When it comes to sustainability, paperboard packaging presents a fully recyclable alternative to plastic blister packaging. So when Carma Labs, the Franklin, WI makers of Carmex® Lip Balm, approached Colbert Packaging for a specialty packaging solution, Colbert’s packaging engineers chose the EnviroGuard® product, a 100% paperboard formed tray. Judging by repeat orders, and the reaction of one happy customer via a TikTok video with nearly 30,000 views, the Mini 5-pack rollout was a hit!

In addition to seeking a more environmentally-friendly packaging solution, Carma Labs required that the solution would communicate product features and accommodate more product in the package, while maintaining a clear brand identity. “Today’s shoppers rely on visual cues to hasten the hundreds of decisions they need to make,” said Wanda Speer, Marketing Manager for Colbert Packaging. “Once they’ve made a commitment to brand loyalty, their eyes search for the familiar package. When Carma Labs asked for a sustainably-sourced alternative to the plastic blister, our packaging engineers looked to our 100% paperboard formed tray solution.”

As a business best practice, Colbert continues to innovate with paperboard packaging solutions using less material, increased recyclability, water- and agri-based inks, coatings and adhesives. “Our formed tray solution is continuously improving and evolving, based on customer demand,” says Colbert President John Lackner. “We can emboss for an upscale or 3-D effect, add cold foil decoration, pilfer-resistance, anti-counterfeiting or security devices. There is no limit on creativity with this product.” Read the complete EnviroGuard – Carmex Case study here.

The new packaging is recycled from waste plastic collected by communities in coastal areas across the world. The move will prevent a claimed 76 tonnes of plastic entering the ocean each year, equivalent to three million bottles.

Produced by Sharpak, part of Groupe Guillin, and supplied by Bantam Materials, the so-called “prevented ocean plastic” is said to be of fully traceable provenance.

Aldi is one of a number of supermarkets to have introduced packaging recycled from ocean-bound plastic waste. Last year, Lidl launched fresh fish packaging partly made by recycling plastic waste collected from beaches in southeast Asia. Waitrose this week said it would use prevented ocean plastic, also supplied by Bantam, for 71 products ranging from fruit & veg to 13 new ready meal lines.

Aldi has also reduced the size of its fishcake packaging, which will save a claimed further 32 tonnes of plastic annually, along with 23 tonnes of cardboard from its Specially Selected lines.

“These changes will see us use less packaging overall, and also repurpose plastic that could otherwise end up polluting our oceans,” said Aldi UK plastics and packaging director Richard Gorman.

“This is the latest in a series of initiatives we are rolling out to reduce our environmental impact and offer our customers even more environmentally sustainable options when they shop at Aldi.”

Bantam Materials director Raffi Schieir said: “We developed prevented ocean plastic to be part of the solution to ocean plastic pollution and are delighted to be working with Groupe Guillin and Aldi to provide customers with a better plastic choice.”

Aldi last year pledged to halve the volume of plastic packaging it uses by 2025, a target that is set to see 74,000 tonnes of the material removed from products over the next four years.

The supermarket said today it was also on track to make all own-label packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2022, and hit the same target for branded products by 2025.

The initiative is part of the Better M programme through which the company carries out a series of local actions with the aim of replacing plastic packaging with more environmentally friendly alternatives. Thus, McDonald’s Romania aligns to the company global commitment that, by 2025, the packaging intended for customers in all its restaurants will be 100% produced from renewable, recycled or certified sources.

“We align with McDonald’s global promise to replace all plastic packaging by 2025 and contribute to meet the objectives by constantly developing and implementing new solutions in Romania. At the same time, we make sure that we maintain highest product standards and the best experience for our customers. Gradually, through all these actions, we are taking important steps and we estimate that we will reduce the amount of plastic used in our restaurants in 2021 by 120 tonnes. We will continue to test different alternatives to meet customer preferences, but also our goal to build a sustainable future with them, as part of the process of constant improving packaging solutions,” said Paul Dragan, Managing Director of Premier Restaurants Romania.

The Better M programme includes all the actions carried out by McDonald’s in Romania with the aim of constantly improving the materials for the product packaging in order to reduce the amount of plastic used in restaurants and achieve the global goals by 2025.

In Romania, these steps have been gradually implemented since last year:

• January 2020 – the first step was made by replacing the packaging of McFlurry ice cream with a cardboard one without a plastic lid;
• October 2020 – the “Straw on request” initiative was launched, through which straws were offered to customers only on request;
• February 2021 – plastic straws were replaced with paper, biodegradable and compostable straws, which are still offered on request.
• May-June 2021 – a new salad packaging from cardboard and wooden cutlery are introduced

This year, the packaging of McSundae ice cream will also be replaced with a new alternative, and the efforts to contribute to a more sustainable future will continue in the coming years.

Creation, which partners with printers and converters to deliver high quality reprographic services, has used its insights to the packaging design and print sector to outline how brands are using reprographics more strategically in support of wider sustainability targets.

Matt Francklow, Managing Director at Creation, said: “We all know the trials and tribulations of the packaging sector over the past year, but we’re currently looking ahead to a serious uplift in innovation. For printers, the sole focus on volume and efficiency is set to soften and ‘greener’ design and production put back into focus, reflecting the restored consumer interest in eco-friendly packaging.

“Significantly, we are seeing a fresh role for reprographics in printers’ sustainability strategies. Far beyond ‘just’ colour management, engaging tactile finishes, control of half tones, inks, finishes and other intricate prepress variables, reprographics can proactively help to create a more effective and sustainable packaging and label supply chain. Ahead of critical changes such as the Net Zero carbon targets, an effective repro partner can help to reduce waste, in terms of material, energy, time and cost and underpin sustainability efforts.”

