Sidel has opened a new hub dedicated to PET recycling. At its unique small-scale PET recycling pilot line in Octeville, France, Sidel will develop its understanding of PET recycling with the aim of giving comprehensive support to the market as it switches to greater use of recycled PET.
Seeking carbon neutrality, the packaging industry is in the middle of a transition period that aims to replace virgin PET with recycled PET. Sidel is engaging with this transition to circular packaging solutions, enabling r-PET to be more widely used. The unique small-scale PET recycling line will allow Sidel to develop advanced knowledge about the recycling of food-contact PET bottles. As Sidel packaging experts assess the impact of additives and primary packaging materials on r-PET resin the facility will become an important reference for raw material producers, recyclers and recycling regulatory organisations. The line will also enable Sidel to further develop its own knowledge, ideas and innovative packaging solutions.
Helping to meet demand for r-PET
Demand for r-PET is increasing and the market is developing as brand owners seek carbon neutral solutions. The amount of recycled PET in packaging globally has increased to 8 % compared to 5 % in 2018. In Europe, the average is already 15 % and is projected to grow to 35 % in 2030.1
“There is a big move towards recycled PET, but demand is outstripping supply,” says Naima Boutroy, Sidel’s Global Packaging Expert. “The market still has a lot to learn and we can provide valuable insights. There is a variability in recycled PET resin grades, and standardisation is still in development. We need to address this to create the best possible finished bottles. Our line will test the recyclability of post-consumer PET bottles from different feed stocks, including additives and caps as well as labels, inks and glue. We will be working with traditional Sidel customers such as brand owners, converters and co-packers, as well as other suppliers like raw material producers, recyclers and regulatory organisations, to enable the scaling-up of r-PET capacity. We can also check any innovations comply with bottle-to-bottle recycling.”
Fully-equipped line to study entire process
Sidel’s new line will take raw material from industrial partners such as sorting facilities, recyclers and brand owners. It will then recreate and study all aspects of the process from bales to flakes including pellets ready to be injected into preform, injection and blow moulding.
Sidel will give the packaging industry the opportunity to access a fully equipped pilot line. This line covers every step of the recycling process: from washing, drying and pellet extrusion, to solid-state polymerisation, including dedicated process and laboratory controls at every step.
Making PET a more sustainable choice
PET is proven to be recyclable and is the only food-safe bottle-to-bottle recycled material, but the market has yet to see the production of standardised r-PET resin grade in high quantities; achieving this could facilitate the market conversion from virgin PET to r-PET. Lifecycle analysis shows that PET already has the best carbon footprint among materials currently available; creating a robust recycling loop to achieve full circularity at scale will make PET an even more sustainable choice.
Sidel to become one-stop shop for r-PET
Sidel’s investment in the r-PET pilot line is unparalleled in the packaging industry and will also empower Sidel in shaping the packaging solutions of tomorrow. The line, which has a holistic bottle-to-bottle approach, is just one of a range of services that Sidel is establishing under the name RePETable™ services. The services will draw upon Sidel’s 40+ years of blowing and packaging expertise, to support brand owners and convertors in producing r-PET bottles through line upgrade solutions, packaging optimisation, blowing process qualification, troubleshooting, r-PET processing training.
Lithuanian design agency FOLK gave a holiday makeover to a beloved Christmas drink—kissel. The agency ditched the traditional powder mix and created a brand new product “Slippery Business” in tin packaging, specifically designed for a revamped drink formula.
FOLK, one of the most recognized design agencies in the Baltic region, reintroduced the nation’s Christmas favorite, a cranberry kissel, in unique packaging. Generally sold as a powder mix, the newly-formulated product, called “Slippery Business,” is packaged in a tin casing to shake and liven up the traditional festive table.
A Lithuanian beloved kissel is a non-alcoholic drink where cranberries, the star of the flavor palette, shine through a slightly gooey and slippery texture. It is served almost exclusively on Christmas and is usually the one drink no Lithuanian family forgoes.
However, the design agency felt the conventional drink packaging lacked some festive charm and should be given the justice it deserves in a specially-made tin casing. The product name, design, and font were inspired by the drink’s unique texture, while the colors represent the acidity of cranberries. The new drink formula also has less sugar, is vegan and gluten-free to suit everyone’s dietary requirements.
The freshly repackaged kissel was a Christmas gift to FOLK’s clients, friends, and partners. According to Ignas Kozlovas, creative director at FOLK, business gifts present a great opportunity to showcase the ingenuity and challenge oneself in non-conventional tasks. Therefore each year FOLK, which has a passion for Lithuanian folklore, aims to surprise their clients with knock-your-socks-off gifts.
