Wipak’s LinkedIn launches achieve CO2 reduction in food packaging

20 Jul 2020 --- With COVID-19 forcing the postponement of interpack 2020, food and medical packaging solutions specialist Wipak took to LinkedIn to launch 12 environmentally conscious products. Predominantly serving industries in Europe and the US, Wipak’s flexible packaging innovation is focused on five measures of success: reduced material, recyclability, redesigned material concepts, recycled material incorporation and renewable material incorporation. Inspired by the LinkedIn launches, Wipak is now maintaining its N.E.X.T. packaging innovation center workshops via digitally-enabled interactive sessions.

“We had many innovations prepared to be showcased during Interpack this year but due to the COVID-19 crisis, we had to think of new ways to reach our customers. It didn’t take us long to understand the potential for a virtual product launch,” Josefina Pönkkä, Communications and Marketing Coordinator at Wipak, tells PackagingInsights.

“Our digital product launches exceeded the success we expected, bringing the right information to our clients. Our current campaign is now featuring our N.E.X.T. packaging innovation center, proving that it is possible to have great interactive sessions with our customers digitally. We are looking forward to having live innovative sessions with the customers during the fall when it is safe to do so, but the online world offers valid and environmentally friendly ways to innovate too,” Pönkkä explains.Wipak’s R&D is focused on five areas: reduced material, recyclability, redesigned material concepts, recycled material incorporation and renewable material incorporation.

Wipak’s LinkedIn launches include:

REPAK TOP 65 XX PET: A sliced cheese and meat application and the supplier’s thinnest reclosable lidding film (20 percent thinner than comparable products and produces approximately 15 percent less carbon footprint). The bottom film can be replaced with a recyclable material film, which results in a 60 percent lower carbon footprint than more conventional solutions.

REPAK TOP ECO 65 PET + MULTICLEAR 250: Available from 65 microns to 80 microns, when in combination with Wikpak’s MULTICLEAR bottom web, the REPAK TOP ECO represents “the first mono-polyester solution for sliced food products that is reclosable.” The solution is 95 percent PET while the mono-polyester bottom web can be made from up to 50 percent recycled polyester. The recycled material achieves a 60 percent carbon footprint reduction.

BIAXEN ECO 65 XX PEEL + NICE ECO XX 17: Designed for sausages or sliced processed meat, the BIAXEN ECO range is roto and flexo printable. The NICE ECO PE range has high barrier properties. The combined solutions are 90-95 percent PE-based, while carbon footprint is reduced by up to 35 percent compared to regular packaging. The solution can be mechanically recycled within the PE recycling streams.Wipak's solutions offer the incorporation of renewable materails.

The full list of product launches:

• BIAXER 35 XX PP S-PEEL AFM
• NICE ECO PE XX (incl. BIAXEN lidding)
• NFO ECO Concept
• REPAK TOP ECO PET Solutions
• Mono-Pouches
• PAPER TOP PD QR 90 XX
• BIAXOP ECO XX 60 PP PEEL AF
• PAPER TOP & PAPER BTM
• BIAXER Q 35 XX AFM (Thin Lid + MP-R BTM)
• BIAXER ECO Solutions
• REPAK TOP BP and REPAK TOP (thin)
• Mono PP and PE Solutions

“Next to ultra-thin liddings, we presented our new mono-material solutions: PP-based BIAXOP ECO and PE-based BIAXEN ECO, the perfect fit for lidding, flow pack and pouch applications. They both contain up to 95 percent PP or PE, making them recyclable in many EU countries already,” Pönkkä continues.Wipak's mono-polyester bottom webs can be made from up to 50 percent recycled polyester.

Pönkkä also singles out Wipak’s thermoformable PE-based NICE ECO and NFO ECO solutions, which can be processed on standard machinery. The solutions are PA- and adhesive-free and mechanically recyclable.

“In the development of innovative film solutions, our focus is on renewable resources that do not compete with food applications. Our PAPER TOP & PAPER BTM packaging solution, with a high share of renewable content, can be recycled and in several countries accepted for disposal in the paper bin, including France, Italy, Sweden and the UK,” she adds.

Wipak is part of the family owned Wihuri Group, a diverse Finnish conglomerate. The supplier develops and manufactures highly innovative premium-quality flexible packaging solutions for Food products and Medical Instruments and Devices.

By Joshua Poole