REBBL®, the original organic and plant-powered functional beverage brand, unveiled its occasion-based packaging design. Available on shelves in the US, the new design is featured across the brand’s award-winning beverage portfolio, spanning six daily occasions with over sixteen varieties, all developed with the mantra of ‘Empower the People.’
Centered on empowerment, the redesign is a culmination of REBBL’s mission to create not only delicious and nourishing beverages but also to uplift the daily experiences of its valued consumers through a focus on intentional, purpose-driven moments. By connecting each drink with an occasion, the new packaging offers clear functional advantages and key ingredients, enabling customers to intuitively discern the best beverage that aligns with their preferences and desired experience at any time of day.
“We’ve formulated a REBBL drink for every occasion, so no matter what you’re up to — you’ll have delicious functional fuel to complement the journey,” said Andy Fathollahi, CEO of REBBL. “We remain steadfast in prioritising our customers, and we’ve made it easier than ever to select the perfect beverage to enhance their daily experiences through real-food alchemy and transparent, intuitive labels.”
From delicious functional protein beverages that offer clean nourishment as well as immune and gut support, there is a REBBL drink to enhance any occasion:
PROTEIN: Packed with 16 g of plant-powered protein for a functional boost to fuel any time of day. Protein Dark Chocolate, Protein Vanilla, Protein Salted Caramel, Protein Strawberries and Creme, Protein Oatmeal Cookie, Protein Coconut Macaroon, Protein Hazelnut, Protein Peppermint Dark Chocolate, Protein Pumpkin Spiced Pie
AWAKE: Blended with maca and caffeine to support energy and sustain stamina. Recommended for the morning and afternoons. Awake Maca Cold Brew
BALANCE: Formulated with turmeric and maca to support overall wellness. Recommended to complement routines centered around recovery and cultivation at any time of day. Balance Maca Mocha, Balance Turmeric Golden Milk
FOCUS: Crafted with matcha and L-theanine to deliver an added boost of mental acuity for moments of clarity. Focus Matcha Latte
REVIVE: Created with adaptogenic Reishi mushroom to support immunity and the body’s ability to cope with stress. Recommended to complement routines centered around rejuvenation and revitalisation. Revive Reishi Chocolate
WELLNESS: Functional juices with Aquamin™ calcified sea algae to support bone, gut, and joint health while offering refreshing hydration at any time of day.* Wellness Tropical Greens, Wellness Berry Roots
REBBL’s redesigned packaging can be found on the brand’s 100 % rPET bottles in 12 oz. ready-to-drink varieties in natural food and grocery stores in the US.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Elopak reported strong financial performance for the second quarter of 2023
Highlights:
Revenues increased by 8 %, to EUR 278.0 million, driven by growth in EMEA and Americas
Organic growth was 6 %, or EUR 14.6 million, adjusted for currency translation effects and revenue from acquired businesses
Adjusted EBITDA was EUR 41.6 million, an improvement of EUR 15.1 million
Strong cash flow generation, leverage ratio reduced to 2.6x
Elopak will build a new plant in the USA to further leverage the high customer demand in the region
Commenting on Elopak’s performance, CEO Thomas Körmendi said:
“Building on our solid performance in past consecutive quarters, Q2 saw Elopak delivering strong profitable growth. Despite inflationary pressures, we remain on-track to achieving our strategic objectives. Our strong performance is allowing us to explore new market opportunities, including building a new state-of-the art factory in the US, and expanding our India operations.“
“Looking forward, we expect to deliver full year revenue growth well above our mid-term target. While we see softening of some raw material prices, the liquid paper market remains tight and higher board prices will have full effect in the second half of 2023. Additionally, the significant inflationary pressures on the broader cost base will impact our full year EBITDA margin. However, based on expected revenue growth, our second half EBITDA will be higher than last year. I am pleased to report this strong performance and remain eager and optimistic for continued sustainable packaging demand.”
More Delivered, Less Trucks Needed! Smart Cups’ efficient technology means fewer transportation vehicles needed with greater volume of products delivered. (Photo: Smart Cups)
Smart Cups, a pioneering sustainability-driven technology company behind innovative ingredient printing announced the publication of a new research study in the esteemed journal Resource, Conservation & Recycling. The study, titled “Reducing life cycle material, energy and emissions for liquid consumer products through printing,” conducted by UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability and authored by Professor Deepak Rajagopal, has brought to light the remarkable potential of Smart Cups Technology in transforming the consumer-packaged goods industry and contributing to a greener future.
“The technology that Smart Cups has pioneered has the potential to drastically reduce the environmental burden of beverages and several other liquid products through a reduction in total packaging and transportation across the product lifecycle,” said Professor Deepak Rajagopal. “The implications of this research extend beyond the consumer-packaged goods industry. Major companies, including industry giants like Pepsi, Coke, and Proctor and Gamble, could benefit from Smart Cups’ ground-breaking approach to delivering products more sustainably. Embracing this innovation can help such large corporations achieve sustainability goals and become leaders in eco-friendly practices”.
The study focuses on the profound environmental benefits of Smart Cups Technology which enables direct printing of consumer product ingredients onto surfaces, leading to substantial reductions in packaging materials, energy consumption, carbon emissions and overall environmental burdens. The study unveils the far-reaching implications for not just the beverage industry, but also the consumer-packaged goods industry as whole, promising to revolutionise distribution logistics and minimise environmental impact.
Key highlights from the study include:
The study’s findings show that a single Class 6 or 7 beverage truck packed with Smart Cups can accommodate a staggering 21 times more beverage volume than PET bottles and 31 times than glass bottles.
Smart Cups printed on PLA cups, when paired with tap water, result in 20 % less packaging materials than aluminum, 40 % less than plastic, and an impressive 90 % less than glass-based packaging.
This reduction in packaging translates into a 23 % to 48 % decrease in lifecycle primary energy and a 40 % to 57 % decrease in global warming potential. With biogenic carbon credit for landfilled PLA, the reductions reach an impressive 50 % to 70 %.
Smart Cups Technology is the first of its kind, revolutionising the delivery of liquid consumer products and minimising their environmental impact. This research not only amplifies the positive impact Smart Cups Technology can have on the world but also strengthens the validation of its significant benefits by reshaping the consumer products industry. By eliminating the need for bulky packaging materials, such as PET bottles or glass containers, Smart Cups optimise beverage payload, allowing for substantially higher volumes to be transported within the same truck weight limits. This breakthrough not only enhances logistical efficiency but also reduces the carbon footprint associated with transportation, as fewer trucks are required to transport the same amount of beverage.
The implications of this research extend far beyond the immediate benefits of increased payload capacity. By revolutionizing beverage transportation, Smart Cups are poised to transform the entire industry landscape, introducing a new era of sustainability and efficiency. With the potential to streamline distribution networks and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, Smart Cups offer a visionary solution to the pressing environmental challenges faced by the beverage sector.
The UCLA study underscores the profound impact of Smart Cups on beverage transportation, highlighting the unparalleled payload capacity that this innovative packaging technology provides. As industry leaders and consumers alike seek more sustainable and efficient solutions, Smart Cups stands at the forefront of a transformative movement. The researchers at UCLA are confident that their findings will inspire further exploration and adoption of Smart Cups within the beverage industry, ultimately leading to a greener, more efficient future.
In June, the Swiss packaging solution provider SIG marked another milestone in its long history – 170 years of operation. Founded in 1853 and headquartered in Neuhausen, Switzerland, the company took the opportunity to look back on its impressive history of ingenuity and innovation, visit its present, and explore the exciting potential the future holds. Moreover, the event enabled customers and employees to experience firsthand what SIG stands for today and will stand for tomorrow: SIG – for better.
The first celebratory event on June 17th centered on residents from Neuhausen’s local community, who were invited to SIG’s industrial area and headquarters to explore the facility and enjoy a food festival.
On June 20th, customers from all over the world participated in an exclusive event that included a tour through the ages from SIG’s perspective and a celebratory dinner. The final event occurred two days later on June 22nd when SIG leaders arrived for an intensive two-day leadership meeting.
Samuel Sigrist, CEO, SIG: “Being in operation for 170 years is something to celebrate and it was an excellent opportunity for us to showcase the spirit of SIG to our global customers and employees. The events reinforced the fact that while SIG has evolved over time, one aspect of our company has always remained the same, our commitment to delivering better for customers, consumers, and the world.”
Today, SIG is a leading provider of sustainable, innovative, and versatile packaging solutions. The company works in partnership with customers to bring food products to consumers globally in a safe, sustainable, and affordable way. In 1906 its long journey in food packaging began with packaging chocolates.
The first beverage carton and filling machine was launched in Europe in 1930, while it was not until 1955 that Scholle, now part of SIG, invented the revolutionary bag-in-box format that transformed distribution of liquid storage.
In 1975, beverage carton provider PKL introduced its combibloc aseptic packaging and filling system. SIG acquired PKL in 1989, creating a pathway for growth in aseptic packaging. At the beginning of this century, SIG decided to focus entirely on its packaging business and has since become one of the industry’s lead players. Joining forces with Scholle IPN and Evergreen Asia in 2022 extended its range to now include fresh and aseptic carton, bag-in-box, and spouted pouches.
SIG today is a leading sustainable packaging solutions provider and the world’s only system supplier covering carton, spouted pouch, and bag-in-box. The company’s versatile technology and capacity for product innovation means customers benefit from a wide range of solutions across categories and channels, which address consumer, market, and planet needs with responsibility, flexibility, speed, and affordability.
The company is committed to working towards net positivity and has split its sustainability initiatives into four core areas: Climate+, Forest+, Resource+, and Food+. To date, this commitment has seen SIG leading its industry in responsible sourcing and sustainable innovations.
All this reflects the spirit of SIG’s brand promise, “For better”. The phrase inspires its innovation of sustainable solutions and pioneering technology, all to transform its customers’ businesses and the world for better.
This year, within the context of the world’s most important packaging event, interpack, the spotlight was focused on Women in Packaging, a panel discussion featuring five industry female leaders. An audience of more than 150 people attended the panel on 8 May, demonstrating that this is a hot topic that will continue to be discussed even after the Düsseldorf trade fair has concluded.
Valentina Aureli, CEO of the Aetna Group together with her brother Enrico, was among the protagonists of the panel. She shared her view on women’s position in the world of packaging and spoke about her career path. In addition to her, other prominent professionals shared their stories at the event: Afsaneh Nabifar, Head of Market Development for Biopolymers at BASF; Australian Nadia Taylor, co-founder and director of TNA Solutions; Marjo Halonen, Vice President of Communications at Metsä Board Corporation in Finland; and Gabi Bauer, Head of Marketing and Communications at Uhlmann Pac-Systeme.
For the first time at interpack, this year’s format was organised with the support of the World Packaging Organization, WPO. Furthermore, it was created to inspire and disseminate the testimonies of women who have made their mark on the packaging industry. In fact, until recently, this sector was dominated mainly by men. However, it is now also being positively valued by many young women who wish to pursue careers in this area.
Valentina Aureli explained to the audience that she gained her experience in international high finance at Rothschild Banking. However, over the past two decades, she and her brother have guided Aetna Group towards steady global growth with the main brands Robopac and OCME. “It is important to be the same person both at home and at work, and to always put yourself out there”, commented the CEO, “but keeping in mind three fundamental coordinates, which have helped me overcome challenges in both my personal and professional lives. Be real, be whole and be innovative”. She stated emphatically: “Essentially, this means being oneself regardless of external influences, being whole by following one’s principles, and finally being innovative by employing not only rational, but emotional and social intelligence as well. All this is very valuable in working environments”.
At Aetna Group, talent development is the basis of a rich and stimulating work system, which knows no cultural or gender differences.
Valentina Aureli commented on the subject, stating: “I am fortunate to be able to say that our Group is filled with talented individuals, many of whom are women. We have several female managers on the front line in China, Mexico, Italy and America, even in sectors and departments in which women have traditionally been under-represented and where specific product knowledge is required. I am referring to engineering, sales engineering, after-sales, sales and spare parts. It is also noteworthy that there are women managers in more traditional roles, such as marketing, human resources, and administration. My choices to place women in certain key roles reflect their ability to coordinate and facilitate processes”.