“Traditions have a tendency to change over time, even during the biggest holidays of the year. Several past years have shown us that you can join everyone for a festive dinner through a smart device, or order international dishes instead of traditional ones,” said Kozlovas. “Not many things stay the same in these changing times, but kissel remains a national treasure every single Christmas. However, the drink is too good to be enjoyed only once a year, and we believe the new tin packaging might give it a chance to make an after-holiday come-back.”
“Slippery Business” also allowed the agency to experience the manufacturing process hands-on. The agency was involved in formulating the modern yet well-known flavor and adapting tin casing to the drink’s unique texture—the tin, filled with non-fizzy drink, is softer than usual, therefore allowing to feel the kissel’s texture without even tasting it.
“We created the product having in mind that Christmas itself is a slippery business with unexpected topics at festive dinners or unusual office parties. The entire process—from design to manufacturing—allowed us to also understand the challenges that our clients face every day and be better prepared to tackle the new unique tasks next year,” added Kozlovas.
About FOLK FOLK is a Lithuanian brand creation and design agency with the main focus on consumer needs. The agency provides brand strategy, packaging, and logo design services, and collaborates with their clients to best serve the consumers and produce unique, Lithuanian folklore-inspired designs.
This October, Fruit Shoot singles across its core range are making the move to 100 % rPET (recycled plastic) and clear bottles*.
The update is another step on Britvic’s journey to reaching its ambition that all bottles produced and sold in Great Britain will be made from 100 % rPET by the end of 2022. The product will also undergo a recipe refresh and packaging redesign for the first time in three years. Alongside its new clear bottle, Fruit Shoot will now be preservative free following a reformulation.
Fruit Shoot Apple and Blackcurrant (Photo: Britvic)
As the number one kids soft drinks brand[1], Fruit Shoot is supporting operators to meet the ever-changing needs and considerations of consumers. Sustainability is not only a growing concern, but is also now a factor in their decision-making. A study revealed that 95 % of parents hold brands responsible for addressing their sustainability concerns[2], with a further 71 % claiming they’ve become more concerned about sustainability since becoming a parent[3]. However, it isn’t just parents that are increasingly conscious of their impact on the environment, but also their children – as 95 % of kids say the environment needs protecting[4].
Adam Russell, director of foodservice & licensed at Britvic, comments: “One in four kids juice and juice drink occasions took place outside the home in 2019[5], and as restrictions have eased and families are back on the move, this is only set to increase further with kids drinking while out and about. As the number one kids soft drinks brand[6], Fruit Shoot already has strong brand awareness, but this latest update to the use of 100 % rPET bottles will also demonstrate its packaging sustainability credentials to parents. This is particularly important, as research we recently commissioned revealed that the majority of Brits (80 %) think it is important that manufactures and brands use recycled plastic[7].”
As part of wider consumer research, Britvic found the transition to a clear bottle had several impacts on parents’ perceptions – eight out of 10 parents said they would trust Fruit Shoot more and almost three quarters said it showed Fruit Shoot was more natural than they thought[8]. Made with real fruit, no added sugar, artificial colours, flavourings or preservatives, Fruit Shoot offers parents peace of mind when it comes to the health of their children.
The packaging update will include hand drawn elements added to each bottle, to bring it to life and add an element of fun. As a result, they will be eye-catching in outlets, driving appeal and purchase – particularly for those who are conscious about the contents of the products they purchase.
To drive awareness of the switch to 100 % rPET bottles, Fruit Shoot will be visible across outdoor and digital platforms early next year, demonstrating the new clear bottles with the messaging, ‘New CLEAR bottle, just as fruity!’.
*Across Fruit Shoot single and multipack bottles, excluding caps and labels. [1] NielsenIQ, Total Coverage, Value and Volume MAT to 24.07.21 & CGA Foodservice and Licensed Value and Volume MAT to 30.06.21 – Total Fruit Shoot, Kids Soft Drinks Category (Britvic defined) [2] Kantar Mumsnet Sustainability Study, May 2020 [3] Kantar Mumsnet Sustainability Study, May 2020 [4] https://www.moms.com/gen-alpha-cares-more-study/ Hotwire 1000 kids aged 5-7. 95% children say the environment needs to be protected. [5] Britvic’s Kidscope Research, 2019 [6] NielsenIQ, Total Coverage, Value and Volume MAT to 24.07.21 & CGA Foodservice and Licensed Value and Volume MAT to 30.06.21 – Total Fruit Shoot, Kids Soft Drinks Category (Britvic defined) [7] OnePoll research, 2,000 UK adults, Recycling Lifetime Survey, commissioned by Britvic, August 2021 [8] MMR, Clear Bottle quantitative study, May-June 2020.