The business also commented on some of the exciting flexographic technology available to printers, which underlines where prepress can support sustainability development.

Matt continued: “One of the most exciting opportunities on the table for printers is the chance to finally give solvents the boot. We all saw the spiralling cost of solvents as ethanol was diverted to sanitisation applications – but with today’s plate technology, solvents can be surplus to requirements. We champion Asahi AWP™ water-washable flexo plates that cut harmful VOC washout entirely out of the equation.

“What our customers find, time and again, is that on top of reducing energy use and CO₂ output in the packaging and label supply chain, the plates boost quality and consistency with ‘Pinning Technology for Clean Transfer’, unlocking kiss-touch printing pressures and enhanced repeatability.”

Creation puts sustainable principles at the forefront of its business, helping printers to integrate greener technologies into their print operations. The company has previously issued its Project Zero commitments, which combine an enhanced and better-optimised packaging and label prepress with heightened environmental awareness at both a corporate and individual level.

Matt concluded: “Like much of the packaging and label sector, we’re in a great position to rethink sustainability. Consumers want more holistically responsible packaging, which means that the supply chain choice must be just as environmentally focused as the substrate selection. We’re seeing reprographics take a more central role, which is extremely encouraging for the future of packaging design and print.”

For more information, please visit www.creation-repro.com

"Our packaging is a part of our heritage and our storytelling. Beyond its iconic image, we want KFC's packaging to be forward-thinking, inspiring, and to champion functionality, food safety and eco-friendly solutions," said Armando Carrillo, Innovation Manager, KFC Canada. "We have continued to accelerate our efforts and push the boundaries to bring more environmentally sustainable packaging solutions to market, including our recent move to bamboo poutine buckets. A fully home compostable packaging line is the ultimate win for us and for the environment."

To celebrate this new commitment, KFC Canada is partnering with Toronto-based artist, Briony Douglas to design and create an iconic KFC bucket installation made entirely out of home compostable materials. The installation, which Douglas will complete over 25 days – a nod to the 2025 commitment, will be revealed on June 30.

Parfums Christian Dior is the first of LVMH's major historic Houses to introduce Eastman Cristal^™ Renew copolyester, with 30% certified recycled content,* for its Dior Addict Lip Maximizer packaging that hits shelves this summer. Eastman and LVMH will continue to work together on sustainable packaging solutions across LVMH's family of distinguished brands, with additional adoption expected over the next several months.

"Our collaboration with Eastman marks a critical milestone towards progressively eliminating fossil-fuel-based plastics from our packaging. With our recently published LIFE 360 program, we made the decision that our packaging will contain zero plastic from virgin fossil resources in the years ahead," said Hélène Valade, LVMH environmental development director.

"Eastman's innovative molecular recycling technologies are playing a crucial role in helping LVMH achieve our sustainability targets," said Valade. "We are at the very beginning of our journey to meet our targets. With our first deadline in 2023, we need solutions that are available now and at a global scale, ensuring our customers experience these benefits immediately."

Introduced in late 2020, Eastman's portfolio of sustainable resins for cosmetic packaging builds on its long history of innovation and knowledge of the cosmetics industry.

Eastman's groundbreaking Advanced Circular Recycling technologies produce resins from mixed waste plastic rather than fossil-based feedstocks. These innovative molecular recycling technologies divert waste plastic from landfills, give waste plastic new life, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions relative to traditional production.

With Eastman's technologies, brands can meet their ambitious targets for recycled content right now and maintain the premier aesthetics and function that luxury consumers expect.

"LVMH is staking out a leadership position among luxury brand houses by taking bold action to achieve environmental excellence," said Scott Ballard, vice president and general manager, specialty plastics, Eastman. "We are proud to be working with LVMH and to provide the technology and products that will help them deliver on their circular economy goals."

With the bioplastic Röchling-BioBoom, Röchling Automotive is the first company on the market to have a patented polylactide (PLA)-based biopolymer that consists of at least 90 percent renewable raw materials. In this way, the company offers an ecological and economical alternative to most conventional materials such as polyester (PC, PET, PBT) but also polystyrene (ABS), polyolefins (such as PP) and polyamides (PA6).

‘We want to support our customers in the development of environmentally friendly vehicles and thus help shape the transformation of the industry towards a sustainable one,’ explains Prof. Dr. Hanns-Peter Knaebel, Chairman of the Board of Management and CEO of Röchling Automotive. ‘With our bioplastics, we are bringing a sustainable solution to the market that originates from a completely self-controlled supply chain - from renewable resources to the automobile manufacturers’. Röchling Automotive has built up internal expertise in materials development over many years in cooperation with various partners.

With significant improvements in terms of thermal stability and chemical resistance compared to standard PLA, the new biopolymer family meets the company's high technical requirements and specifications.

Röchling BioBoom enables greenhouse gas emission savings that are about 70 percent higher than those of PP and almost 90 percent higher than those of PA6. This means that if the proportion of petrochemical plastics in a mid-sized car is replaced by Röchling Automotive's bioplastics, 515 kilograms of CO2 emissions can be saved per vehicle production.

Three standard types of Röchling Automotive biopolymers are currently available, which are suitable for applications in the engine compartment and underbody as well as for the interior of a vehicle. Each of the three types can be tailored to individual customer needs and the respective specific requirements. Röchling BioBoom can also be used for almost the entire product portfolio of Röchling Automotive.