This was a successful event and a source of inspiration for many young women, as well as a very sensitive topic within the Group. The latter had already proposed and organised it on several occasions through the Robopac USA subsidiary under the same title: the first time in October 2022 at Pack-Expo in Chicago, and then twice more this year in Duluth, home of the American HQ.
The UK’s favourite squash is launching a new packaging concept, Robinsons Ecopack – a highly concentrated squash in a plant-based carton. The Britvic brand continues to create innovative products that offer consumers more squash, with less plastic.
Launching exclusively in selected Tesco stores across the nation, the Robinsons Ecopack boasts a super concentrated liquid that contains 60 serves per 500 ml carton and is made from 89 % plant-based material. Robinsons’ new packaging innovation aims to reduce packaging waste with 85 % less plastic per serve, compared to a one litre bottle of Robinsons Double Concentrate. With a higher squash concentration compared to its single or double concentrate drinks, the carton is the equivalent of three single concentrate bottles and results in significantly less packaging per serve.
Fiona Graham, Innovation lead for Robinsons, said: “As a brand, Robinsons is continuously innovating and is committed to improving the environmental impact we have. Squash is already a sustainable product due to its concentrated format. Making Robinsons available in this new format allows consumers to feel confident in the knowledge that the pack they’ve chosen has more serves, but used less packaging per serve, and can be recycled once finished. All packaging types have their own unique benefits and challenges, and we know there is currently no one ‘silver bullet.’ That said, we believe that continuing to innovate with products such as Robinsons Ecopack will bring us one step closer to a solution and provide consumers with a range of options. The brand-new Robinsons Ecopack carton will be available via Tesco to begin with, and we are excited to learn what consumers think about the new format.”
Martin Shaw, Market Unit Manager at Elopak UK & Ireland, said: “We’re happy that Robinsons have chosen our Pure-Pak carton for their super strength squash product. Our renewable and recyclable carton packaging makes a great match with their products.”
The launch marks the latest activity for the brand, following a radical rebrand earlier this year and the launch of its new £4 million marketing campaign Get Thirsty. Robinsons Ecopack is one element of Britvic’s positive packaging strategy which seeks to reduce the need for unnecessary plastic, and make sure packaging doesn’t become waste.
Since 2017, Britvic has reduced the amount of virgin plastic it uses by more than 4,000 tonnes through packaging redesign, and it continues to increase the amount of recycled packaging and sustainably sourced materials it uses across its portfolio.
Last year, the company launched the Aqua Libra Flavour Tap – a sleek tap that reduces packaging waste by 99 %. The launch followed London Essence launching the Freshly Infused fount – offering premium tonic on dispense in 1,200 outlets across the UK and cutting packaging by 96 % when compared with traditionally packaged tonic water.
Ambit stainless steel fruit scrubbing machine (Photo: European Valuations)
Sponsored Post – On behalf of Sarah O’Toole, Kevin Coates & Jon Roden of Grant Thornton LLP, the Joint Administrators of Orchard House Foods Ltd, European Valuations present a second auction of late model and high spec fruit and food processing machinery previously used by Orchard House Foods Ltd. Orchard House Foods Ltd was one of the UK’s largest suppliers of prepared fruit, fresh fruit drinks and desserts to retailers, on-the-go food outlets, food service providers and manufacturers throughout the UK. The online auction on June 29th will include: Ishida DACS-G-SO15-24-WP-M-S Metal detector and checkweigher combi unit, Proseal GT1s pot forming machine with stainless steel tooling rack and various tooling, Ambit stainless steel fruit picking line, Ambit stainless steel fruit scrubbing machine complete with infeed conveyor, Hysyco CIP hygienic pipework and production cleaning system, Moody 13000L stainless steel storage tank, Promino 3000L stainless steel storage tank and much more. Viewing is by appointment only on June 27th.
European Valuations has over 130 years of experience in selling assets and providing consultancy advice. They pride themselves on delivering high-quality solutions that provide the best outcomes for our clients. They offer a range of services, from sale and disposal solutions for entire businesses to individual assets such as inventory or plant equipment.
Elopak has announced that it will build a new plant in the USA to better serve its customers in the Americas and accelerate growth in the region. The new plant will allow Elopak to build on an already strong track record of organic and profitable growth driven by high customer demand in the region.
Elopak will invest around USD 50 million (including lease liability) in the new plant over the period 2023 – 2024. The investment will be financed by utilizing Elopak’s existing Revolving Credit Facility. The plant is expected to commence production in the fourth quarter of 2024 and will create more than 100 new jobs.
Lionel Ettedgui, EVP North America says: “Over the last few years, Elopak has delivered very strong profitable growth in Americas. The time has now come to increase capacity to further strengthen our organization and enable us to provide quality service to our customers in Americas faster and more efficiently.”
Thomas Körmendi, CEO says: “I am truly excited about this investment. This is a response to the strong demand that we are seeing for our innovative and sustainable solutions. It is a landmark investment for our company as Americas is one of the key building blocks of our strategy.”
Production lines Gateshead (Photo: European Valuations)
Sponsored Post – On behalf of Sarah O’Toole, Kevin Coates & Jon Roden of Grant Thornton LLP, the Joint Administrators of Orchard House Foods Ltd, European Valuations present a major auction of late model and high spec fruit and food processing machinery. Orchard House Foods Ltd was one of the UK’s largest suppliers of prepared fruit, fresh fruit drinks and desserts to retailers, on-the-go food outlets, food service providers and manufacturers throughout the UK. Over 700 lots will be included in the online auction which closes from 10am on Thursday 1st of June. A great number of the assets were only recently purchased by the client, some lot highlights include: Ishida High speed 12 Head fresh fruit weighing system, Ishida CCW-R2-112WB-2D-15-WP-BE Single head 12 port fresh fruit weighing system, Dohmeyer DOH-TLT-8400-2X28 Cryogenic freezing tunnels, PND PL6M fruit peeling machine, Kronen Tona Rapide Apple Segmenter, Ishida DACS Checkweigher, Proseal GT2S Sealing machine, ICS Refrigeration plant, Proseal GT1S Sealing machine, Twin Head Ishida Potting Machine and much more. More stock is being added in the coming weeks. Viewing is by appointment only on May 30th.
European Valuations has over 130 years of experience in selling assets and providing consultancy advice. They pride themselves on delivering high-quality solutions that provide the best outcomes for our clients. They offer a range of services, from sale and disposal solutions for entire businesses to individual assets such as inventory or plant equipment.
Elopak has unveiled a new film examining the role of beverage cartons in providing a more sustainable future for the packaging industry. The film has been made for Elopak as part of a series presented by FoodDrinkEurope and produced by BBC Storyworks Commercial Productions called Food for Thought. The series highlights sustainable innovations in the food and drink industry that offer fresh solutions to feed the next generation.
(Photo: Elopak)
Elopak’s film examines how cartons can provide a natural and sustainable alternative to plastic bottles. It spotlights one of the company’s most popular innovations, the Pure-Pak® carton made with Natural Brown Board. These cartons are manufactured with unbleached paper fibres, leading to a reduced carbon footprint since unbleached fibres are stronger and so less material is needed to produce the paper board.
Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) studies have repeatedly demonstrated Elopak cartons’ environmental benefits when compared to other types of packaging for liquid food1. For example, an LCA study in 2021 showed that cartons have a 60 % smaller carbon footprint than a PET bottle. This figure increases to 73 % for beverage cartons made with Natural Brown Board2.
The film showcases Elopak’s commitment to leading the plastic to carton conversion, offering consumers a natural alternative to plastic packaging that aims to leave the product unchanged and the planet unharmed.
Speaking in the film, Håvard Grande Urhamar, Senior Manager Board Development at Elopak said: “If you do something you should do it right and we know our product is the most sustainable option compared to plastic.”
The mini documentary also features Elopak’s customer Rørosmeieriet, a renowned organic dairy in Norway that offers high quality, sustainably sourced traditional products. Rørosmeieriet was the first Norwegian Elopak customer to choose Pure-Pak® cartons made with Natural Brown Board, making them an ideal collaborator for the mini-documentary.
Trond Wilhelm Lund, CEO of Rørosmeieriet, says that his company and Elopak have a shared vision for sustainability. “We want to develop Rørosmeieriet every day in harmony with nature… So when Elopak wants to take steps in the right direction, Rørosmeieriet wants to be a part of that,” he explains in a piece to camera.
Sponsored Post – On behalf of Sarah O’Toole, Kevin Coates & Jon Roden of Grant Thornton LLP, the Joint Administrators of Orchard House Foods Ltd, European Valuations present a major auction of late model and high spec fruit and food processing machinery. Orchard House Foods Ltd was one of the UK’s largest suppliers of prepared fruit, fresh fruit drinks and desserts to retailers, on-the-go food outlets, food service providers and manufacturers throughout the UK. Over 700 lots will be included in the online auction which closes from 10am on Thursday 1st of June. A great number of the assets were only recently purchased by the client, some lot highlights include: Ishida High speed 12 Head fresh fruit weighing system, Ishida CCW-R2-112WB-2D-15-WP-BE Single head 12 port fresh fruit weighing system, Dohmeyer DOH-TLT-8400-2X28 Cryogenic freezing tunnels, PND PL6M fruit peeling machine, Kronen Tona Rapide Apple Segmenter, Ishida DACS Checkweigher, Proseal GT2S Sealing machine, ICS Refrigeration plant, Proseal GT1S Sealing machine, Twin Head Ishida Potting Machine and much more. More stock is being added in the coming weeks. Viewing is by appointment only on May 30th.
European Valuations has over 130 years of experience in selling assets and providing consultancy advice. They pride themselves on delivering high-quality solutions that provide the best outcomes for our clients. They offer a range of services, from sale and disposal solutions for entire businesses to individual assets such as inventory or plant equipment.
Elopak, a leading global supplier of carton packaging and filling equipment, published its 2022 Sustainability Report. Successes outlined in the report include a 20 % reduction in scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions since 2020, marking significant progress towards the company’s target of a 42 % reduction by 2030. Value chain emissions (scope 3) have also been reduced by 7 % since 2020. In 2022, Elopak set ambitious targets for reaching net zero emissions by 2050, approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
The 2022 report was compiled in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework, ensuring a transparent and accountable assessment of the past year. It covers Elopak’s key material topics within the sustainability themes of people, planet, and profit to give a full evaluation of the company’s sustainability performance and map out future ambitions. Chief among these are plans to reduce emissions across the company’s value chain by 90 % by 2050.
Speaking on the launch of the report, Elopak’s Sustainability Director Marianne Groven said, “I am pleased that we are continuing to make great progress across several aspects ranging from employee engagement to our offering of bio-circular cartons. The approval of our net zero targets by the SBTi marks a significant milestone for 2022.”
A global pioneer in carton-based packaging, Elopak has long championed product innovation as an effective tool in boosting sustainability. In 2022 Elopak rolled out the Pure-Pak® eSense: an aseptic carton made without an aluminium layer. This results in a 50 % lower carbon footprint compared to a conventional aseptic carton and helps simplify the recycling process.
In 2022, Elopak successfully boosted the sales of its most sustainable products, increasing the proportion of fully renewable cartons for fresh milk in Europe from 18 % of sales in 2021 to 30 %. Elopak has sourced 100 % of the fibers for its cartons from controlled sources in line with the standards set by the FSC™ since 2014.
Since listing on the Oslo Stock Exchange in 2021, Elopak has pursued a strategy of sustainability-driven growth, including geographic expansion to bring its sustainable packaging solutions to more markets and customers. In 2022 this involved the acquisition of Naturepak Beverage Ltd in the Middle East; the opening of a subsidiary, GLS Elopak, in India; and a licensing agreement with Nippon Paper to distribute Pure-Pak® cartons in Oceania.
Throughout 2022, Elopak maintained its high level of commitment towards its employees, striving to promote a culture to leverage critical competencies, core values and behavior of the organisation. Despite the suffering brought by the war in Ukraine, Elopak was proud to stand by its employees in Fastiv and Kyiv and support the supply chain of essential products such as milk and baby formula within the country. In July 2022, Elopak began the process of exiting the Russian market, finalising a sale to local management in March 2023.
More broadly, Elopak has conducted a human rights risk assessment across all of its operations and business partners in line with requirements set out in Norway’s Transparency Act. In 2022, 93 % of employees took part in code of conduct training, which includes provisions on upholding human rights. The company has also rolled out its new six Golden Safety Rules, which are partially responsible for a 19 % drop in work-related injuries since 2021.