Tate & Lyle PLC, a leading global provider of food and beverage solutions and ingredients, is pleased to announce the launch of SWEETENER-VANTAGE™ Expert Systems, a set of new and innovative sweetener solution design tools, together with an education programme, which are designed to help formulators create sugar-reduced food and drink using low calorie sweeteners. Developed in response to customer demand for more predictive tools to support product performance and reduce development time, SWEETENER-VANTAGE™ Expert Systems will enable formulators to more efficiently solve their formulation challenges.
The SWEETENER-VANTAGE™ suite of tools includes sweetener maps and selection tools, and WikiSweet™, Tate & Lyle’s proprietary encyclopedia of formulation challenges and solutions, which Tate & Lyle scientists use with formulators to help them to differentiate between and select suitable sweeteners. A new three-module webinar series, Sweetener University™, developed by scientists for scientists, provides a forum for formulators to hear about and discuss the latest science and trends relating to sweeteners.
SWEETENER-VANTAGE™ builds on Tate & Lyle’s successful TEXTURE-VANTAGE® education programme, with a webinar series that has attracted thousands of registered participants since its 2018 launch.
Registration is free and accessible via this link.
AROL Group – a world leader for design and production of closure systems – announced the important technological agreement executed on September 30, 2019 with Antares Vision S.p.A. – world leader in the production of technologies for tracking, visual inspection and intelligent data management in packing lines – which, at the same time, has purchased FT System S.r.l. from AROL.
The agreement confirms the ambitious industrial project by AROL which, as a consequence, will be able to accelerate investments and acquisitions focused in the strategic sector of capping and sealing, and will increase integration for inspection and control systems in its machines, thanks to the strong synergy with Antares Vision. FT System S.r.l., specialized in non-destructive inspection and control systems, both in line and in laboratory, will continue its strong technical collaboration thanks to which, throughout the 10 formidable years spent in the AROL Group, new extremely integrated systems have been implemented and placed before or after AROL’s capping machine and great innovations have been introduced in the line completely automatic controls, such as Robo-QCS.
Research and implementation of the ambitious project presented 2 years ago by AROL and FT System with the name of Cyber Physical System (CPS) – which unites packaging lines and digital systems and, therefore, integrates physical and cyber worlds – will be powered and enriched by Antares Vision’s extraordinary competence in Track&Trace and Data Analysis.
The aim that AROL, FT System and Antares Vision intend to pursue with this technological co-development agreement is to make CPS extremely efficient and accessible to every packing line so that CPS might collect, elaborate, interpret real time data and constantly send feedback, also automatically, to packing plants and, as a consequence, maximize the efficiency of lines and single machines, constantly linked to the quality of packed and adequately tracked product.
The new partnership will allow Antares Vision to take advantage of the experience earned with more than 27 thousands AROL Group machines delivered worldwide, in the sectors of beverage, wine and spirit, food, cosmetics, household care, chemical, and also it will allow AROL to rely on Antares Vision’s highly advanced know-how, which makes Antares Vision the undisputed world leader in the pharmaceutical sector, by increasing FT System’s potential and thus guaranteeing a sure technological advantage to its clients in the final customer’s interest.
Creating flexible packaging from virgin grade material derived from plastic waste is now taking a step towards reality in a pilot project called ChemCyclingTM
Leading global packaging and paper group Mondi, in cooperation with chemical producer BASF and COROOS, one of the biggest European companies in the preservation of fruits, vegetables and pulses for premium A-brands and private label products, have cooperated on a state-of-the-art pilot project. Together they produced a stand-up pouch that is safe for food contact partly made with raw material which was derived from chemically recycled plastic. Until now, recycling plastic has chiefly been mechanical, limiting the scope of plastics that can be recycled and limiting the number of products that can be created with recycled material, in particular for the strict legal European regulations in place for food packaging.
Mondi believes that packaging should be sustainable by design, using paper where possible, and plastic when useful. For food protection and extending shelf life, plastic is often the best choice because of its barrier properties. These requirements make it difficult to use mechanically recycled plastic due to potential impurities and plastic flaws that can occur in the layers, limiting the applicability for food contact. “BASF is working on advancing the chemical recycling of plastic waste, because this will make it possible to process and reuse plastics that are currently difficult to recycle such as mixed plastics. This prototype packaging which is based on pyrolysis oil derived from waste plastic shows that the life cycle of consumer plastics, including multilayer packaging, could become a closed loop,” explained Christoph Gahn, who is responsible for the polyamide business at BASF.
