Flexible

With the problem of plastic waste receiving significant attention, demand for more eco-friendly packaging continues to increase, and companies around the world are taking various measures focused on targets for better circulation of plastic resources used for packaging and containers. Unilever has announced global commitments for a waste-free world, aiming to halve its use of virgin plastic; help collect and process more plastic than it sells; and ensure that 100% of plastic packaging is designed to be fully reusable, recyclable or compostable.

Amcor, a global leader in packaging, today announced the ‘Reducing CO2 Packaging’ Label from the Carbon Trust can now be printed on Amcor packaging to demonstrate significant carbon footprint reductions. It’s part of the company’s lifecycle assessment service, which enables brands to measure their packaging’s carbon footprint from raw materials through end-of-use. The announcement comes at a time when sustainability is an increasingly important factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions. Carbon labelling is a way for brands to demonstrate their contributions to a lower carbon economy.

“Learnings about how to run the material through Mars’ supply chain” would “inform a wider rollout in the year ahead”, said Mars.

The packs, which were developed in partnership with manufacturer Amcor, would “allow Mars Food to retain the shape, shelf life, functionality and high safety standards needed for its brands’ packaging while allowing the pouches to be recycled where the correct collection and recycling infrastructure exists that accepts flexible plastic”, it added.

Saica Flex, the flexible packaging division of Saica Group, has developed a new range of ready-for-recycling monomaterial pouch laminates that offers for the first time the possibility of using over 50% recycled materials in its production for non-food contact applications. This development represents a new step in Saica group’s goal of supporting the circular economy goals within the flexible plastic packaging sector.

This year, Amcor is thrilled to be recognized for our leadership and celebrate two gold Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) achievement awards.

“It is exciting to be honored by the FPA for developing and producing leading packaging technologies for our customers,” said Amcor Chief Technology Officer William Jackson. “These technologies demonstrate our deep heritage and strategic commitment to innovation, and for delivering winning outcomes for our customers and the packaging industry at large.”

Mondi Steinfeld in Germany has been certified as CO2 neutral for its manufacturing processes by ClimatePartner, an organisation which supports companies in reducing and offsetting their CO2 emissions. This certification was awarded as a result of Mondi Steinfeld switching to renewable energy and supporting certain climate projects in 2020.

Once the total emissions of the plant were calculated in 2019, ClimatePartner helped the plant find further ways to reduce, and then offset, its emissions with climate projects and measures such as switching to hydropower.

Smart Plastic additives are inserted into the production process in very small percentages along with other standard ingredients. These additives transform the plastic into a powerful agent that is highly effective against salmonella, listeria, E.coli, MRSA, and dozens of commons dangerous organisms, says the company. It claims a 99.9% reduction in bacteria and a 5-log reduction in antimicrobial protection. “The Veg-Fresh team and the Smart Plastics team have been in discussions for a few years now.