Commenting on the publication of the report, CEO Thomas Körmendi said, “Through a year marked by changing climates related to the geo-political situation, environmental concern and market fluctuations, I am very proud of the resilience Elopak has shown. We have remained as focused and dedicated as ever towards our ultimate goal of delivering sustainable packaging solutions that leave customers’ products unchanged and our world unharmed.”
Ardagh Metal Packaging (AMP) announced the acquisition of a majority share in innovative digital can printers NOMOQ, in a move that extends AMP’s industry-leading support of newcomers to the beverage market.
The Switzerland-based start-up, founded in 2021, promises beautifully printed cans with short lead times and “NO Minimum Order Quantity” – hence the name. Their extreme versatility and customer-centric proposition allows beverage companies of every size to flex their creativity and produce stunning packs with almost limitless colour options and photorealistic graphics.
NOMOQ is the latest super-agile innovator to be welcomed under the AMP umbrella. AMP’s acquisition in 2021 of Quebec-based Hart Print saw AMP enhance its digital print offering to emerging customers in the North American market, and with AMP’s investment in a majority stake in NOMOQ, it provides the platform to roll out access to the same cutting-edge print technology to all of its European customers. As well as supporting fast-growing market entrants, NOMOQ’s superb flexibility also enables larger producers to trial new products, implement short-term event-based marketing campaigns, or run special editions with no obstacles on batch size.
Cans have outstanding consumer appeal, being convenient, lightweight, shatterproof, and infinitely recyclable. With a higher proportion of new European beverages now launched in cans, drinks producers are increasingly recognising their exceptional potential for brand-building thanks to the sheer range of customisation options. NOMOQ’s passion is making cans into stand-out “works of art”, through a graphical capacity that encompasses millions of colours and shades, and several eye-catching finishes: matte, glossy or selective gloss.
Lipton Ice Tea, the number one ready-to-drink tea brand1, is relaunching its range in a modernised design with a packaging makeover for all flavours. The packaging refresh is also accompanied by a reduction in sugar across the core range of Peach, Lemon, and Green Mint & Lime. The reduction will help the brand continue to appeal to the growing number of shoppers on the lookout for lower sugar options without any compromise on taste.
Half of shoppers say they are actively reducing the amount of sugar they consume2, which makes it the perfect time for Lipton’s relaunch. The new and improved drinks will maintain Lipton’s refreshing fruity taste and offer shoppers a lower sugar alternative, without compromising on great flavour.
As the leading brand in ready-to-drink tea3, Lipton Ice Tea’s value grew + 27 % in 20224 with further opportunities to grow as it taps into the 50 % of shoppers who choose food and drink products with reduced or no sugar content5. As a soft drinks segment, ready-to-drink tea represents a trade up opportunity for retailers, holding a price point of £2.43 per litre on average, versus the wider soft drinks’ £1.34 per litre6. This represents a premium option for consumers, and allows retailers to offer a full range of soft drinks which caters to multiple tastes and wallets.
The relaunched range will roll out across all channels from March 2023.
The new Lipton Ice Tea recipes are the latest lower sugar offering from Britvic, with continued innovation and reformulation programmes enabling the company to offer consumers healthier choices as part of ist Healthier People sustainability strategy. In 2022, this meant 96 % of its innovation launches were low or no calorie drinks – with an average of around 14 calories per serve across its Great Britain portfolio.
1NielsenIQ RMS, Total Coverage GB, Ready-To-Drink Ice Tea value sales, Britvic Defined 5Y, 31st Dec 2022 2Mintel – Attitudes towards Sugar and Sweeteners – UK – 2021 3NielsenIQ RMS, Total Coverage GB, Ready-To-Drink Ice Tea value sales, Britvic Defined 5Y, 31st Dec 2022 4NielsenIQ RMS, Total Coverage, RTD Ice Tea value sales, Britvic Defined, MAT we 31.12.2022 5Mintel – Attitudes towards Sugar and Sweeteners – UK – 2021 6NielsenIQ RMS – Total Coverage, Total Soft Drinks Britvic Defined, Average Price Point MAT we 31.12.2022
Study reveals environmental benefits of StePac’s modified atmosphere packaging
Addressing the need for extensive reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, StePac, L.A. Ltd. analysed supply chains it is closely involved with to assess how its advanced packaging preserves quality of fresh produce during handling, shipping, and storing, and by doing so reduces waste and saves GHG emissions.
The sustainable shelf-life extension packaging experts commissioned researchers at Wageningen Food & Biobased Research facility, Netherlands, to quantify the GHG emissions associated with the use of its Modified Atmosphere (MAP) products across numerous supply chains worldwide. Results exceeded expectations, with the MAP products demonstrating abilities to reduce CO2 emissions dramatically.
The recent spate of global weather events, from crippling droughts to European heat waves, has pushed climate change worries to the very forefront of consumer concerns. CO2 emissions are recognised as the leading GHG implicated in climate change. Moreover, food waste is a second major concern of today’s eco-savvy consumers, yet few discussions of food waste focus on its negative impact on GHG emissions.
“Food waste contributes c. 8 % of all GHG emissions associated with climate change, the biggest threat to our planet,” states Gary Ward, PhD, Business Development Manager for StePac. “By creating sustainable modified atmosphere packaging solutions which extend produce freshness often by 50 – 100 %, StePac has demonstrated through this research, that it helps lower GHG emissions by reducing waste in the fresh produce supply chain and often facilitating sea transport instead of air transport of produce to distant destinations. The reduction in GHG emissions far exceeds those generated in the full lifecycle of the packaging itself.”
Jan Broeze, PhD, Senior Scientist of Sustainable Food Chains at the Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, has developed a “field to fork” calculator to estimate greenhouse emissions associated with different aspects of fresh produce production and shipping. Calculations took into consideration the GHG emissions associated with the different plastic packaging solutions throughout the lifecycle including the end-of-life (incineration, landfill and recycling). It also included data provided by StePac pertaining to waste reduction based on research and commercial experience. Nine scenarios were examined, including melons from Honduras to the UK (Xtend® Bulk), blueberries from Peru to China (XflowTM), stone fruit from Spain to Brazil (Xtend bulk), and broccoli shipped domestically in Brazil (XgoTM Retail).
Foremost, the results showed that GHG emissions related to plastics production, use and end-of-life are relatively small compared to other GHG emissions along the food supply chain. For example, in the shipping of melons from Honduras to UK, the cultivation, harvest, and postharvest handling represented 41 % of the total GHG emissions of 701 kg CO2/ton of melons. Transportation represented 48 % of the GHG emissions. On the other hand, Xtend packaging represents only 3 % of the total CO2 emissions and the end-of-life represents only 1 % of the total CO2 emissions yet contributed significantly to reducing CO2 emissions by minimising waste. This was typical of all of the scenarios evaluated.
In one example, shipping unwrapped Galia and Cantaloupe melons from Honduras to the UK in 25 + days, resulted in a high waste of nearly 18 %. Due to its low water-vapor transmission rate (WVTR), polyethylene packaging with MAP properties is unsuitable and can result in waste levels of 12.5 % or greater, mainly due to microbial decay. The use of Xtend packaging with relatively high WVTR levels that eliminate excess moisture plays a key role in reducing the waste in sea freight to a minimum of less than 3.5 %. This reduction in waste, when compared to polyethylene packaging, represents a reduction in 6 % of the GHG emissions or 940 kg CO2 equivalents per container loaded with 20 tons of melons. In tangible terms, shipping four containers of melons in Xtend saves the equivalent annual CO2 emissions produced by an average vehicle, estimated at 3020 kg.
“Global warming poses some of the greatest risk to the health of the planet we live on,” states Ward. “In order to combat it, we need to reduce GHG emissions. The outcome of this research demonstrates the value of our bulk and retail packaging in doing so by reducing waste in the fresh produce supply chain and facilitating sea as an alternative to air freight. Based on the research, StePac estimates that across all supply chains in which its packaging is used, it saved in excess of 100,000 tons CO2 emissions in 2022—equivalent to the annual amount produced by 31,000 automobiles.
“This research clearly shows that StePac’s MAP solutions for fresh produce can contribute to reducing global GHG emissions by facilitating sea freight and by reducing waste in the supply chain,” attests Broeze. “The savings associated with their use far exceed the emissions generated in the life cycle of the packaging, establishing that they have a positive environmental impact.”
Mintel, the experts in what consumers want and why, has announced Global Packaging Trends for 2023, featuring a PESTEL analysis* that explores the macro-environmental factors impacting the packaging industry in 2023 and beyond.
David Luttenberger, CPPL, Global Packaging Director at Mintel, examined the political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal factors impacting global packaging evaluations, planning, and decision-making: “The decision to use a PESTEL analysis was based on the fact that currently there are so many extraordinary outside influences on package innovation and the packaging supply chain. Pressures from the environmental perspective, the conflict in Ukraine, global inflation, social issues, legal challenges, extended producer responsibility, and other forces mean packaging must navigate new and more challenging routes to market. The PESTEL format enables us to succinctly identify the opportunities and present clear recommendations to retailers, brand owners, and package manufacturers.”
Economic factors impacting packaging
“Economic uncertainty and the associated rising cost of goods have forced consumers to rethink budgets and discretionary spending. Across categories, brands are tapping messaging, technology, and retail strategies to show consumers how packaging can stretch a budget.
“Consumers will look to brands to help them overcome economic-induced stresses with products and packaging that mesh with purchasing abilities and reflect value without compromise. Offering packaging that represents financial value propositions, while not compromising quality, convenience, freshness, safety, and environmental responsibility, will be a differentiator in 2023 and beyond.”
Social factors impacting packaging
“From food shortages and ethical sourcing to responsible water and land use, consumers want to know more about the products they buy and the brands that produce them. In addition to achievements, brands and package manufacturers must be transparent about their weaknesses. Consumers are pursuing transparency through clearer labeling and what those claims mean for the greater good.
“In the future, packaging will paint a picture of a brand’s equity, which increasingly includes social and environmental capital. Consumers want to hear what companies have to say on controversial topics related to diversity, inclusion, and equity.”
Legal factors impacting packaging
“A myriad of laws have been enacted to protect consumers from deceptive or fraudulent business practices. New rules around the use of plastics and pollution-causing materials, as well as protecting human and planetary health, will greatly affect consumers. To get ahead and stay competitive, companies must get a firm grip on current and future legislation around plastics, PFAS, and EPR.”
“Consumers will rally behind legislation that benefits the environment. Their support will spur additional bans which will put significant cost pressures on manufacturers in their quest to meet mandates and find suitable, though more costly, alternatives.”
Packaging perspective of Mintel’s 2023 Global Trends
also discusses the packaging industry implications of the 2023 Global Food and Drink, Beauty and Personal Care, and Household Care Trends, including the future of packaging within these industries.
“The macro factors impacting packaging are universal across all end-use categories, including what my colleagues outline in Mintel’s 2023 Global Food and Drink, Beauty and Personal Care, and Household Care Trends. How the challenges manifest within each category varies, but the data, insights, and expert recommendations are applicable and actionable across all end-use categories, package formats, and regional markets,” continued Luttenberger.
Food and drink packaging trends
“Although costs of living are rising globally, consumers will not be motivated solely by low prices in 2023. They will find value in affordable food and drink that promises clarity, nutrition, and versatility. Package manufacturers must enable clear communication of added-value nutritional content and provide efficient portioning and product preparation. Clean packaging designs that highlight natural ingredients and health benefits will stand out to shoppers. In the future, brands seeking to be trusted partners in the kitchen need to take energy consumption into account and deliver packaging that enables energy-efficient cooking.”
Beauty and personal care packaging trends
“Post-pandemic consumers are seeking experimentation, social responsibility, and value from brands in-store and online. Package manufacturers must deliver physical, emotional, visual, digital, and environmental attributes that mesh with consumers’ changing lifestyles. Packaging remains not only a constant but an integral part of the beauty consumer experience—whether through new eco-responsible structures and materials, 100 % product evacuation dispensing systems, messaging about eco-attributes, or messaging about a brand’s values. Companies must create strategies that embrace next-generation package technologies to connect with consumers at retail, at home, and in any/all channels they prefer.”
