Paper Packaging

The move to replace traditional plastic based flexible film with VektroPack’s High Barrier Paper Flex product aligns with VektroPack’s commitment to sustainability, and will play a big part in helping brands meet APCO’s 2025 national packaging targets, the company says. The shift to paper-based film will remove plastic from the recycling stream, and facilitate kerbside recycling of the material by end users. 

The owners ARA, Bernegger and GreenDot/Der Grüne Punkt hosted the grand opening of the new sorting plant for lightweight packaging in Ennshafen on Friday.

UK foodservice specialist Fresh Direct has launched new, plastic-free packaging for its best-selling avocado twin-pack.

Fresh Direct said it marked the first time that the new packaging, developed by its avocado supply partner Westfalia Fruit, had been used in foodservice.

It replaces the current plastic packaging with a paper-based pack, which is made from actively managed, FSC-approved sources, where forests are regenerated as trees are replanted and is fully recyclable.

The launch also marks the introduction of SIG DomeMini to the Southeast Asian market. The transition to a bottle-shaped carton pack is said to provide a better plastic-to-product ratio and stand out to consumers with a “sleek and distinctive design.”

“The global agreement between Solenis and PhaBuilder will enable unique technology to the paper packaging market to meet the growing need for more sustainable solutions in the packaging industry,” said William (Bill) Kuecker, senior director for Global Strategic Marketing at Solenis.

“This strategic cooperation will help enhance the application of PHA-based materials,” added Sherry Xu, PhaBuilder’s president. “The newly developed technology will ultimately reduce the impact on the environment, bringing a greener and more sustainable future.”

DS Smith has allocated €6 million towards the installation of a new 4-colour converting machine at its packaging facility in Eerbeek, Netherlands. This investment reflects the company's commitment to meeting the rising need for sustainable packaging solutions, particularly as alternatives to plastic gain traction.

The company shares in a press statement that the sturdy eco-designed packaging offers robust protection while opening impactful visual possibilities. It features sleeve openings and high-quality printing area. The packaging’s highly resistant design is reportedly the result of research and development geared to the needs of processors, retailers and consumers alike.

A plastic-free packaging concept, the Flock Box, is a new sustainable gift box solution ideal for numerous applications, such as cosmetics, electronics and jewellery, which require a luxury presentation and unboxing experience.

The Flock Box concept has been developed by four companies – Holmen Iggesund, Krekelberg, Inmaco Solutions and Van de Velde Packaging Group – in a collaborative approach that invites brands across the packaging value chain to work together to discover the sustainable packaging solutions of the future.

The wider launch follows an exclusive trial in 800 Tesco stores earlier this year, with the packaging to be permanently rolled out to all major supermarkets in coming months.

The paper outer bag, which is a first for savoury snacks flexible packaging in the UK, can be widely recycled in home recycling bins alongside other paper packaging.

The change, which is also set to lower greenhouse gas emissions of each individual pack, forms part of PepsiCo’s health and sustainability transformation plan to reach net zero emissions by 2040.