Weekly Roundup: UK Research & Innovation launches £2.5 million plastic competition, Dow and Lion Corporation present recyclable refill bags

23 Sep 2022 --- This week in industry news, UK Research & Innovation launched a new £2.5 million (~US$2.7 million) Future Plastic Packaging Solutions round two competition for research and innovation projects seeking grant funding. Meanwhile, Dow partnered with Lion Corporation to launch recyclable refill bags for Shokubutsu Monogatari’s shower cream in Thailand and Mondi invested around €5 million (US$4.8 million) in a new R&D facility at Mondi Steinfeld, Germany. 

In brief: Research and innovation 
UK Research & Innovation’s Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging (SSPP) Challenge launched a new two round competition for research and innovation projects seeking grant funding from £30,000 (US$33,000) to £250,000 (US$276,000). From new recycling processes to reuse and refill solutions and novel polymers, the £60 million (US$66 million) SSPP Challenge is working to make plastic packaging fit for a sustainable future. It is the largest and most ambitious UK government investment to date in sustainable plastics research and innovation.

Shokubutsu Monogatari’s shower cream recyclable refill bags. In brief: Flexible packaging news
Dow partnered with Lion Corporation to launch recyclable refill bags for Shokubutsu Monogatari’s shower cream in Thailand, using Dow’s INNATE TF PE resins for Tenter Frame Biaxial Orientation. The initiative aims to advance a circular economy in Thailand by demonstrating the commitment to value chain collaboration to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by enabling the recyclability of refill bags and maintaining the functionality and quality of the packaging.

Südpack developed its first practical, PP-based doypack, which is material-efficient, aluminum-free and recyclable. The doypack will be shown at this year’s FachPack trade show in Nuremberg, Germany, on the Südpack stand 224 in Hall 7.

Following a value-chain collaboration to deliver the CEFLEX “Designing for a Circular Economy” guidelines for polyolefin-based structures, CEFLEX in partnership with Flexible Packaging Europe, the European Aluminium Foil Association and other key actors are working to bring similarly effective guidance to improve the circularity of flexible packaging containing aluminum foil.

In brief: MiscellaneousSüdpack’s first practical, PP-based doypack.
UFlex signed an MOU and onboarded Creduce as their consulting partners to achieve end-to-end carbon neutrality. The scope will encompass an analysis of carbon footprint and neutrality, creating and formalizing carbon and plastic credit balances on an internationally accepted and recognized platform as a part of sustainable development goal, carving out a sustainability roadmap and more.

The International Organisation of Aluminium Aerosol Container Manufacturers (AEROBAL) reported that global shipments by its members increased by 5.5% in the first half of 2022 to around 3 billion units. The market growth was mainly due to rapidly increasing demand from the pharmaceutical, hairspray and household sectors, which grew by 9%, 34% and 15%, respectively, compared to the previous year. Demand from the volume-dominant deodorant and perfume market was also satisfactory, growing by 1.2%. Overall, this end consumer market accounts for about 57% of total deliveries.

AEROBAL reported that global shipments by its members increased by 5.5%.Mondi invested around €5 million (US$4.8 million) in a new R&D facility at Mondi Steinfeld, in Germany. This investment will support customers by helping them to develop solutions that achieve their sustainability goals. Once built the facility will include pilot lines for both plastic- and paper-based solutions, from coating, film extrusion and printing to filling lines for multiple products. The center will also have an analytical laboratory and a floor with a customer experience center, which will provide an open environment to meet and collaborate with customers at an early stage in the development of new innovations. 

The UK government announced it is extending food label changes to 2024 and will hereby delay the implementation of new labeling rules for food and drinks. Some labeling terms and EU addresses will be permitted on the British market for an additional 15 months and new rules will come into force on 1 January. Furthermore, UK/EC identification on the British market has also been extended. Due to rising energy costs, the government delayed the remaining import controls on EU goods. It concluded that labeling changes, which were set to come into force next month, could result in additional costs that would be passed onto consumers.

By Natalie Schwertheim