Household care packaging trends
“The inward focus on one’s self and the planet has become intertwined with saving money in the household care space. That triad of forces has created new opportunities that will redefine the definitions of responsibility and value. Companies must invest in innovations that optimise such parameters as cube efficiency, weight reduction, materials management, extended shelf-life, and end-of-life or second-life scenarios. The key to delivering the next generation of household care packaging will be simple design, convenient dispensing, and an overt display of environmental and social responsibility.”
*A PESTEL analysis is a framework used to analyse and monitor the macro-environmental factors that have an impact on an organisation, company, or industry examining the Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal factors impacting global packaging evaluations, planning and decision-making.
SIG announced another industry first for responsible sourcing by purchasing 100 % of the aluminium for SIG aseptic carton packs with certification to the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) standards globally from January 2023. SIG is the only packaging provider to offer aseptic cartons with ASI-certified aluminium and enable customers to include the ASI label on its packs.
SIG has led the way in offering the world’s first packaging materials without an aluminium layer for aseptic cartons since 2010, including a full barrier solution without an aluminium layer launched in 2022. But these are not yet available in all formats and many of SIG’s aseptic carton packs still require an ultra-thin layer of aluminium foil to protect the food inside.
Through ASI certification, SIG is demonstrating its commitment to source aluminium for its packs responsibly. ASI sets leading standards for responsible aluminium production and sourcing, covering a broad range of ethical, environmental and social topics, including specific limits on carbon emissions in the production of aluminium.
By requiring all its aluminium suppliers to meet ASI standards, SIG is helping to improve performance in supply chains and drive lower-carbon aluminium production. This in turn supports reductions in the value chain carbon footprint for SIG and its customers.
Aiming to provide fresh insights towards the company’s journey to develop the most sustainable food package
Tetra Pak has commenced ground-breaking research towards advancing fibre-based sustainable food packaging, in collaboration with MAX IV – the most modern synchrotron1 radiation laboratory in the world. The research aims to uncover fresh insights into the nanostructure of fibre materials, with the first application to optimise the composition of materials used for paper straws.
This is the very first industrial research and development experiment at ForMAX, a brand new research station dedicated to studying materials from the forest, located at the MAX IV Laboratory in Lund, Sweden.
As the global demand for safe, nutritious food intensifies, and the scarcity of raw materials increases, the need to develop more sustainable packaging solutions that use less of these scarce resources has become urgent. New materials based on paper will bring novel opportunities, but they need to remain food safe, recyclable, be more durable against liquids and humidity, while meeting the increased sustainability demands.
Eva Gustavsson, Vice President Materials & Package, Tetra Pak, says: “A fundamental understanding of the structure and properties of materials is crucial as we work towards developing the package of the future. Our ambition is to provide the world’s most sustainable food package, and experiments at ForMAX will clearly support us in this mission.
“The package of the future needs to be fully recyclable and have a low environmental impact. Using renewable materials and increasing the use of fibre-based material within packages will be vital. With this research, Tetra Pak is helping to uncover fresh insights into plant-based materials as a basis for future innovations.”
Kim Nygård, Manager, ForMAX beamline, MAX IV says: “The experiment conducted at ForMAX is a milestone for both academia and industry. The research station is the first of its kind and will facilitate both fundamental and applied industrial research on how new, sustainable materials can be used going forward. We are proud to support Tetra Pak in its development of sustainable packaging materials for the future.”
About Tree search The construction of ForMAX has been funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, and the operating costs are funded by the industry through Treesearch, a national collaborative platform for academic and industrial research in new materials from the forest. As an industrial partner in Treesearch, Tetra Pak is one of the initiators and facilitators of ForMAX.
1Synchrotron radiation is the electromagnetic radiation emitted when charged particles travel in curved paths perpendicular to their velocity
New Mill Capital has been engaged toAuction scheduled for February 7th to sell the apple receiving, washing, grading and packaging assets of Heeren Brothers
New Mill Capital, an asset acquisition and disposition firm in the US, has been engaged to sell the equipment assets of Heeren Brothers via online auction. The auction sale, consisting of over 300 pieces of equipment used for apple receiving, washing, gradinggrading, and packing will be held exclusively online with bidding opening Tuesday, January 31st and closing Tuesday, February 7th.
The equipment includes state of the art a high-speed washing and, grading line and flume delivery system with robotic bin handling / dumping system and, retrieval with awash flume system, all MAF Roda Agrobotic 6-lane optical sorter, 28-lane grading discharge and 28-flume stainless steel isolation and delivery system with automated bin filling selection system, (2) Maf-Roda dry pack bin fillers, (2) graded product robotic bin dumping stations to water flumes delivered to (2) drying and wax coating lines, Cedis-MAF automated 12-station fruit bagging line, tray packing line with Accu-Label ORB-it G-2 (8) lane PLU sticker applicator, tray dispenser, casing, (4) Maf-Roda auto box fillers, (4) Maf-Roda PNW quick bag packers, checkweighers, case sealers, conveyance and auto palletizing, (2) SWF bliss formers, new Genie Z-45/25J articulating man lift, forklifts, scissor lifts, metalworking maintenance, spare parts, air compressors, pallet racking and plant support.
Interested buyers should visit New Mill Capital’s website, www.newmillcapital.com, for photos and more information on the auction. Inspections of the equipment are also available by appointment at anytime. .
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.
Sidel has created 1SKIN™, a unique label-less recycled PET bottle. Combining distinctive shelf-appeal with the highest eco credentials, it has been designed to help Sidel’s customers achieve their sustainability goals and drive sales of high-end products.
The one-litre bottle is destined for the booming market in sensitive juices, teas and flavoured drinks. The new 1SKIN concept represents a breakthrough both in sustainability and in its streamlined design.
Made with readily available 100 % recycled PET (r-PET), 1SKIN has been designed by Sidel for easy recycling. The label-free bottle with its tethered cap can immediately enter the recycling stream with no need to separate additional raw materials such as ink, glue, labels or sleeves. Customers choosing 1SKIN will stay ahead of the main worldwide regulations and market trends for sustainable packaging.
Launched at the international beverages trade fair, drinktec in Germany in September, the bottle has attracted interest from customers from all over the world seeking to make their packaging more sustainable. Many of the major brands are embracing higher sustainability standards, driven by consumer influence as well as growing legislation to encourage recycling.
Appealing looks and drinking experience
(Photo: Sidel)
1SKIN is made to stand out on shelves in one of the fastest growing and most competitive beverage segments. The bottle is designed to deliver an appealing drinking experience, with an ergonomic grip for comfortable pouring. It has a wide neck and a cap lock feature to keep the open bottle top away from the consumer’s face. On the bottle’s label-free surface there are multiple options to use differing fonts and textures, with the transparency enabling great opportunities for natural light and shadow play. The ultra-precise graphic elements are created using Sidel’s most advanced mould technologies combined with its blow moulding expertise. QR or bar codes can be printed on the bottle closure to provide information to consumers or enable individual unit sales.
The bottle design guarantees safety and protects the integrity of products with a long shelf life. Sidel’s patented Starlite™ Sensitive base technology combines a premium glass-like design with optimised weight and performance on high-speed lines.
A broad coalition representing European beverage producers, material and technology suppliers, recyclers, NGOs and public entities have called for ambitious action to enable full circularity of beverage packaging1 in the anticipated draft amendment of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD), due at the end of November 2022.
The coalition believes that the upcoming revision of the EU PPWD is a real opportunity to take the right measures and accelerate the transition to circular beverage packaging.
For this reason, in their position paper2, the coalition highlights the importance of setting a 90 % separate collection for recycling target by 2029 for beverage packaging. This is to ensure higher recycling rates and recycled content in packaging, which in turn will significantly reduce the demand for virgin resources in a meaningful way.
Under a 90% target scenario3, the EU would recycle an additional equivalent of 92 billion PET bottles by 2030. This would mean that 2.6 million tonnes less virgin PET would be needed by the bottle industry from 2022 to 2030.
The coalition also considers that it is key to adopt well-designed deposit return systems (DRS) in Member States whose collection performance fails to meet interim milestones needed to attain the 90 % target. To do it effectively, it is essential to develop minimum requirements for any new DRS to maximise their efficiency. DRS has already proven to be an efficient collection system in several European countries by ensuring high collection rates of high-quality material for recycling. This is a fundamental condition to promote closed-loop recycling and deliver circular beverage packaging.
“This proposal, which includes a 90 % separate collection target plus the promotion of well-designed national deposit return systems, is not just about waste reduction and circularity, it is also about stimulating local economies, creating jobs, and increasing Europe’s resilience by securing resources and saving energy,” says Clarissa Morawski, Chief Executive of Reloop.
Reloop’s model calculates that achieving a 90 % collection target would make an additional 170 billion beverage containers available for recycling between 2022 and 2030. The non-alcoholic beverage industry supports this potential significant step forwards:
For Nicholas Hodac, Director General of UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe, this proposal points the way forward for reaching beverage packaging circularity: “This is a real opportunity to achieve closed-loop recycling and, therefore, we look forward to seeing the European Commission accommodating this proposal. Our sector could not be more committed to increasing the collection and recycling rates of our packaging to make it fully circular, but we need supportive measures to do it successfully.”
Patricia Fosselard, Secretary General of Natural Mineral Waters Europe (NMWE), believes that beverage packaging is highly suited to achieve full circularity: “Beverage packaging is highly recyclable, can be reused over and over again in high value applications and already delivers the highest recycling rates. We are calling on the EU to further boost circularity by laying down minimum requirements for well-designed DRS and granting bottlers’ access to a fair quota of their recycled bottles.”
Wouter Lox, Secretary General of the European Fruit Juice Association (AIJN), agrees that it is high time to move circularity forward: “Reducing packaging waste presents a huge opportunity for circularity within the EU, and as such, it is critical to get the PPWD revision right. The European fruit juice industry, therefore, fully supports the ambition of setting a 90 % separate collection for recycling target by 2029 for beverage container packaging.”
The European Commission has a perfect opportunity to drive the transition to a circular economy with a 90 % separate collection target and well-designed DRS for beverage packaging.
1The coalition agrees that circular beverage packaging is packaging (single use or refillable) that is collected separately at a high rate, refilled or recycled multiple times in a closed loop. When recycled, it should contain a high percentage of recycled material, originating from beverage packaging, thereby contributing to material resource efficiency and waste prevention. 2Coalition Position Paper 3Target 90 Report
Dutch company Riedel, a leading producer of NCSD products, is the first in the Netherlands to offer its famous juices in SIG’s innovative on-the-go combismile carton pack. Riedel’s iconic Appelsientje, CoolBest and DubbelDrank juice brands will benefit from the clever design of combismile, which is also paired with SIGNATURE FULL BARRIER packaging material, where the small amount of polymers used are linked to certified forest-based renewable materials via a mass-balance system.
SIG’s combismile carton offers the perfect lifestyle match for Riedel juices and provides busy consumers of all ages with ultimate on-the-go convenience – easy to open, handle, hold, close and store on the go. With a curved, modern shape with easy grip corners, combismile offers consumers handy consumption straight from the pack and is resealable thanks to its innovative one-step closure.
Riedel has extensive expertise in carton packaging, naturally evolving over time in close partnership with SIG. The new 330 ml on-the-go combismile carton pack is a logical development, unifying Riedel’s carton packaging portfolio to offer the most convenient and sustainable choice for consumers.
Carton packs with SIGNATURE FULL BARRIER packaging material reduce the carbon footprint compared to a standard carton pack* even further, as a result of the substitution of fossil polymers with mass-balanced plant-based polymers made from tall oil – a by-product of paper manufacturing. All three key raw materials are linked to certified responsible sources: paperboard is from FSC™-certified forests and other controlled sources; forest-based renewable polymers are certified according to ISCC PLUS (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification) via a mass-balance system; and an ultra-thin layer of ASI certified aluminium protects against light and oxygen. Riedel already successfully uses SIGNATURE FULL BARRIER packaging material for juices in 1,000 ml and 1,500 ml carton packs from SIG.
SIG’s CFA 1824 filling machine for combismileBig combines excellent flexibility with high speed, providing Riedel with the capacity to fill 24,000 carton packs per hour and the ability to fill five different volumes: 200 ml, 250 ml, 300 ml, 330 ml and 350 ml.
