Weekly Roundup: Stora Enso equips Vogue with carbon-neutral magazine packaging, EarthFirst completes PHA compostable film commercial run

21 May 2021 --- In packaging news this week, Stora Enso and Vogue Scandinavia formed a strategic partnership to replace plastics in magazine packaging with a renewable, carbon-neutral eco-package. Meanwhile, EarthFirst Films by PSI completed the first commercial run of its home compostable packaging film using Danimer Scientific’s Nodax PHA biopolymer. Berry Global invested in renewable energy through a long-term virtual power purchase agreement in Spain.

Stora Enso and Vogue Scandinavia formed a strategic partnership to replace plastics in magazine packaging. As a part of the partnership, Stora Enso will provide Vogue Scandinavia with sustainability and packaging design expertise. A renewable, carbon-neutral eco-package concept will be available for the first issue of Vogue Scandinavia, to be published in August this year. The Vogue Scandinavia magazine packaging aims to be fully carbon-neutral, with a renewable, low-carbon raw material and energy-efficient production. The remaining emissions are offset by using the CarbonZero service by Stora Enso, in collaboration with compensation partner South Pole.Ulma Packaging’s LeafMap solution.

Berry Global invested in renewable energy through a long-term virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA), aligned to provide the equivalent electricity requirements of its Spanish operations. Through its Impact 2025 sustainability strategy, Berry is committed to minimizing its absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 25 percent by 2025 versus a 2019 baseline. The VPPA investment will support construction of a solar park in Guadalajara, reducing the company’s carbon footprint in Spain by approximately 20,000 tons per year.

Hoffmann Neopac, a global provider of high-quality packaging for pharma, cosmetics and FMCG industries, completed an audit conducted by the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) at its tube manufacturing facility in Debrecen, Hungary. ISCC is a certification system denoting the sustainable, deforestation-free and traceable supply chain practices concerning various raw materials, including non-bio renewables and recycled carbon materials. For Neopac, a highlight of this distinction is its ability to showcase the separate handling of recycled polyethylene, a key component in plastic tube solutions. Aptar Food + Beverage’s PolkaLite Closure.

In brief: Eco-friendly plastic solutions
EarthFirst Films by PSI, a global bioplastic film technology and manufacturing company, completed the first commercial run of its PHA home compostable packaging film. Although the PHA materials have been certified, the film will go through biodegradation and home compostability screening before full certification. Made from Danimer Scientific’s Nodax PHA, the new film is designed for various applications across food, beverage, grocery retail, quick service restaurant, stadium foodservice, and other consumer packaged goods and industrial segments.

ePac Flexible Packaging launched a certified child-resistant resealable pouch line made with post-consumer recycled materials. The food-grade solution is fully certified to comply with the Federal Poison Prevention Act, Title CFR / 16 Part 1700, and ASTM D3475A. The pouch line results from a collaboration between ePac, the Fresh-Lock business unit at Presto Products Co., and Charter Next Generation.

Ulma Packaging released the LeafMap pack for sliced products that reduces plastic use by up to 80 percent. The solution replaces conventional packaging’s structural plastic with a paper fiber structure and is based on fully recyclable flat cardboard trays. The cardboard trays can be printed on both sides, giving the packaging options in visual communication.Pollard Boxes’ presentation pack for Creag Isle whisky.

Aptar Food + Beverage introduced the PolkaLite Closure paired with SimpliCycle Valve Technology for a 2-in-1 dispensing system providing convenience and recyclability. PolkaLite is a recyclable closure designed to use less raw materials, helping brands comply with packaging regulations. The SimpliCycle valve size (.500”) is suitable for chunks and thicker sauces, pastes and other ingredients. When used with acid-, oil- and fat-based products, the slitting of the valve remains consistent, making it ready-to-use in inverted dispensing systems while reducing the risk of leakage.

In brief: Luxury design
Pollard Boxes designed a luxury presentation pack for contemporary whisky Creag Isle, combining high-impact on-shelf presentation with an effective “opening experience.” The box’s solid frame construction features vacuum formings at the top and base to hold the bottle securely. The box is complemented by a slipcase, which slides open to reveal the bottle, creating greater interaction with the brand. At the same time, this design allows the pack to stay open on the retail shelf, with the box acting as a frame to display the bottle and create a strong visual impression.

In brief: Food packing technology
GEA launched the latest version of its Skin thermoforming packaging technology: PowerPak SKIN.50. The technology provides processors of sliced products, meat cut, sausages, fish, hard cheese and high-end products such as top-quality seafood, with high-capacity packing of products of up to 100 mm high that protrude up to 50 mm above the level of the packing tray. The PowerPak SKIN.50 can also perform vacuum and MAP packaging on the same machine.

By Joshua Poole