Speaking on the launch of the report, Elopak’s Sustainability Director Marianne Groven stated, “To be sustainable in business is not only possible, it is highly necessary. Maintaining healthy growth without exploiting natural or human resources is essential.” Sustainability is at the heart of Elopak’s mission to provide consumers with a natural and convenient alternative to plastic bottles that fit within a low carbon circular economy. The company has previously recorded a number of key environmental milestones including the reduction of its emissions by 70 per cent between 2008 and 2018 and the attainment of carbon neutrality in 2016. In the introduction to the report CEO Thomas Körmendi sets out the context for Elopak’s ever-strengthening focus on sustainability stating, “2019 was a year of many global challenges. We saw teenagers on strike for climate change. We saw the Amazon on fire. We saw hurricanes and flooding, and terrorist attacks. We saw politicians struggling to agree on how to tackle the global challenges ahead. Lately we have also seen how the whole world can rapidly change and adjust to forces greater than ourselves.” “We recognize our part in the global struggle to preserve the planet for future generations,” Körmendi continues. “In 2019, Elopak strengthened the focus on sustainability, thoroughly embedding sustainability as part of our overall business strategy. A set of goals and strategic initiatives were anchored in the Board of Directors and several projects have been initiated in various business units. Elopak was one out of 87 companies, and the first packaging company, to lead the way towards a 1.5°C future at the UN Climate Action Summit,” he explains. As one of the first companies to have signed up to the Science Based Targets initiative commitment to keep the rise in global average temperature below 1.5°C, Elopak continues to push itself towards new sustainability goals. These include a 55 per cent reduction of internal GHG emissions by 2030, and a 16 per cent reduction in emissions across the value chain by 2030 from a 2017 baseline, as approved by the Science Based Targets initiative. Other targets include a 70 per cent recycling rate in the EU and Canada by 2025, a sustainability evaluation of key suppliers by 2022, and 100 per cent certified forestry in Elopak cartons. Innovation is set to play a key role in helping Elopak meet its ambitious targets going forward, with the company increasing R&D spending by 25 per cent between 2017 and 2019. Recent innovation efforts contributed to the launch of Elopak’s most environmentally friendly carton to date – the Pure-Pak® Imagine. Launched in 2020, the carton is a modern version of the company’s original Pure-Pak® carton, containing 46 per cent less plastic and designed with a new easy open feature. It has no plastic screw cap and is 100 per cent forest-based made with Natural Brown Board.

The QR code allows consumers to trace the coffee back to its origin, and access data pertaining to the coffee farmers, the time of harvest, roasting period and shipping certifications – all using US-based food-tech company IBM Food Trust’s blockchain technology platform.

The codes will appear on packaging for the company’s Summer 2020 range – a new collection of 100% Rainforest Alliance-certified whole bean, roast and ground-coffee product packs.

On the launch of the new packaging, the company said: “Nestlé continues to leverage technologies to create better visibility of the whole value chain of its products, and lead in making supply chains more transparent.”

This packaging innovation appeals to an ethical cohort of sustainably minded coffee drinkers, as covered in Meet the New Coffee Consumers, and leverages blockchain technology, first covered in Coffee’s Next Chapter.

Read also Faux Coffee that Skips the Bean, Solid Coffee Bars Combat Waste and Blockchain Influences Coffee Supply for more on sustainable-coffee innovation.

Meanwhile, Mainstreaming Eco Packaging and The Logistic of Less part of our Packaging Futures 20/21 Spotlight Trend, deep dives into the future of eco-aligned packaging.

Full recyclability is becoming one of the most important prerequisites for food packaging. While many current products adopt multi-material solutions and are thus not recyclable, monomaterial PE-based packaging meets the requirements for circularity and thus contributes to global sustainability goals.

RKW Group and SAES Coated Films have developed a new high barrier PE film that aims for performance and recyclability at the highest levels. The first customers have already successfully produced recyclable mono-material pouches, also with zip, demonstrating the production efficiency and reliability of the film.

The base film is RKW’s MDO-PE, which combines excellent processability, high temperature resistance and the use of top-notch recycled materials. It can replace stiff films such as polyester or nylon, commonly laminated with PE in multi-material packaging, thus enabling the design of mono-material PE packaging.

To ensure the barrier performance required by the market, SAES applies COATHINK®, a combination of water-based deposition and metallisation that reduces oxygen and water vapour permeation to rates below 1. The barrier material represents less than 1-2% the weight of the packaging, as recommended by the main international guidelines on recycling.