*Results based on ISO-compliant life-cycle assessment CB-100732c: https://cms.sig.biz/media/4440/sig_lca_signature_addendum-combiswift-plus.pdf)
Following the March, 2022 decision to divest from the Russian market, Ball Corporation announced that it has completed the sale of its beverage packaging business in Russia to Arnest Group for USD 530 million. The purchaser, Arnest Group, has acquired all of Ball Corporation’s Russian-based business.
“This decision is the result of many months of consideration, delivering a solution that best secures the future of Ball’s colleagues and assets in Russia. We believe this is a sound outcome for Ball in these geo-political circumstances,” said Dan Fisher, president and CEO Ball Corporation.
Arnest is the largest manufacturer of perfume, cosmetic and household products in aerosol packaging in Russia and Ball’s Aluminum Aerosol division has had the opportunity to work with the world class team at Arnest in the past. The closing of this transaction is not subject to any conditions, and all required approvals have been obtained. The sale is not expected to impact Ball’s businesses outside of Russia.
“Transition In Packaging” is the key theme of the FACHPACK trade fair, to be held in Nuremberg from 27 to 29 September 2022. This describes the transformation currently taking place in the European packaging industry. More sustainability, more e-Commerce and increasing digitalisation are just some of the driving themes. Then there are the current challenges such as the shortage of skilled workers, high power costs and disrupted supply chains. “The dynamics in the packaging industry have never been greater,” says Heike Slotta, Executive Director NürnbergMesse. “But despite that, or perhaps because of it, companies in the sector are very strong on design and innovation.” The key theme of “Transition in Packaging” will be reflected at the stands of the 1,145 exhibitors (2021: 789), in the extensive lecture programme, in the fascinating special shows and in the award presentations. Visitors from the consumer and industrial goods sectors will be impressed.
FACHPACK offers a compact yet comprehensive overview of the products and services relating to the packaging process chain for industrial and customer goods – i.e. packaging and the associated technology and processes. This year’s event will extend to nine exhibition halls. Of the 1,145 exhibitors, 42 percent will travel to Nuremberg from outside Germany, the majority from Turkey, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, Belgium, the Czech Republic and France.
A good half of the exhibitors are active in packaging materials and packaging accessories, and about one-third in the area of packaging machines and labelling and palletizing systems. About 15 percent work in the area of package printing and finishing, in-house logistics and services for the packaging industry.
Stora Enso and Tetra Pak are jointly examining a shared beverage carton recycling solution to meet the growing recycling need in Benelux, responding to the demand for circular paper-based packaging solutions. The joint feasibility study includes a plan for a comprehensive beverage carton recycling facility at Stora Enso’s Langerbrugge site in Belgium. Processing of the fibers would take place at the Langerbrugge site, while the polymer and aluminum barrier materials would be recycled by a dedicated partner.
Approximately 75,000 tonnes of beverage cartons are put on the Benelux market annually, a growing volume of which more than 70 % is already collected for recycling. Currently, there is no existing beverage carton recycling infrastructure in Benelux. This collaboration between Stora Enso and Tetra Pak would create a complete recycling system for beverage cartons in Benelux and surrounding regions.
Within the solution, Stora Enso would process collected beverage cartons and recover the fibers. The recycled fibers would serve as source material for producing recycled containerboard within the Langerbrugge site, delivering a fully circular solution. Tetra Pak would secure a recycling solution for polymer and aluminum materials to be processed by a dedicated partner.
The recycling project is linked to Stora Enso’s recently announced feasibility study to potentially convert one of the Langerbrugge site’s paper lines into a high-volume recycled containerboard line. This feasibility study is expected to conclude in the first half of 2023. Upon on a decision to invest, the recycled containerboard line is expected to be in production during 2025. The joint study with Tetra Pak will follow the same timeline.
The proposed recycling line in Langerbrugge will initially process an estimated 50,000 tonnes of recycled cartons per year with the potential to increase.
“With this joint initiative, we underline our commitment to local recycling progress and improving infrastructure in Benelux, a region with high volumes of collected beverage cartons. Stora Enso is a trusted and important partner which has the know-how and experience we need in fiber recycling. Together with them, we have the potential to put in place a circular solution that helps us secure a world where a growing number of carton packages is collected, recycled and we can minimise litter” – Chakib Kara, Managing Director France & Benelux, Tetra Pak.
“At Stora Enso, we constantly pursue opportunities to deepen our commitment to a circular packaging future. Circularity advancement requires smart investments and collaboration with the right partners. By working jointly with Tetra Pak, we can simultaneously create value, enhance circularity, and grow our competitiveness.” – Markku Luoto, VP LPB Aseptic and CUK, Stora Enso.
Beverage cartons contain high-quality fresh fibers that are an excellent source material for producing recycled paper containerboard. The Langerbrugge site offers a strategically important location to enable a local paper-based packaging circularity solution. Further, beverage carton collection for recycling is already advanced in Benelux.
Aetna Group, leading company in the production of end-of-line packaging machines and systems, has acquired the German company Meypack.
Meypack is a technology leader appreciated mostly for the quality and innovative capacity of its end-of-line products mainly in the food, spirits and home & personal care sectors in Germany and at an international level.
This operation is part of Aetna Group strategic plan to grow externally, to establish a production presence in countries with a manufacturing vocation, and to expand the product range in the food and personal care sector. Meypack’s internationalization will be further enriched by taking advantage of the presence of Aetna Group subsidiaries in the main countries of the world, so that Aetna Group will be able to increase its penetration in German-speaking markets.
Energy and raw material prices were already on very high level but surged even further after the beginning of the war in Ukraine. Those increases combined with availability issues have serious financial impacts on the flexible packaging supply chain. All main substrates used for flexible packaging such as plastics, paper and aluminium are concerned but also adhesives, lacquers and inks. The industry is confronted with the high energy prices in their direct operations manufacturing flexible packaging and logistics.
Even though the cost share for logistics is less than in other packaging sectors due to the low product to packaging ratio of flexible packaging and very efficient transportation (usually on reels) the absolute increase is very significant. Reports from forwarder associations even show the risk of reduction of available logistic capacities as companies will have to give up their operational business due to high diesel prices.
“The level of cost increases due this situation for manufacturers of the flexible packaging industry cannot yet be assessed completely but we are convinced that the peak is not reached yet,” commented Guido Aufdemkamp, Executive Director of Flexible Packaging Europe the situation.
“Main difficulties for our membership are the high uncertainty of serious pricing to their customers as many suppliers to the industry change their rates even after fixed delivery confirmation. Non-acceptance of such increases is often penalised by non-delivery or non-availability of the next order. Compared to the supplier and customer industry our sector is in a certain sandwich position. Furthermore, liquidity issues are of growing concern in particular for small- and medium-sized companies. That is combined with insufficient credit insurance lines due to high raw material prices.”
Almost half of the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) in Europe, excluding beverages, are packed with flexible packaging.
International research into sustainable packaging carried out by global packaging, product, and material test and inspection company Industrial Physics has found that almost half of the 255 global packaging professionals (49 %) surveyed said meeting testing standards was one the biggest challenges they faced in wider adoption of sustainable packaging materials.
The research goes on to reveal that almost three quarters of those surveyed (71 %) reported that they found quality control processes ‘significantly’ or ‘somewhat more difficult’ with sustainable packaging materials.
69 % of respondents cited ‘cost’ as the main supply chain challenge they face in the move to sustainable packaging. Global supply obstacles caused by the pandemic made sourcing more difficult and legacy issues remain, meaning numerous suppliers are often needed rather than one trusted provider. This places additional pressure on quality control processes and greater need for packaging integrity testing.
Jim Neville, CEO at Industrial Physics, said: “Insights from our global network of technical experts provide manufacturers guidance to create innovative and sustainable packaging while ensuring the integrity of their brands and products by proper testing and inspection.”
He added: “Our research highlighted manufacturers face a range of risks. However, these risks can be identified and mitigated by partnering with a packaging testing and integrity solutions partner.”
The Sustainable Packaging Research Survey also revealed that respondents think that new standards (52.5 %) and new legislation/regulatory requirements (41.6 %) will have the most impact on sustainable packaging innovation over the next five years.
These findings come as no surprise to Industrial Physics, as Greg Wright, Global Vice President of Sales & Marketing, explains: “Sustainable packaging involves using completely new materials where there may not be test methods already established. Processes are constantly evolving and our expertise in packaging, product and material integrity testing means we can guide manufacturers through the transition to more sustainable packaging.”
The Survey found that most companies are actively seeking sustainable packaging solutions but, in doing so, they experience a range of additional challenges. These include optimizing material performance to protect goods (53 %), passing increased material costs onto the consumer (50 %), and ability to meet safety and testing standards (49 %).
“Our customers are trying to find the right standards and how to test for those standards,” says Joshua Miller a Product Manager at Industrial Physics. “We can really help customers shape their testing, such as giving them a better way to test a product that gives them better data and still meets internal standards.”
The research offers an insight into the future of sustainable packaging and explores adaptations that manufacturers, and the industry as a whole, will need to make in order to deliver innovation and implementation around sustainable packaging materials.
Sean Kohl, Global Line Product Director for Industrial Physics, adds: “This is what testing is for and why manufacturers must test. It all centers around the idea of being able to confirm that the physical properties, whether it be strength, puncture resistance, life prediction, recyclability, or whatever can meet the performance and durability standards.”
Findings show that paper, paperboard and fiberboard plant-based biodegradable flexible packaging, along with synthetic biodegradable packaging, are the most common materials being used to replace less sustainable alternatives like plastic, paper and foil packaging.
“A lot of new materials mean that we are dealing with limited established test methods,” says Nico Frankhuizen, Manager of Product Management at Industrial Physics. “So, if a customer comes to us thinking they may need a certain type of equipment or test, we may end up advising them that a different tool might be better.”
Results of the in-depth research involved organizations around the world, ranging in size to over £1bn turnover, and follows on the back of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and other legislation in UK, Europe and USA that imposes a tax on plastic packaging items manufactured, imported or imported filled, containing less than 30 % recycled plastic.
Industrial Physics offers a range of packaging, product, and material integrity testing solutions to food and beverage, flexible packaging, medical, pharmaceutical, and coatings markets. The company adopts a collaborative approach with customers to help them work through the challenges of moving to sustainable packaging.
Elopak is deeply concerned by the tragic developments in Ukraine and stands with all those who are suffering at this time. Elopak has wholeheartedly condemned the unprovoked attack by the Government of Russia and supports the resulting economic sanctions implemented by the EU and other actors.
This war has an enormous human cost. As a result of the ongoing and escalating conflict, Elopak is today announcing the suspension of all activities in Russia with immediate effect and until further notice. Elopak’s plant in Fastiv, Ukraine, has already been temporarily closed as we work to protect the safety of our colleagues and their families.
We will continue to pay the salaries of our 336 employees directly affected until further notice. As part of the vital food supply chain, Elopak continues to monitor and evaluate the situation. We are assessing how best we can adapt our operations to support continued access to essential goods across the Eastern European Region.
Our overriding priority remains the personal safety and security of our employees in Ukraine. We are in constant touch with our co-workers in Kyiv and Fastiv and have established a steering group that is working to support them and their loved ones.
The decision is not expected to impact Elopak’s operations outside of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.
A new study by Oregon State University scientists outlines a key advance in turning apple waste into an environmentally friendly packaging material that could serve as an alternative to plastic.
Recycled newspaper has traditionally been the main ingredient of so-called molded pulp packaging products, which have become increasingly popular because they are compostable. But the supply of recycled newspaper is in decline, creating a market for substitute materials.
Yanyun Zhao, an Oregon State professor who leads a research team focusing on sustainable food packaging and processing, has studied apple pomace and other byproducts from processing fruit and vegetable juice and winemaking as an alternative for recycled newspaper in molded pulp manufacturing. She and the team received a patent for this research.
“Right now, apple pomace is typically just composted or used for animal feed,” said Zhao, whose research aims to reduce food loss and waste across the food supply chain. “We thought why not turn it into an environmentally friendly product that meets an industry need.”
Zhao envisions apple pomace being the main ingredient for molded pulp packing products such as take-out containers, flower pots, beverage cartons and bottles and clamshell packaging used for fruits and vegetables.
She is focused on apple pomace, in part, because it is readily available in the Pacific Northwest. When apples are processed for juice about 70 – 75 % of the apple goes into the juice, leaving the remaining 25 – 30 % as pomace.
