Weekly Roundup: SIG unveils digital smart factory solution, Westpak launches paper-based punnets

26 Nov 2021 --- In packaging news this week, SIG introduced a digital smart factory solution, enabling brands to prevent unplanned manufacturing downtimes by monitoring and analyzing data. Meanwhile, Westpak Group unveiled a paper-based punnet and tray portfolio for fresh produce. Also, Ikea announced it will phase out plastic from consumer packaging by 2028.

In brief: Industry 4.0
SIG launched a digital smart factory solution called “Plant 360 Asset Health Monitoring” for “an important next step” in proactive services for customers looking to improve their operations, ensure the highest food safety and quality, and reduce costs. SIG now makes it possible to transform data into insights. The company’s experts can transform data into insights and prevent unplanned manufacturing downtimes by monitoring and analyzing data from SIG filling machines via the new integrated software solution. Almarai, reportedly the largest food and beverage manufacturing and distribution company in the Middle East, is SIG’s first customer to use the technology. “SIG’s smart factory solutions provide essential monitoring of our various filling line parameters and flag any irregularities,” commented Robert Ross, dairy and juice manufacturing manager at Almarai. “This continuous feedback and corrective actions allow us to avoid unplanned downtime in running filling lines.”

In brief: Fiber-based solutions
Westpak Group launched a series of punnet and tray designs, offering grocery retailers and their suppliers a set of commercially-viable, paper-based alternatives to plastic punnets. These heat-seal card punnets are the culmination of a key objective for Westpak – to break the grocery industry’s long-standing dependence on plastic punnets for commercial heat-sealing processes. The supplier has undertaken a series of testing and refinement processes, ensuring the most seamless possible integration of this material technology.Westpak’s paper-based punnets and trays.

Max International Converters unveiled Maxdlf, reportedly the world’s first dispersible liner-free direct thermal label. The water-soluble dispersible label is cellulose-based, made of finely ground tree pulp. The solution is non-toxic, biodegradable and fully recyclable. Moreover, it will dissolve at any water temperature in less than 30 seconds, leaving no residue or paper pulp behind.

Schumacher Packaging, one of Europe’s leading corrugated and solid board packaging manufacturers, announced the biggest investment in its history. Between now and 2025, around €700 million (US$787 million) will be invested, €300 million (US$337 million) of which will be invested in Germany. Despite the challenging economic conditions on the global markets, the packaging specialist is investing in creating and expanding corrugated board plants and paper factories and “environmentally sustainable future technologies.” The company also aims to create 500 new jobs by 2025, with more than half in German production facilities.

In brief: Circular plastics economy
Dow introduced a collation shrink film for bottled water incorporating 20% post-consumer recycled (PCR) resin. Lotte has adopted the solution for its “Icis 8.0 Eco” bottled water in South Korea. Lotte is the latest major brand in Asia Pacific to select Dow’s collation shrink film with PCR, which performs comparably to conventional options made with only virgin resins.

Schur Flexibles released the EcoString bread bag, a package made of recyclable monomaterial. Instead of the standard clip closure, the bread bag is closed by a drawstring – a proven concept long used in packaging for cotton wool pads. The supplier uses an edge trim of the bag for the drawstring, meaning the entire package consists of the same, fully recyclable mono PP or PE film.Dow’s 20% PCR collation shrink film for Lotte.

Spectra rolled out 30% minimum recycled content as standard across its entire personal care packaging portfolio. The move brings the supplier in line with the UK Plastics Packaging Tax, stipulating a £200 (US$266) per metric ton tax rate for plastic packaging with less than 30% recycled content from April 2022.

Carbios and its partners T.EN Zimmer and Deloitte were awarded €3.3 million (US$3.7 million) by the European LIFE funding program. Carbios’ first participation in a European funding program will support the industrial deployment of its enzymatic PET recycling process, C-ZYME. T.EN Zimmer will provide its expertise on monomer repolymerization in 100% recycled PET and Deloitte on the environmental performance analysis (mainly through the Life Cycle Analysis) of the process for plastic and textile waste.

In brief: Refillable packaging
Tesco introduced an in-store cleaning sprays refill program that could help save up to 60 million pieces of plastic a year. The six own-brand spray bottles can be reused by topping them up with dissolvable capsules mixed with tap water to make a new cleaning solution. “Refillable cleaning products should prove to be popular with our customers,” said Michael Williment, cleaning product buyer at the UK supermarket. “Not only are they better for the planet – they clean to the same high standard, are easy to use and cheaper than buying a new spray bottle each time.”

In brief: Bag-in-box wines
Lieb Cellars, based in Suffolk County, New York, the US, demonstrated premium wine could also be packaged in flexible bag-in-box, cans, and kegs. The brand offers six wine varieties of its Bridge Lane label in 3 L bag-in-box packaging, supplied by Rapak, part of TriMas Packaging. The flexible packaging solution is reportedly more environmentally sustainable and cost-effective than glass bottles and increases shelf life.Lieb Cellars’ wine in Rapak bag-in-box packaging.

In brief: Decarbonization
Sappi invested more than €10 million (US$11.2 million) in its Kirkniemi Mill in Finland as part of its decarbonization plans, switching its energy sourcing to renewable bioenergy. With this investment, the mill’s direct fossil greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by approximately 90%, equivalent to 230,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually. The project is set for completion in 2023.

In brief: Mondi “ThinkBoxes”
Mondi opened three customer engagement centers for its corrugated packaging customers in Germany, the Czech Republic and Turkey. The “ThinkBoxes” enable the co-creation of more environmentally sustainable packaging designs through training courses and individual workshops in physical, digital or hybrid formats. “We built the ThinkBox to provide space and professional guidance, addressing every aspect of modern packaging challenges,” said Armand Schoonbrood, Mondi Corrugated Solutions’ COO.

In brief: Ikea plastic phase out
Ikea announced it will phase out plastic from consumer packaging by 2028. “Phasing out plastic in consumer packaging is the next big step on our journey to make packaging solutions more sustainable and support the overall commitment to reduce plastic pollution and develop packaging from renewable and recycled materials,” said Erik Olsen, packaging and identification manager at Ikea. “The shift will happen progressively over the coming years, and mainly be focusing on paper as it is both recyclable, renewable, and widely recycled across the world.” The furniture retail giant spends over €1 billion (US$1.12 billion) on approximately 920,000 tons of packaging material annually.

By Joshua Poole