Weekly Roundup: Symrise HQ discontinues plastic cups, EU carton recycling rates surpass 50%

06 Nov 2020 --- In packaging news this week, Symrise stopped using plastic cups at its corporate headquarters in Holzminden, Germany. The flavor and fragrance giant is switching to cardboard cups for tasting flavoring ingredients. ACE, the Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment, reported a record 51 percent EU beverage carton recycling rate in 2019. Henkel chemicals company introduced its plastic-replacement paper technology platform to Europe for paper cups, containers and e-commerce packaging.

In brief: Environmental action
Symrise discontinued the use of plastic cups at its corporate headquarters in Holzminden, Germany. Holzminden employees use approximately 500,000 single-use plastic cups every year to evaluate the taste of flavoring ingredients. The total amount reaches 300,000 cups for the sensory quality control of flavors alone. After researching suitable replacement material, the flavors division switched to cardboard cups made of recycled material.

ACE reported that the recycling rate for beverage cartons in the EU rose to 51 percent in 2019, representing a continued year-on-year increase. “With an upcoming EU legislative agenda towards more sustainable packaging, the beverage carton is well positioned with a 51 percent recycling rate. This is an opportunity to inform policy-makers at all levels that beverage cartons are a safe, circular and sustainable packaging solution with a low carbon footprint, and how the beverage carton you use at your table can be easily collected and recycled,” commented Annick Carpentier, ACE’s Director General. ACE members include beverage carton producers Tetra Pak, SIG Combibloc, and Elopak.

In brief: Launches and partnerships
Henkel brought its EPIX plastic-replacement paper technology platform to Europe after a successful US launch. EPIX comprises a portfolio of materials and chemistries that enhance paper by expanding its functionality to give paper products added properties such as barrier protection, thermal insulation and impact resistance. EPIX technology enhances paper in cups, containers and e-commerce packaging. The technology also enables paper to provide thermal insulation, as in the case of takeaway beverage cups.Henkel introduced its plastic-replacement paper technology platform to Europe.

Sirane, a UK-based compostable packaging specialist, found a first customer for its recyclable, plastic-free and compostable salmon board in Sea Smoked. The launch makes Sea Smoked the first UK brand to market completely plastic-free salmon packaging. All parts of the packaging – the outer sleeve, bag and board – are recyclable, home-compostable and biodegradable. The bag, normally made of plastic, comprises natural products such as eucalyptus fiber and cassava starch. Sirane’s Earthboard Salmon Board is a water-resistant coated board and as effective as the traditional silver and gold salmon boards commonly used in the industry.

Symphony Environmental Technologies, a global specialist in technologies that “make plastic smarter” reported that Promociones Fantásticas, a Colombian drinking straws producer, launched the d2w biodegradable and d2p antimicrobial drinking straws. Symphony is the technology partner and its exclusive distributor Latin Pack is the masterbatch supplier. Promociones Fantásticas has been using d2w in their straws since April 2017.

Accolade Wines, a leading UK wine company, and Garçon Wines, the inventor of multi-award-winning, eco, flat wine bottles, announced a collaboration. Later this year, Accolade Wines is offering several of its New World wine brands in Garçon Wines’ 100 percent recycled and recyclable PET flat wine bottle. Hardys is one brand included in the collaboration on a multinational basis. The bottles are produced in the UK by plastic packaging manufacturers Berry M&H.Sirane and Sea Smoked combined on a recyclable, plastic-free and compostable salmon board pack.

In brief: Acquisitions and investments
AR Packaging, a leading European packaging supplier, elevated its position in healthcare packaging by acquiring Kroha. Kroha is a specialist in folding carton packaging for pharmaceuticals. This strategic move further strengthens the AR’s leading position and capabilities to service mid-sized and large customers in the pharmaceutical industry.

CCL Industries, a world leader in specialty label, security and packaging solutions, announced plans for a strategic new capacity investment at its Innovia Films extrusion site in Plock, Poland. A new six-meter multi-layer co-extrusion line will be installed to produce EcoFloat shrink sleeve material. This hybrid polyolefin film facilitates easy separation of labels from PET bottles and other types of plastic containers in the recycling process to enable bottle-to-bottle circularity. The capacity is available in early 2022, with most of the capital deployed in 2021.

Faerch, a leading European supplier of trays, acquired Sirap food packaging business in Italy, Poland and Spain from Italmobiliare. The acquisition builds out the company’s Pan-European presence and provides local customers with direct access to Faerch’s value-added packaging solutions. The Sirap acquisition accelerates Faerch’s circularity agenda and execution of its sustainability strategy across Europe.Ardagh and Tatra honored Poland’s “everyday superheroes” on limited-edition beer cans.

Pregis, a leading manufacturer of protective packaging, acquired Technical Machinery Solutions (TMS) in Illinois, US, from its privately-held owners. The acquisition also includes the Graphic Innovators business. Most recently, TMS gained attention for engineering equipment for producing a lightweight, curbside recyclable all-paper mailer. Branded the TMS Eco Mailer, these cushioned mailers provide enhanced protection and can be recycled in all-paper recovery systems.

In brief: Standout designs
Ardagh Group empowered beer brand Tatra to honor Poland’s “everyday superheroes” in a line-up of six limited-edition cans. Against a base color of heroic gold, each 500 ml can celebrates a master but, in a compelling twist, the professions are named symbolically rather than literally, inviting consumers to “see a part of themselves in each and all of the characters shown.” Tatra, named after the mountain range on the Poland-Slovakia border, is part of Grupa Żywiec, Poland’s member of the Heineken Group.

By Joshua Poole