One of the key problems to solve in creating pomace and paper-based packaging is improving water resistance so that it could withstand high moisture, liquid food or non-food items and products stored under high humidity conditions.
In a just-published paper in Food and Bioproducts Processing, the team sought to create eco-friendly, bio-based, compostable and cost-effective solutions that would improve the hydrophobicity, or water resistance, of the apple pomace-based molded pulp products.
They used two strategies: incorporating polymers and compounds with characteristics to improve water resistance into the pulp formulation and applying superhydrophobic coatings on the product surface. The polymers and compounds studied include lignin, chitosan and glycerol.
Lignin is a polymer that forms key structural materials in the support tissues of most plants. Rhubarb pomace, which is particularly lignin rich, was used in this study.
Chitosan is a bio-based polymer commonly used in the papermaking industry. A previous study from Zhao’s team found that chitosan reduced water absorption of cellulose nanofiber (CNF) films significantly through adsorption of chitosan onto CNF fibers via hydrogen bonds.
Finally, glycerol is an organic compound often added to a material to make it softer and more flexible. Previous studies had shown that at low levels glycerol decreased water absorption.
The researchers determined the optimal amounts of those polymers and compounds while also adding a small amount of cardboard fiber for stability of the molded pulp packaging products.
Zhao’s team has a long history of studying food coatings as a barrier to water and gases. The team had previously created a two-step preparation of superhydrophobic coating that is heat, cold and water resistant. They applied a simplified, one-step coating on the surface of the apple pomace-based product to enhance water resistance.
They concluded that the study demonstrated the feasibility of using fruit pomace as a new source of fiber in producing molded pulp packaging and effective approaches to enhancing water resistance in those packaging materials.
Co-authors of the paper are Clara Lang, Jooyeoun Jung and Taoran Wang, all of whom are former or current members of the Sustainable Food Packaging and Processing team in the Department of Food Science and Technology in Oregon State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.
The research was supported by the Oregon Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Kerr Concentrates, Inc. of Salem and Hood River Juice Company of Hood River provided fruit pomace for the research.
About the OSU College of Agricultural Sciences: Through its world-class research on agriculture and food systems, natural resource management, rural economic development and human health, the College provides solutions to Oregon’s most pressing challenges and contributes to a sustainable environment and a prosperous future for Oregonians.
Elopak and Nippon Paper Industries sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen partnership and advance collaborative efforts in the field of liquid-paper packaging.
Elopak ASA and Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd have signed a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement covers further collaboration between the two companies, looking at how potential business can be jointly developed and organised given their respective expertise, assets and networks.
Nippon Paper Industries, the largest liquid packaging player in Japan, is concentrating efforts in the field of paper packaging with the goal of contributing to the enrichment of people’s lives and the development of culture under the slogan of “Pioneering the future together with trees.” Based on the slogan “What can be done with paper,” Nippon Paper pursues the potential of paper packaging born from wood, a renewable resource, and offers a variety of proposals.
Elopak, a leading global supplier of carton packaging and filling equipment, offers sustainable packaging solutions that provide a natural and convenient alternative to plastic bottles. The MoU aligns with Elopak’s ambitions to meet the rising demand for sustainable packaging solutions by pursuing a growth strategy centered on investment in innovation; the pursuit of new business opportunities in existing and new markets across both fresh and aseptic markets; and driving the plastic to carton conversion.
The two companies have worked closely together for many years. In March 2016 they signed a product licensing agreement that allows Nippon Paper to manufacture and sell certain Pure-Pak® cartons in Japan. When Elopak listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange in June 2021, Nippon Paper entered into a cornerstone agreement to acquire shares equivalent to 5.0 % of the share capital.
Under the MoU a Steering Committee will be established, tasked with selecting and implementing collaborative themes that leverage the strengths of both companies, while increasing competitiveness and expanding sales of paper packaging to accelerate the move toward a low carbon circular economy.
Collaboration between Nippon and Elopak is built on the companies’ shared commitment to sustainability and innovation. Both companies are members of the United Nations Global Compact and incorporate the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their development strategies. They also have a shared dedication to sustainable forest management and improved recycling of their paper products.
Commenting on the MoU Elopak CEO Thomas Körmendi stated, “We are delighted to be exploring the opportunities that exist for Elopak and Nippon to collaborate further. Building on our strong track record of working together to deliver for customers, we are excited by the opportunity to leverage our relative strengths and areas of expertise to drive the adoption of sustainable packaging solutions.”
Commenting on the MoU Nippon Managing Executive Officer and General Manager of Paper-Pak Sales Division Yasuhito Obayashi noted, “We are really excited by this opportunity to grow our strong relationship with Elopak and are looking forward to collaborative value creation based on both companies’ deep expertise and strength that delivers sustainable packaging solutions to market.”
Leading branded soft drinks business, Britvic is joining forces with University of Cambridge-backed tech company Xampla in a GBP 1 million packaging innovation partnership.
After 15 years of Cambridge research, Xampla has developed the world’s first plant protein material for commercial use. This revolutionary material uses pea protein to make microscopic capsules that protect vitamins within liquid, stopping them from being broken down by sunlight.
Xampla’s work has seen the company secure GBP 1 million in funding from the UK Government’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, to scale up the technology and material processing.
The innovation is critical to delivering drinks fortified with vitamins in clear plastic bottles. Clear plastic bottles are considered a positive by consumers, with Britvic’s research showing that people are 40 % more likely to recycle clear bottles over coloured ones. However, the downside of clear bottles is that they let more UV rays in, losing the necessary protection for vitamin D.
Simon Hombersley, CEO of Xampla, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Britvic to deliver innovation that will revolutionise the drinks industry and it is extremely exciting to see what our material can do at scale. Xampla works with businesses to help solve their biggest problems while also enabling customers to meet their sustainability goals.
“Britvic has a proud history of fortifying its products with vitamins and seeking sustainability in its packaging. Our partnership is about helping to do both even more effectively. We can’t wait to get started.”
Last year, major Britvic brands Fruit Shoot and 7UP made the shift to clear bottles to drive up recycling rates and Britvic has started to add vitamins B, C and D to Robinsons Fruit & Barley.
Meanwhile, leading Irish squash brand MiWadi 0 % Sugar contains vitamins B, D and zinc and children’s favourite Fruit Shoot has been fortified with multivitamins since 2016. Added vitamins C and D help support the immune system and the growth of strong bones, while B vitamins contribute to energy release.
Sarah Webster, Director of Sustainable Business at Britvic, said: “Our work with Xampla supports our Healthier People, Healthier Planet strategy.
“By agreeing this GBP 1 million partnership with each other, we have shown the power of collaboration between established players and cutting-edge innovators to deliver Healthier People and Healthier Planet.
“Xampla technology has the makings of a ‘win-win’, enabling delivery of greater nutritional value in the drinks people love, while ensuring that more products can come to market in clear, recyclable bottles.”
Britvic has a long history of fortifying drinks with vitamins. The FTSE 250 company started life in 1845 as The British Vitamin Product Company, with a mission to provide customers with an affordable source of nutrition. The company is committed to a programme to reduce unnecessary plastic and is working with Xampla through an Innovate UK-backed grant to develop new formats for delivery of soft drinks and nutrients within drinks.
News of the Britvic partnership follows a successful Xampla world first product launch with meal kit manufacturer Gousto last year, where Xampla created an edible film to be used as wrapping for stock cubes. The trial kits – for making an Indian Spiced Carrot & Lentil soup recipe – sold out within one hour of going on sale.
About Xampla Xampla is a spin-out from the University of Cambridge. Its Supramolecular Engineered Protein has been developed over the past 15 years. It has created the world’s first plant protein material for commercial use. Its material performs like synthetic polymers, but decomposes naturally and fully without harming the environment. Xampla is the first UK University spin-out to be awarded B Corp status.
SIG has entered into an agreement to acquire 100 % of Scholle IPN, a privately held company, for an enterprise value of EUR 1.361 billion and an equity value of EUR 1.05 billion. The transaction will be funded through 33.75 million SIG shares issued from existing authorised capital and EUR 370 million cash; the existing debt of Scholle IPN will be refinanced at closing. The transaction is expected to close before the end of the third quarter of 2022 subject to customary closing conditions.
This acquisition diversifies SIG’s exposure to growing and resilient end-markets. SIG’s portfolio of market-leading sustainable food and beverage carton solutions will be expanded into bag-in-box and spouted pouches for retail, institutional and industrial customers. SIG and Scholle IPN have many similarities and are highly complementary businesses in terms of systems and product offering. The combination will unlock significant growth opportunities and value.
Founded in 1945, Scholle IPN is a leading innovator in sustainable packaging with a systems offering. It is the inventor of and global leader in bag-in-box (2 l –1,500 l capacity) and the number two in spouted pouches (50 ml – 500 ml capacity). The acquisition will therefore expand SIG’s portfolio into both larger and smaller formats. Scholle IPN is headquartered in the USA and has approximately 2,100 employees globally. Revenue in the twelve months to 31 December 2021 was EUR 474 million with adjusted EBITDA of EUR 90 million (adjusted EBITDA margin c.19 %)2. The USA accounts for around 55 % of revenue and the acquisition will significantly increase SIG’s presence in this large and attractive market. It will also enable the expansion of the Scholle IPN portfolio into the emerging markets of Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East Africa, where SIG has a well-established presence.
With this acquisition, SIG will be able to offer the most sustainable packaging solutions across a wide range of categories and product sizes. Growth in bag-in-box is being driven by the shift from rigid to flexible packaging which significantly reduces the amount of material needed to package the product. Scholle IPN has a longstanding focus on sustainability and on the light-weighting of both packaging and fitments. It is a pioneer in the development of mono-materials which are designed for recycling. Joining together the R&D capabilities of the two companies will deliver more value to customers by advancing the development of material and aseptic technology to reduce carbon emissions and food waste.
Around 70 % of Scholle IPN revenues are in food and beverages which will underpin the resilience already demonstrated by SIG’s business. The acquisition will enable SIG to build on its core strength in aseptic technology and to expand its use in both pouches and bag-in-box. It will also drive SIG’s expansion into new categories such as wine and water. Like SIG, Scholle IPN has developed long-standing customer relationships and the acquisition brings multiple cross-selling opportunities, as well as potential for an enhanced service offering for the combined customer base. In addition, run-rate cost synergies of EUR 17 million will be generated in areas such as procurement and manufacturing efficiencies.
1At current USD/EUR exchange rate 2Unaudited. At 2021 average USD/EUR exchange rate
SIG announced the launch of SIGNATURE EVO, the world’s first aluminium-free full barrier packaging materials for aseptic carton packs. SIGNATURE EVO extends SIG’s lower-carbon aluminium-free packaging materials – already available for plain white milk – for wider use with oxygen-sensitive products such as fruit juices, nectars, flavoured milk or plant-based beverages.
SIGNATURE EVO is the latest evolution in the SIGNATURE portfolio – SIG’s innovative offering of the most sustainable packaging materials available for aseptic carton packs.
SIG led the industry with the first ever aluminium-free solutions for aseptic cartons. By eliminating the need for an aluminium foil barrier layer, combibloc ECOPLUS cut the carbon footprint of SIG’s standard packaging material by 27 % when launched in 2010. SIGNATURE 100 cut this further in 2017, offering a 58 % lower carbon footprint than SIG’s standard packaging material by linking the polymers to 100 % renewable forest-based materials via a certified mass-balance system1.
With more than 1.9 billion packs now sold with these aluminium-free long-life packaging solutions for liquid dairy products, SIG has built on this success to create the first full barrier aluminium-free solutions for aseptic cartons.
SIGNATURE EVO packaging materials are expected to offer a similar carbon footprint reduction to combibloc ECOPLUS, to be confirmed through an independent, critically-reviewed life-cycle assessment. Like all SIG packs, SIGNATURE EVO is fully recyclable in existing recycling streams.
With barrier properties comparable to standard aseptic cartons that include an aluminium foil barrier layer, SIGNATURE EVO packaging materials ensure that even oxygen-sensitive products are protected over long periods of time without the need for refrigeration. This enables customers to bring the environmental benefits to many more food and beverage categories.
