Weekly Roundup: Unilever reports recycled plastic progress, Berry Global launches HDPE flip-top tube closure for easy recycling

30 Oct 2020 --- In packaging news this week, Unilever increased its post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic use to over 10 percent of its total plastic footprint and expects this figure to double within a year. Berry Global launched a 2-inch flip-top tube closure made from high-density polyethylene that can be combined with a squeezable polyethylene (PE) tube to create a single-substrate package for easy recycling. Aptar Food + Beverage partnered with MIWA Technologies to advance standardized, reusable supermarket packaging solutions.

In brief: Sustainability progress
Unilever reported progress in halving its use of virgin plastic and accelerating its use of recycled plastic. The FMCH giant increased its PCR plastic to approximately 75,000 tons, over 10 percent of Unilever’s plastic footprint. Unilever expects its use of PCR to double in the next 12 months. Unilever has launched innovations to reduce its absolute use of plastic, such as recyclable paper-based ice cream tubs, saving an estimated 4,500 tons of plastic. The company also continues to “test, learn and refine” new business models linked to reusable and refillable packaging and developed country-specific roadmaps to achieve its goal to help collect and process more plastic packaging than it sells.

Hi-Cone Worldwide joined the US Plastics Pact, a collaborative, solutions-driven initiative rooted in four ambitious goals to drive significant systems change by unifying diverse cross-sector approaches, setting a national strategy, and creating scalable solutions to create a path forward toward a circular economy for plastics by 2025. The first North American Pact of its kind, the US Pact is a collaboration led by The Recycling Partnership, World Wildlife Fund, and Ellen MacArthur Foundation.Berry Global’s Divinity HDPE 2-inch flip-top tube closure.

In brief: New products
Berry Global introduced its Divinity HDPE 2-inch flip-top tube closure made from high-density polyethylene. The tube closures create an eco-friendly single-substrate package when paired with one of the supplier’s squeezable PE tubes. Tubes are an emerging packaging type in the recycling stream. Berry performed the Association of Plastics Recyclers (APR) Critical Guidance testing to validate the tubes’ recyclability with HDPE bottles. While this does not guarantee the acceptance of tubes in individual recycling programs, this is an important step for fostering tube recycling. Berry highlights its the only tube manufacturer that offers an HDPE flip-top cap for tubes.

UPM Specialty Papers launched UPM Solide, a family of kraft papers featuring a versatile combination of strength and converting properties. All grades in the portfolio offer excellent printability to maximize the shelf impact of packaging. All papers in the UPM Solide family are produced using 100 percent renewable and strong fibers from sustainably managed forests and recyclable in regular paper recycling streams.UPM Specialty Papers’ UPM Solide kraft papers family.

ULMA Packaging teamed with Handtmann to offer a minced meat processing and packaging line, reducing plastic material by up to 60 percent. ULMA provides the packaging and metal detection solution and Handtmann supplier the production, portioning and meat weighing solution. The packaging can be manufactured with 100 percent recyclable single-material plastics. The solution also reduces CO2 emissions due to the minimal space required for transport, notably 80 percent savings in raw material shipment and up to 30 percent in the shipment of the packages to supermarkets.

Ampacet launched Matif CSR 330, a BOPP specialty matte compound for cold seal packaging used to wrap heat-sensitive products. The compound is silico-free and offers a premium matter effect with enhanced film uniformity and release properties with no glue transfer to the film’s matte side. Matif CSR 330 is designed for chocolate, snack bars and ice cream.Aptar Food + Beverage partnered with MIWA Technologies on reusable packaging.

In brief: Reusability developments
Aptar Food + Beverage partnered with MIWA Technologies, a Czech Republic-based company that has developed a standardized, reusable solution for distributing goods. MIWA’s in-store reusable and refillable bulk dispensers offer consumers a shopping experience free of single-use packaging while supporting a circular flow of products that address packaging sustainability challenges. The circular product flow begins when MIWA provides smart-powered, reusable capsules to brands. Brands fill the capsules with their products and deliver them to retail stores, where the capsules are inserted into modular shelves with electronic dispensers. Consumers can then use their reusable containers, or system-connected cups, to receive the product. When the capsule is empty, it is collected by MIWA, cleaned, and returned to brands to start the process over.

Tesco, Kellogg and the Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE UK) embarked on a five-month trial to collect cartons at in-store recycling points. Carton recycling points will be introduced into 11 UK Tesco stores to test “how prepared customers are to return the packaging to stores for recycling.” Cartons are commonly used to pack fruit juice, lunch box-sized drinks, soups, passata and custard yet only 68 percent of councils collect the packaging at kerbside, Tesco notes. The trial comes as a part of Tesco’s 4R plan for packaging, Remove, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and builds on ACE UK’s national carton bring bank network.SIG secured new customers in Shefa and Líder Alimentos Brazilian dairy companies.

In brief: Customers and investments
SIG was chosen by Shefa and Líder Alimentos, two major Brazilian dairy companies, as their preferred partner to supply advanced aseptic filling technology and packaging solutions. A total of nine aseptic filling machines have been installed and are fully operational at production sites in São Paulo and Paraná. The advanced filling technology from SIG is enabling Shefa and Líder Alimentos to offer a wide variety of beverages in aseptic carton packs with different formats and volume sizes. From plain milk and flavored dairy products to plant-based beverages and nectars, the entire ranges can now be filled in aseptic SIG carton packs to help meet increasingly differentiated consumer demand.

Jokey invested €12 million (US$14 million) in constructing a new plant in Murcia, Spain. Construction work on the 30,000 SQM site began in February and is proceeding according to plan despite the restrictions imposed by COVID-19, Jokey confirms. The move to the state-of-the-art new plant is scheduled for early 2021. The current Jokey Treplás plant, which has been part of the Jokey Group since 2017, is “bursting at the seams.” The Spanish family-owned company offers a wide range of special packaging, household products and closure solutions, expanding the Jokey product portfolio. The new production site will replace the old plant.

By Joshua Poole