclose properties that make reclosable packaging more convenient for consumers. The Henkel hotmelt adhesive, which is based on an innovative plastomer from LyondellBasell, is responsible for the improved reopen and reclose properties. The final hotmelt adhesive manufactured by Henkel allows for a smooth first opening while maintaining desired reopening and reclosure properties on amorphous PE terephthalate (APET) and polyolefin trays – after multiple repetitions. 

Nextloopp completed a landmark study of background contamination of post-consumer PP packaging for its submissions to food safety authorities European Food Safety Authority, the US Food and Drug Administration, and UK Food Standards Agency. The study is said to be “the first recent comprehensive UK/European study” on post-consumer PP packaging based on current recycling infrastructure and packaging materials. As such, it will update the knowledge base that has been used for other plastics (HDPE and PET) and will shine a new light on the science of risk management and recycling food-grade recycled PP (and potentially other polyolefins). This will enable the Nextloopp project and its members to take a transformational approach to the stringent food safety requirements around food-contact recycled PP and further validates the approach of meshing highly effective sorting with powerful decontamination. 

In brief: Business news Repsol became a strategic shareholder of Acteco.
BillerudKorsnäs simplified its name to Billerud to cater to its international customers. As a leading supplier of virgin fiber-based paper and packaging materials, the name change is in line with the company’s strategy to expand into North America and continue driving sustainable growth in global markets.

Repsol became a strategic shareholder of waste management and recovery company Acteco, to ensure its access to plastic waste and promote the circular economy. The multi-energy company acquired a 27% stake in Acteco, with whom it has partnered since 2018. Repsol hereby advances in its goal to promote the use of recycled materials -under its Repsol Reciclex range- and recycling the equivalent of 20% of its polyolefins production by 2030. This investment allows Acteco to face its plastic waste management and recycling growth plan. 

Avantium announced that its business unit Avantium Catalysis will expand its business to focus increasingly on R&D solutions for sustainable chemistry. In addition to providing advanced catalysis R&D systems and services to customers worldwide, the business unit will extend its offerings to target four emerging markets for sustainable chemistry: green hydrogen; chemical plastic recycling; adsorption; and sustainable chemical building blocks. Furthermore, Avantium Catalysis will be renamed “Avantium R&D Solutions.” 

Schubert is exhibiting at Gulfood Manufacturing.In brief: Trade show news
TekniPlex Healthcare announced it would debut the “world’s first” fully transparent recyclable mid-barrier blister package at Pack Expo, October 23-26 in Chicago, US. The company will showcase samples of its new materials science breakthrough, which includes barrier protection against moisture. Recyclable in geographies where PP recycling streams are available, the mid-barrier blisters feature a polyolefin blister film paired with a barrier PP lidding film. The company says this marks the first time a formed blister and lidding combination is certified as recyclable.

Gerhard Schubert, the lightline carton packer giant, announced it will be exhibiting at Gulfood Manufacturing, the international trade fair for the F&B industry in Dubai, UAE. From November 8-10 2022, F&B manufacturers from over 60 countries will present innovative production and packaging solutions. Gerhard Schubert is planning to present its portfolio of advanced solutions for the food and confectionery sector.

By Natalie Schwertheim