SIGNATURE EVO will initially be launched in the combiblocMini portion-sized format before being extended to other formats. It is suitable for both oxygen-insensitive products like plain white UHT milk and oxygen-sensitive products like fruit juices, nectars, flavoured milk or plant-based beverages.
SIGNATURE EVO enhances opportunities for customers to differentiate their products with an aluminium-free pack that offers both on-shelf appeal and stand-out environmental credentials.
In the future, it will also be available in more options such as SIGNATURE EVO 100 – SIG’s full barrier solution for aseptic carton packs linked to 100% renewable forest-based materials.
1Results based on ISO-compliant life-cycle assessment CB-100732c for Europe.
Elopak, a leading global supplier of carton packaging and filling equipment, has been awarded a platinum rating for its sustainability performance by EcoVadis, the world’s largest and most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings. This achievement places Elopak in the top 1 % of companies evaluated across all industries.
EcoVadis is a trusted sustainability ratings provider, with a global network of more than 75,000 rated companies. They assess sustainability performance; how well a company has integrated the principles of CSR into their business and management system. The methodology covers 21 criteria across four themes of environment, labour & human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. It is built on international sustainability standards, such as the Global Reporting Initiative, the United Nations Global Compact, and the ISO 26000.
Carbon neutral since 2016, Elopak was one of the first companies to sign up to the Science Based Targets initiative to keep global average temperature rise below 1.5 °C in 2019. In line with this commitment, Elopak has pledged a 55 % reduction in internal GHG emissions by 2030 and a 16 % reduction in emissions across the value chain by 2030 from a 2017 baseline. In 2021, Elopak joined the United Nations (UN) Global Compact as a participant in recognition of its commitment to advancing sustainability and working collaboratively in pursuit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
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.
Acquisition will expand wine portfolio in France, including Bordeaux.
Berlin Packaging, the world’s largest Hybrid Packaging Supplier®, announced the acquisition of Gerfran SAS, a family-owned supplier of glass packaging specializing in the wine and beverage end markets.
Founded in 1984 and acquired by Lionel Fruh in 2008, Gerfran is a unique player in the Aquitaine region of France. Headquartered in La Réole, the company specializes in the sale of wine bottles with an emphasis on Bordeaux bottles and serves wine producers of all sizes, from small vineyards to large estates. In addition to wine bottles, the company also sells bottles and jars for beer, spirits, fruit juices, and food.
With warehouses across the southwest of France, Gerfran has strong relationships with its customers, who benefit from the company’s value-added services and turnkey solutions.
Following completion of all pending transactions, Gerfran will be the 18th acquisition by Berlin Packaging in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) since 2016 and the 8th acquisition in EMEA in 2021.
All employees and locations for this acquisition will be retained.
With the acquisition of GEM Plastics Limited, Schütz is expanding its product portfolio in the field of industrial packaging and further increasing its performance for customers in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Schütz GmbH & Co KGaA, a leading manufacturer of high-quality transport packaging, has signed a purchase agreement for 100 % of the shares in GEM Plastics Limited of Ireland end of last week. The company, based in Cavan, Republic of Ireland, has been manufacturing plastic industrial packaging for over 30 years. It supplies in particular the chemical, lubricant, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. In addition to established plastic drums and jerrycans, the extensive product range also includes specific packaging solutions for individual customer requirements.
Schütz has been represented in the United Kingdom (Worksop) since 1992 and in Ireland (Killala) since 2000. From these two locations, customers are supplied promptly and effectively with IBCs and plastic drums. With the acquisition of GEM Plastics Limited, the globally operating company in the industrial packaging sector is once again significantly expanding its product range for customers in Ireland, the United Kingdom and beyond. In addition to the established IBC and plastic drum product groups, they will now also benefit from a wide range of jerrycans.
Elopak is reinforcing its presence in growth markets and investing in profitable growth with the acquisition of Naturepak Beverage Packaging Co Ltd, the leading gable top fresh liquid carton and packaging systems supplier in the MENA region.
Elopak ASA has signed a Share Purchase Agreement to acquire 100 % of Naturepak Beverage from Gulf Industrial Group Company Plc and Evergreen Packaging International LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pactiv Evergreen Inc.
Naturepak Beverage is the leading provider of fresh liquid carton and packaging systems in the MENA region with local production facilities in Morocco and Saudi Arabia, which will be integrated into Elopak’s global production network. Present in 16 countries, Naturepak Beverage has an annual production capacity of 2.7 billion cartons across various product sizes and its customers are global blue chip FMCG players and strong regional champions.
The acquisition will reinforce Elopak’s position in the region and is an important milestone in management’s ambitions to target 2-3% organic revenue growth, deliver inorganic opportunities and grow its global footprint by entering new geographies.
Thomas Körmendi (Photo: Elopak)
Commenting on the acquisition Thomas Körmendi, Chief Executive Officer of Elopak, stated: “This transaction represents an important part of the growth ambitions we outlined to our shareholders during our IPO this year. I am proud to take ownership of what we deem to be one of the highest quality assets in the region and to welcome the employees of Naturepak Beverage to the Elopak family. By establishing a presence in Morocco and Saudi Arabia we can access important growth markets and deliver Elopak’s brand portfolio to key local and international players. The transaction reflects our strong commitment to growth in the Middle East and Africa”.
Following the acquisition, Naturepak Beverage will be rebranded and incorporated under the Elopak name. The acquisition provides a strategic customer base in the fresh beverage carton segment, primarily in Morocco in fresh dairy, and gives access to growth markets in an attractive region.
Going forward Naturepak Beverage’s client base will have access to a wider fresh and aseptic product portfolio and innovative, sustainable packaging solutions developed by Elopak, with Elopak leveraging its Pure-Pak® carton portfolio and utilizing its technical expertise to drive further growth across products, segments and markets.
“Those who weren’t able to attend definitely missed out.” That was the unanimous view of the exhibitors as FACHPACK drew to a close on 30 September 2021. For three days, the trade fair for packaging, technology and processes was brimming with innovation and inspiration for the packaging sector. And the pleasure of being able to meet with customers and business partners in person was palpable throughout the exhibition halls. Goosebumps all around! A total of 788 exhibitors from 33 countries were on hand to answer specific packaging questions from about 24,000 trade visitors. Of the trade visitors, one in three had travelled to Nuremberg from outside Germany. Access to the trade fair with e-tickets and verification of “3G” status (proof of having been vaccinated, tested, or recovered from COVID) at the entrances was quick and uncomplicated. The hygiene strategy worked, with exhibitors and visitors observing the relevant regulations.
FachPack covered a comprehensive range of products from the entire packaging process chain, from packaging materials and machines to printing and processing, logistics systems and services. Forty-one percent of the exhibitors and about one-third of the visitors travelled from outside Germany, mainly from Austria, Switzerland, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Poland, France and Belgium.
The exhibitors had particular praise for the high quality of the industry professionals. That is backed up by the results of a visitor survey by an independent institute: some 90 percent of the trade visitors said they were involved in the purchasing and procurement decisions in their companies. About two-thirds of them held senior positions, and more than one in five were from management. The visitors came mainly from the food and beverage, pharmaceutical and medical, cosmetics, chemical, electronics and automotive industries.
New key theme for FACHPACK 2022: “Transition in packaging”
FACHPACK perceives itself as a guide, and aims to offer direction to the sector. The new key theme for 2022 is therefore devoted to the powerful trends currently impacting on the packaging industry. Sustainability is demanded not only by law but also by consumers – and that is making far-reaching changes to the industry. Subjects such as the circular economy, digitalization and e-commerce add to the mix. Covid-19 has brought a focus to the aspect of hygiene in product protection. In addition, areas such as online shopping and home deliveries will continue to grow. What purchasing behaviours will consumers exhibit in the future? All these themes are not only a task for the packaging industry; they also offer a major opportunity to make changes.
The next FACHPACK will take place in the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg in its usual sequence from 27 to 29 September 2022.
The global pandemic has affected the packaging solution industry by leading to a significant price increase and shortage of raw materials and components used in packaging equipment. To compensate for the rising costs and continue to provide the highest quality solutions, Sidel is implementing a commodity-induced price adjustment on its equipment by an average of 5 % effective September 6, 2021. Deficiency of raw materials and components may impact equipment delivery time as well.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Sidel has been striving to keep the same price level for its equipment despite the fact that the price of raw materials has increased significantly since 2020. Moreover, this increase is not expected to recover in the foreseeable future.
Additionally, the pandemic, combined with other external factors, has resulted in a significant shortage of microchips globally. This shortage is an outcome of supply-related disruptions, including forced closure of factories, together with an unanticipated increase in demand for personal electronics such as cell phones and laptops as people were required to work or study remotely. Both supply shortage of microchips and increase in consumption of personal electronics lead to supplier delays which might impact the overall Sidel delivery channels for the near future.
New company formed as KPS Capital Partners completes its acquisition of Crown Holdings Inc.’s EMEA food and consumer packaging business
Eviosys, a leader in the metal packaging industry with innovation and sustainability at its core, launches today as a newly formed, independent company. The business is Europe’s largest manufacturer of steel and aluminium food packaging with hundreds of global and regional food and consumer products customers.
Eviosys will focus on unique, smart packaging solutions by combining a rich heritage with an enhanced, market-leading focus on innovation, research and development. Sustainability is at the heart of Eviosys, which has a product portfolio centred on 100 % recyclable metal substrates. The Company will champion the evolution of truly sustainable packaging, developing solutions for its customers that help them meet their sustainability goals while also protecting the planet, people and communities around us.
Eviosys, with seven design studios and three laboratories across Europe, will continue its leadership role in smart packaging solutions by offering exciting, innovative ways to help customers differentiate from the competition and capture opportunities for growth.
Eviosys has the largest manufacturing footprint in the region, with 6,300 employees in 44 manufacturing facilities across 17 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). With its strategically located manufacturing facilities, Eviosys will continue its commitment to uncompromising product quality, preserving products and promoting the reputation of local and international brands in over 100 countries worldwide.
Tomás López, an industry executive with decades of experience leading packaging businesses, will lead Eviosys as its new Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Lopez previously served as CEO of Mivisa prior to its acquisition by Crown Holdings in 2014.
SIG’s second state-of-the-art production plant for aseptic carton packaging in China is now up and running. Despite challenges posed by the pandemic, the large-scale project has been successfully implemented, once again demonstrating SIG’s ongoing commitment to engineering excellence and sustainability leadership.
The new plant is located close to SIG’s existing production facility at the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), which allows for shared resources in both production and operations. The new facility is also close to SIG’s Asia Pacific Tech Center, with industry-leading innovation capabilities that bring a flow of new concepts and solutions to SIG customers. Having the Tech Centre nearby ensures SIG can keep pace with, and anticipate, new trends.
Samuel Sigrist, CEO of SIG: “The Asia Pacific region continues to be one of the major growth engines for aseptic carton packaging. The expansion of our production network will enable us to further strengthen our position in the growing Chinese market. It also means we can respond more quickly to the needs of our customers to provide holistic solutions to the food and beverage industry.”
By building a second production plant in China, SIG is committed to serving the Chinese market by providing high-quality products and services to customers across the Asia Pacific region. The entire production process in the new plant is managed intelligently, which significantly improves operational and production efficiency. The smart manufacturing system covers extrusion, printing, creasing, cutting and sealing.
Samuel Sigrist continues: “SIG has built up a strong customer base across the Asia Pacific region, providing outstanding innovation capability and end-to-end solutions for differentiated products, smarter factories and connected packs. Our close partnership with the two largest Chinese dairies, and other food and beverage companies, will continue to grow and develop.”
By 2024, the new plant will cover an area of 120,000 square metres and is expected to have an annual production capacity of 8 billion carton packs. It has been designed and built to have the lowest possible carbon emissions, with an artistic combination of classical Chinese garden and modern elements. Photovoltaic panels on the roofs can provide 1.5 million kWh of solar energy and collected rainwater is also reused after treatment to save around 28,000 tonnes of tap water per annum. In addition to energy-saving lighting devices, special lighting systems are installed to significantly reduce electricity consumption.
The new plant’s best-in-class environmental, safety and operation performance has already been recognised with a prestigious international industry certification: LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold certification for building design and construction. LEED is a green building certification programme created by the U.S. Green Building Council which is used worldwide. SIG’s new packaging plant was the first plant in China’s aseptic packaging industry to be built in strict accordance with the LEED gold certification standard.