With the plastics industry moving toward sustainable solutions and contributing to a circular economy, the innovative film from RKW and SAES Coated Films meets current legislative demands. Just as importantly, it offers customers a future-proof, recyclable and reliable packaging solution.

Announced in 2021, the tethered cap is one of the latest innovations launched by Elopak. The Pure-TwistFlip™ has been designed so that the closure remains attached to the carton throughout its entire lifecycle, thereby reducing the risk of it being littered. It complies with the EU’s Single-Use Plastic Directive, which was introduced as part of efforts to reduce the impact of certain plastic products in the environment and tackle marine littering.

The Pure-TwistFlip™ 29i is also Elopak’s lightest screw cap to date, helping to reduce the use of plastics. It can be combined with any Pure-Pak® carton to create an original packaging solution that prioritises the environment, safety and consumer convenience.

Commenting on the announcement Elopak CMO Patrick Verhelst stated, “We are delighted to share the news that our tethered cap solution will soon be available to customers. The Pure-TwistFlip™ is a fantastic addition to our current portfolio of opening features that meets the tethering requirements of the EU’s Single-Use Plastic Directive well ahead of its deadline in 2024.”

“As Elopak’s lightest screw cap to date, the Pure-TwistFlip™ 29i also represents a great option for our customers outside the EU who are looking to adopt more sustainable packaging solutions. We look forward to supporting those who choose to make the transition in the coming weeks and months,” he continued.

The cap itself is produced by United Caps. Speaking on the company’s partnership with Elopak, United Caps CEO Benoit Henckes said, “We have an ethos that we are ‘better united’. It makes us proud that world-class brands like Elopak recognise our differentiating ability to create breakthrough on the shelf.”

He added, “Innovating together on the Pure-TwistFlip™ meant combining our 80+ years of experience in cap design with Elopak’s outstanding packaging concept to bring together elements of usability and sustainability. The result is a tethered closure that performs for today and for tomorrow.”

Elopak’s iconic Pure-Pak® cartons are made using renewable, recyclable and sustainably sourced materials. They offer customers a natural and convenient alternative to plastic bottles.

Previous innovations launched by Elopak have a strong focus on sustainability and reducing the use of plastics, reflecting the company’s commitment to contributing to a net zero circular economy for packaging. These include the Pure-Pak® Imagine carton, which is a modern version of the company’s original Pure-Pak® carton that comes without a screw cap. Designed with a new easy open feature, it contains 46 per cent less plastic and is 100 per cent forest-based. Elopak’s Natural Brown Board cartons are renewable, recyclable and have a lower carbon footprint than conventional cartons owing to reduced wood consumption, one less layer and fewer bleaching chemicals.

This technology is the future of product interaction with consumers, which distributes product messaging to consumers via hologram in a fun and interactive way. Without requiring any specialized equipment, ARitize CPG lets brands easily create interactive experiences with smart packaging for POS, online and in-home to increase confidence, encourage repeat buyers and reduce returns.

This deal showcases Nextech as a solutions provider in a new industry for the Company: food products, and showcases Bothwell Cheese as a forward-thinking brand which is engaging consumers in an innovative way to capture minds and market share. As a provider of premier artisanal cheese varieties, Bothwell is the first food products provider that Nextech has contracted for its ARitize CPG on their product labels. This opens the door to a huge opportunity in the food products/services industry worldwide, as the technology is both engaging and scalable. Nextech has already entered into the food services industry as an augmented reality technology partner with their recent contract with Restaurants Canada. As more businesses both in this industry and others around the globe are looking for unique ways to connect with their customers, Nextech’s ARitize CPG offers a unique solution in the marketplace.

Announced in 2020, Nextech launched is groundbreaking AR human hologram marketing platform. Formerly known as Genie AR/Genie in a Bottle, this product has been rebranded to ARitize CPG (CPG = Consumer Packaged Goods) and is an Augmented Reality hologram experience, triggered by a visual anchor such as a QR code placed on product packaging, in-store aisles or end-cap displays. This interactive AR hologram takes smart packaging to a new level with exciting 3D objects, innovative visual effects and engaging episodic content. Nextech’s Aritize CPG is part of the Smart Packaging market, which Vantage Market Research estimates will reach over $33B by 2021 with a CAGR of 12%.