As a leader in the flexible packaging market, Mondi partnered with BASF to produce this virgin grade material into a multi-layer laminate for food packaging for COROOS private label products and their own A-brand Servero. In the manufacturing, 100 % of the fossil feedstock was replaced by pyrolysis oil derived from mixed recycled material for one of the inner layers (oriented polyamide, OPA-12 mm). In total 12 % of the packaging weight is made of ChemCycled material. The recycled material was allocated via a certified mass balance approach. Graeme Smith – Sustainability Manager for Mondi Consumer Packaging – explained more about the pilot project: “It is important to show proof of concept when establishing breakthrough developments, and for chemical recycling it is an essential part of the roadmap to commercialising this process in the future.”
Sustainable solutions are not just a priority for Mondi, but across the entire value chain: “COROOS is partnering in this project because we care about sustainability and are looking into different options to improve our footprint, e.g. by using packaging from recycled materials, packaging materials being recyclable and/or by being re-usable” shared Elke Schroevers, the Marketing Manager of COROOS. With this development, the way is paved for plastic waste to become a new resource for flexible packaging while replacing fossil fuels.
An Austrian winery with 160 years of tradition has launched a spritzer in a can. ‘Kiss Me’ white wine spritzer, from Weingut Johann Müllner, comes in an on-trend slimline can with a stunning contemporary design. However, in the perfect marriage of modern and traditional, the Sauvignon at the heart of the drink comes from a Krems estate which has produced fine wines since the 19th century.
Spritzer is second only to beer on the chart of Austria’s favourite beverages, but until now it has not been available in such a portable, convenient and sustainable format. Weingut Johann Müllner has chosen Ardagh Group’s 250ml aluminium wine can to extend its packaging formats beyond the bottle and thereby bring the spritzer to new markets. In a can, Kiss Me will particularly appeal to discerning consumers who appreciate the importance of tradition and quality in their wine, but are looking for a light, convenient single-serve beverage they can drink on the go.
The can’s head-turning design is based on a multicoloured illustration by pop artist Oxana Prantl, sophisticated modern branding which reflects the premium product. Two of Ardagh’s range of finishes, Matte Impact and Premium Print 1.0, raise the aesthetic to the next level. The matte finish offers both visual and haptic enhancement, making Kiss Me stand out against the standard glossy can on the shelf, while Premium Print 1.0 brings crisp detailing and colour contrast to the artwork. The overall look is sharp, modern and unique, perfect for Kiss Me’s status as the only canned spritzer in Europe.
The Grüner Veltliner at the heart of Kiss Me is a delicate Sauvignon, the product of the cool microclimate of the Kremser Berglagen. Dry, fruity and light with the classic, delicate Veltliner spiciness, it has notes of green apple and citrus with a background of minerality that is pleasantly fresh. Carbonated water is added to this premium wine to bring an exciting sparkle and reduce the alcohol content to a light and refreshing 5.5% ABV. In a spritzer, the carbon dioxide carries the taste, which makes it essential that the packaging is completely airtight. The aluminium can guarantees this and is also lightproof, further preserving the exceptional taste and providing a minimum shelf life of one year.
Johann Müllner represents the fourth generation of Müllners to run the company. He says, ‘Since our estate is steeped in tradition, we are extremely proud to offer the famous Austrian national drink in a can. Recognition of our premium spritzer is essential, so we’re really happy that the superior design and finish of the wine can upholds our brand, as well as helping us achieve sustainability by being fully recyclable.’
Ardagh’s wine can range comprises single-serve sizes of 200ml, 250ml, and a new 187ml format which represents a quarter of the standard 75cl bottle. Beverage cans are light to transport and easy to fill, stack and store, as well as being infinitely recyclable.
Kiss Me is currently available in Krems, in Vienna, and in a rapidly expanding range of outlets throughout Austria, including petrol stations, souvenir shops and transport hubs, as well as from trade beverage suppliers. Tie-ins with major Austrian sporting events and ski resorts are planned, and export to international markets will follow.
Most decisions to buy are made directly at the point of sale: the significance of product presentation is growing, with an attractive visual appearance becoming ever more important. KHS is therefore now also offering its successful Innoket Neo labeling series for cans to manufacturers of small batches and producers with a high brand variety. The machine opens up new avenues in product marketing and flexibility in production. Warehouse capacities are reduced and energy is saved.