Ball Corporation, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of infinitely recyclable aluminium beverage packaging, is planning to significantly increase its manufacturing capacity, with new cutting-edge facilities in the UK and Russia.
With an increasing consumer call for more sustainable purchasing options and a growing number of new brands and beverage categories choosing cans, demand for aluminium packaging is rapidly expanding around the world. Each facility would produce, from 2023, billions of cans a year across a range of formats and sizes, and provide up to 200 skilled jobs in a fast-growing but stable sector.
In the UK, Ball has identified a site at the SEGRO Park Kettering Gateway, an established industrial development in Northamptonshire. Ball has submitted its formal application to North Northamptonshire Council and anticipates breaking ground during 2021, following a period of public consultation.
The planned Kettering plant will represent Ball’s third beverage can manufacturing facility in the UK, adding capacity to its established plants in Milton Keynes and Wakefield. The plant will supply cans for domestic customers in a growing range of categories, which now includes hard seltzers, wines, ready to drink cocktails, together with pure and enhanced water brands.
To serve the fast growing Russian market, especially in the beer and energy drinks categories, Ball is planning to build a plant in Ulyanovsk in Western Russia. Ball Beverage Packaging Naro-Fominsk has signed a cooperation agreement for its construction with the Ulyanovsk Regional Government, who in June also awarded the development ‘Highly Significant Investment Project’ status.
The Ulynavosk plant will take the total in Russia to four, with established manufacturing facilities in Naro-Fominsk, Moscow Region; Vesvolozhsk, St. Petersburg Region; and Argayash, Chelyabinsk Region.
When FACHPACK gets to open its doors again at Exhibition Centre Nuremberg from 28 to 30 September 2021, it will be the first major gathering of the European packaging industry for two years and a much longed-for reunion. Over the three-day period, the exhibition will focus on personal dialogue between business partners and colleagues and knowledge-sharing about trends, innovations and best practices. The main FACHPACK theme of “environmentally compliant packaging” will also be reflected in the extensive programme of presentations and at the special shows and exhibitor stands. Apart from sustainability, the key areas to be explored will be altered consumer behaviours, packaging design, and digital transformation. Start-ups will also be on- site to present their innovative ideas and products. And the best packaging solutions will be acknowledged at the ceremony for the German Packaging Award (dvi) and Sustainability Award (Packaging Europe). Visitors from the consumer and industrial goods segments are cordially invited to attend FACHPACK in Nuremberg. A comprehensive hygiene plan will ensure a safe visit to the exhibition.
myFACHPACK: the digital extension to the on-site event
A new feature this year is myFACHPACK, the digital extension to FACHPACK that facilitates matchmaking and knowledge transfer and extends the on-site event into the virtual environment. Even in the run-up to the trade fair, the new tool provides opportunities for networking and thus enables users to efficiently prepare for their visit. In addition, the forum programmes will be live streamed during the event and made available afterwards. The myFACHPACK tool can be used on your desktop or as an app on your mobile phone.
Hygiene plan makes in-person networking possible
Extensive protective measures and a comprehensive hygiene plan have been developed to ensure the safety of participants in the fair. Contactless payment, online ticket booking, hand sanitising stations, an ultra-modern ventilation system for exhibition halls and congress rooms, and digital tools for registration of admissions and contact tracing are just a few examples of the precautions that will be in place. “Community areas” in the exhibition halls will allow face-to-face networking in compliance with social distancing rules. For more information on the hygiene plan and protective measures (under the current rules) please go to: www.fachpack.de/schutzmassnahmen
Smurfit Kappa’s Bag-in-Box division has announced the completion of a significant EUR 12 million investment in a new flexible material production facility at its plant in Ibi, Spain. The new state-of-the-art production facility commenced operations, on a phased basis, earlier this year and will be one of the most advanced Bag-in-Box manufacturing plants in Europe.
The investment has resulted in the addition of an extra 4,300 m2 production area which will be equipped with high-tech and advanced machinery which allows for more specialisation in the manufacture of film. The new machinery will allow the plant to complete the full production cycle of Bag-in-Box packaging solutions, from start to finish. This integrated production model means not only quicker and more efficient service to customers, but also a considerable reduction of the environmental impact – up to 21 % less estimated CO2 emissions for the current flexible materials portfolio.
Commenting on the investment, Thierry Minaud, CEO of Smurfit Kappa Bag-in-Box, said: “This strategic investment represents an important step for Smurfit Kappa Bag-in Box Spain. In addition to introducing innovative technology to create a fully integrated plant for Bag-in-Box production, it will allow us to increase our production capacity to better respond to market demands.”
Victor Juan, Film Manager at Smurfit Kappa Ibi added: “These new facilities will accelerate the development of new, more sustainable films with the highest performance to meet the needs of our customers for high quality Bag-in-Box packaging solutions, and further strengthen our commitment to the environment.”
The Ibi manufacturing plant in Spain has been in operation for 45 years. The number of employees at the plant has more than doubled since it was acquired by Smurfit Kappa in 2007.
Since the financial and economic crisis, there has only ever been an upwards trend for food processing and packaging machinery. In 2020, the 10-year growth phase in tis mechanical engineering sector came to a temporary end with a decrease of 9 percent to 13.9 billion euros.
“The drop in production doesn’t come as a surprise, as 2019 was an exceptionally strong year for our industry. Even without the Corona pandemic, we would have probably only just exceeded this high level,” explains Richard Clemens, Managing Director of the VDMA Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association.
In the packaging machinery sector, production dropped by a total of 8 percent to 6.7 billion euros. In food processing machinery, the change rates varied in the individual subsectors. Production of meat processing machinery slightly increased to over 1.2 billion euros. The demand also remained stable for bakery machinery. Both subsectors reported a good domestic business, which overcompensated the decrease in exports.
Production of confectionery machinery dropped by 18 percent below the very high level of the previous year. There was also a double-digit drop in the production of beverage machinery. “These two sectors are very active in non-European countries and are among those suffering from the Corona pandemic. In addition, the customers of these industries include many multinationals that have simply frozen their investment projects,” says Clemens, explaining the different developments.
Corona- pandemic weakens export business
Exports of food processing and packaging machinery dropped by a total of 8 percent to 8.5 billion euros in 2020. The decline varied greatly from one sub-sector to another. Manufacturers of packaging machinery, meat processing machinery and bakery machinery recorded downturns of 5 to 6 percent. Confectionery machinery was down by 24 percent, and brewery machinery saw a 38 percent drop in exports. However, the reference values of the previous year were also exceptionally high in these two sectors. The severe impact on the brewery machinery sector is also directly related to the limited or complete standstill of business activity in the hotel and catering industry as a result of the Corona crisis.
From a regional point of view, foreign shipments of food processing and packaging machinery decreased in almost all economic regions in 2020, except of North America. In particular, deliveries from Germany to the USA increased by 8 percent to over 1.2 billion euros. Positive impetus also came from important individual markets, such as Russia, Mexico and China.
However, deliveries to the EU-27 as the most important sales region dropped by 15 percent. Exports to Asia also decreased by a significant double-digit percentage.
Outlook
According to current estimations, a return to the 2019 level is not very likely for 2021. “We do expect production to grow this year, but it is unlikely to be in double digits,” says Clemens. The general outlook for the industry is positive, according to the trade association’s managing director, as the sector’s companies are well positioned internationally and continue to benefit from a rising global demand for processed and packaged food, beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
The VDMA represents around 3,300 German and European mechanical and plant engineering companies. The industry stands for innovation, export orientation, small and medium-sized enterprises and employs around four million people in Europe, more than one million of them in Germany only.
SIG announced that it will construct a new plant in Queretaro, Mexico to serve North American markets. The plant will further expand SIG’s global production network and will enable the company to build on its strong track record of growth in North America.
Through its existing sales and service presence, SIG has been able to forge strong relationships with major dairies in Mexico, a large and growing milk market. In the USA, SIG has a well established co-manufacturing customer base and is ideally placed to serve innovative and expanding new categories.
SIG will invest around €40 million in the new plant over the period 2021-2023. The investment will cover state-of-the art production capacity for the printing, cutting and finishing of carton packs. The plant is expected to open in the first quarter of 2023 and will create around 200 jobs. It will have a highly flexible layout with a focus on ergonomics and the environment. Land and buildings will be financed through a long-term lease with an NPV of approximately €20 million.
Tetra Pak announced it is ready to deploy its portfolio of tethered cap solutions. The portfolio brings numerous benefits to food and beverage manufacturers and consumers, as the company builds on its vision of the most sustainable food package. These benefits include minimising litter, as the cap will stay attached to the package. The carbon footprint can also be reduced because the company’s tethered caps are planned to become available as a plant-based option, therefore increasing the renewable content of the package.
U-paper straw on Tetra Pak carton package (Photo: Tetra Pak)
In tandem, the company is accelerating the expansion of its paper straws offering to ensure further renewable and low carbon materials across the range of packaging solutions. The aim of this is to address a broad range of customer sustainability needs without compromising on food safety, while still delivering on the end-user drinking experience.
Lars Holmquist, Executive Vice President Packaging Solutions and Commercial Operations, Tetra Pak, says: “These are key milestones in our journey towards the world’s most sustainable food package: a carton that is fully made from renewable or recycled materials, is fully recyclable and carbon-neutral. We consistently strive to deliver products and services that adds value to food and people while protecting the planet. Our promise, ‘PROTECTS WHAT’S GOOD™,’ allied with this strong purpose means we are providing customers with innovative products that also meet the rapidly changing demands of society.”
Tetra Pak’s tethered caps and paper straws developments mark the latest additions to its range of responsible end-to-end solutions, allowing manufacturers to achieve their ambitions in three essential areas – food safety, food waste and the environment – simultaneously.
Lars Holmquist (Photo: Tetra Pak)
Holmquist continues: “Approximately 32 % of all plastic packaging is not collected and plastic can take hundreds of years to degrade[1]. We focus on recycling by design, committing to invest approximately € 100 million per year over the next 5 – 10 years to develop more sustainable packaging solutions. This includes alternatives to replace fossil-based plastics and avoid littering, as well as maximising the use of renewable, responsibly sourced materials in our packages. Addressing people’s needs for recycling is a critical component for not only becoming more sustainable but making food more available and safer for all consumers.”
These steps are also central to ensuring that Tetra Pak’s customers in Europe will be ready to comply with the Single Use Plastics (SUP) Directive, an integral part of the wider approach announced in the Plastics Strategy and an important element of the EU Circular Economy Action Plan[2].
With this in mind, Tetra Pak has accelerated innovation in the caps domain. Holmquist adds: “The significant challenge of deploying tethered caps is the scale of the change that this brings across the value chain. If we look at Europe alone, more than 1,000 packaging lines supplied by us will be potentially transformed, translating into over 20 billion packages which are expected to be converted. All of that in three years, while minimising impact on our customers’ operations, optimising the consumer experience and contributing to both minimising litter and creating a carton package with increased plant-based and recycled content.”
Tetra Pak is progressing on this complex journey by working seamlessly across various project streams. Overall, this covers approximately 40 different packages with tethered caps. Those caps are all planned to become available as a plant-based option. The first one to be released on the market is the HeliCap™ 26 Pro closure. This product features a new screw and flip concept with a self-locking hinge, securing food protection while providing convenience for in-home consumption. Its opening and closing mechanism has proven popular with consumers, demonstrating that the solution is delivering further benefits in addition to meeting legislative requirements[3].
Holmquist concludes: “We won’t stop here. We are continuously innovating our sustainable openings offering. We envision a world where carton packages never become waste and where every carton is collected and recycled.”
[1]Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation, https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/ [2]Main objective of Directive 2019/904 is the prevention and reduction of marine litter from single-use plastic items. The implementation of this directive into EU member states’ national legislation will lead to a ban of selected products from the market, whenever affordable alternatives are available, among other measures. While bans on plastic straws will come into force by July 2021, EU-based beverage producers, retailers and manufacturers, as well as importers, are obliged to implement tethered caps and lids – designed to remain attached to containers – by July 2024. [3]Source: consumer research conducted in Spain, Italy and Poland in November 2019, with 300 consumers through face to face interviews, focussed on HeliCap™ 26 Pro opening on Tetra Prisma® Aseptic 1000 Square package.