Evan Gappelberg, CEO of Nextech AR commented, “This is the first of many exciting augmented reality consumer packaged goods launches happening. We are proud to partner with a great, innovative brand like Bothwell Cheese, who understands the value of these interactive AR experiences and the benefits it brings to both their brand and their consumers. Bothwell Cheese is distributed in hundreds of stores across Canada, meaning our technology and the Bothwell Cheese chef (appearing as a human hologram) will be seen by thousands if not millions of consumers, demonstrating the power of using augmented reality in marketing.”

Milena Zekic, Marketing Manager at Bothwell Cheese commented, “Bothwell Cheese is proud to be the pioneer in leveraging Nextech’s ARitize CPG experience on the new line of our lactose-free cheeses. By scanning the QR code on the packaging, consumers will be introduced to Bothwell’s own chef John via a floor anchored human hologram, who will walk them through our lactose-free cheese portfolio, and explain the key benefits of our new products. Additionally, consumers will be prompted to download a $1 off digital coupon, that can be redeemed at any store in Canada where the product is listed, along with an option to review the recipes made with our lactose-free cheeses. This unique marketing tool will bring consumers one step closer to our new product line, helping them get educated on our cheeses, while enjoying the premium taste and quality of our products.”

Coles’ Together to Zero waste ambition sees the supermarket continue to work with industry partners, suppliers, and customers to reduce waste and unnecessary plastics. 

Scoops from Coles Tropical Paradise and Coles Ultra Original and Sensitive laundry powders will be removed from April 1.

The new scoopless laundry powders will be specially marked with ‘Reducing our Impact’, with the packaging featuring a light green lid, ensuring customers can easily spot the packs. 

As shoppers become increasingly mindful of their plastic consumption, Coles is proud to offer customers a range of products without unnecessary plastic packaging, as well as recyclable packaging alternatives that do not compromise on quality or value.

Coles General Manager Own Brand, Quality & Responsible Sourcing Charlotte Rhodes said the removal of plastic scoops from laundry packs was another important step in Coles working toward its ambition of becoming Australia’s most sustainable supermarket, with 87% of Coles Own Brand and Coles Own Liquor Brand primary packaging already recyclable.

“As customers look to live and shop more sustainably, Coles is leading the way in innovation and value, offering customers quality options across household necessities that won’t hurt the planet or the budget. As part of our Together to zero waste journey, Coles is proud to provide customers with more sustainable solutions,” she said. 

“Removing plastic scoops from Coles Brand laundry packs is a small step we can take with our customers that will reduce our environmental footprint. In addition to our wider sustainability initiatives, every change and commitment we make toward a greener future helps to create a better Australia for generations to come.”

Customers who may still have plastic measuring scoops from Coles Brand detergents are encouraged to hold on to their scoops and reuse them. But while the plastic scoops in new packs will be removed from this week, packaging will still provide clear detergent dose instructions to help customers with measuring their powder without a scoop. 

Following the unveiling of Coles’ Sustainability Strategy in June 2021, Coles has continued to make strides in its sustainability journey by working Together to Zero emissions and waste, as well as working Better Together with our Coles Brand suppliers to support farming and sourcing practices that are ethical, transparent, and sustainable.

Coles affirmed its commitment to packaging sustainability in 2021 by joining the Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands Plastics Pact (ANZPAC) as a founding member and continuing to work toward the Government’s 2025 packaging targets.

Coles also recently celebrated 10 years of working with soft plastics recycling organisation, REDcycle. Through the partnership, Coles customers have returned more than 1.2 billion pieces of soft packaging to Coles supermarkets since 2011. The soft plastic is then recycled into a range of products including outdoor furniture, playground equipment and is even used in some Coles carparks.

EPL today announced a major conversion of a leading brand partner Vicco Labs to 100% recyclable packaging. Vicco labs and EPL have jointly worked to convert Vicco's 'Turmeric' range of products to recyclable Platina tubes. 

Platina 250, 300 & 350 Lamitubes have been recognized by the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), USA as meeting or exceeding the strict APR HDPE critical guidance criteria on recyclability. 

Both Vicco Labs and EPL teams have worked together to do the required testing and ensure quality protocols are met before the products are launched in the market. 

Vicco is one of the early movers to recyclable tube format, which is in line with its vision to convert to recyclable packaging. This set of products has converted the Vicco Turmeric Skin Cream, Vicco Turmeric Aloe Vera Skin Cream, Vicco Turmeric WSO Cream, and Vicco Turmeric Face Wash range to recyclable packaging. It is now available in Modern Trade, E-Commerce Platforms & Traditional Trade platforms.