Images of production shops filled with pallets of differently printed empty cans will soon be a thing of the past. Says Cornelius Adolf, labeling product manager for KHS, “We’ve expanded our existing portfolio to include can labeling to give the customer more design options and enable these designs to be implemented faster with smaller warehouse capacities.” This is because minimum order quantities and long delivery times for empty cans limit flexibility. It is now possible to order unprinted cans within a much shorter period and to label them using the KHS Innoket Neo, thus simplifying logistics processes.
Wrap-around labels with optical alignment
The Innoket Neo can be used to apply self-adhesive film or paper labels. Here, the container can be either partly or fully wrapped with a label – including optical alignment. “The look and feel are unique”, is how Adolf explains the results of the self-adhesive labeling method. With this technology beverage producers can also respond much more rapidly and flexibly to the steadily growing variety of products and labels on the market. With this system the design or logo can be changed within a few hours and the cans dressed with suitable motifs. “Customers can even print their own labels. This considerably shortens the time to market. An attractive product is a clear distinguishing criterion at the point of sale,” says Adolf. As no cans with varying motifs have to be ordered, costs are also cut as higher numbers of unprinted containers can be purchased.
The space-saving machine with its 14 can plates driven by servomotors comes from the established Innoket Neo module system and gives manufacturers of small batches and producers with a great variety of brands many benefits. At high machine availability up to 35,000 full or empty cans in all standard sizes can be labeled per hour. The machine can be positioned upstream or downstream of the filler. Format changeovers are quick and do not require any additional tools. The labeler also has a high level of energy efficiency, with a power consumption of just five kilowatts per hour.
More mature green coconuts have already formed fruit flesh and the remaining fruit juice has a slightly sweeter taste profile than it is the case with young coconuts. At this harvest stage, the coconut has higher usability (fibre, pulp, juice) and its juice can therefore be offered at lower prices. The coconut water pure organic is available in the 1 litre version (RRP € 3.89) and the practical 0.33 litre version (RRP € 1.69) in organic shops and from May 2019 in Dr Antonio Martins own online store. A real must for price-conscious sports savvy & lifestyle organic buyers with an eye for fair trade and modern design.
A digital platform aimed to inspire healthy breakfast habits became the winning concept when the students at Bergh’s School of Communication competed on how Arla Foods should reach out and engage young consumers through digital interactivity based on packaging as a platform. Among many strong contributions, Breakfast Stories stood out as an idea and design with potential to bring about true behavioral change. PackChallenge is arranged annually by Billerud Korsnäs and Bergh’s School of Communication in Stockholm, Sweden.
Through September and October, the students in the Communication Design Program at Bergh’s School of Communication in Stockholm have competed on ways for one of the world’s largest dairy producers, Arla Foods, to produce the best packaging solution to reach out and engage young consumers.
A total of ten groups presented their solutions and the winning concept, “Breakfast Stories”, considered the problem that 20-30 percent of teenager’s skip breakfast almost every day. The idea behind the concept is to use Arlas’s different product packages and through a QR code give teens and parents access to a digital platform where they can share stories and facts about healthy breakfast habits. The team behind the winning concept consists of Daniela Röstlund and Sukena Tran.
The jury, consisting of among others Jon Haag Director Consumer Insights at BillerudKorsnäs and Maria Tornell Director Innovation at Arla Foods, assessed the contributions according to idea height/originality, relevance, feasibility and finish. The motivation behind the winning contribution reads: A societal problem that is too little talked about. The insights have guided the concept development through digital, campaigns, product range, design originality and target group focus. Therefore, this is the strongest concept according to this year’s brief. It is useful for many product groups within Arla, it is based on a community that is truly digital and it connects to packaging and the situation of use just as Arla wanted. What we see in this concept is the beginning of a long-term work where community problems can be solved with product, packaging and brand.
“Packaging can contribute so much more to a sustainable development than just being made of a more or less sustainable material. Packaging could interact with consumers and have a more direct impact on consumer behavior. The students at Berghs have worked hard and presented concepts with a high creative level and consumer insight. We are impressed,” comments Jon Haag.
“The winning team has shown a great understanding of the Arla brand, our market position and at the same time pinpointed a important societal issue. However, there was tough competition with lots of amazing contributions. PackChallenge has given us lots of valuable input to our own product development and I’m sure we will continue with several of the ideas,” says Maria Tornell.
“At Bergh’s, we often work in conjunction with business and brand owners, which is a natural part of our education. Action Based Learning gives the students real challenges and becomes the best way to train their professional role. The long standing cooperation with BillerudKorsnäs is one of our most successful projects during the academic year,” says Pål Pettersson, Program Director Communication Design at Bergh’s School of Communication.
