Innovation

A new sorting system for packages at FedEx’s Queen’s, NY facility has proven to provide significant benefits, according to the company. FedEx Ground recently implemented Berkshire Grey’s Robotic Product Sortation and Identification (RPSi) systems at this station, the company announced on August 12. 

Berkshire Grey, a developer of Intelligent Enterprise Robotics solutions, executed the RPSi systems to robotically sort the thousands of small packages that arrive daily in bulk into containers bound for other specific hubs and stations across the FedEx Ground network. 

Businesses selling on Amazon Marketplace can now use this ready to go, pre-certified Bag-in-Box design avoiding the need to go through costly and time-consuming testing at a specialised ISTA certified laboratory to gain FFP certification.

Product innovation is becoming important

The innovative film is made of chitosan, a natural molecule found in shellfish shells. This food industry by-product contains key antifungal properties that curb mould growth. The packaging film also contains essential oils and nanoparticles, both of which possess antimicrobial properties.

"Essential oil vapours protect strawberries. And if the film comes into contact with strawberries, the chitosan and nanoparticles prevent mould and pathogens from reaching the fruit's surface," said Professor Lacroix, expert in sciences applied to food.

Liplid's uniqe lid, adapted to PulPac's innovative Dry Molded Fiber technology, enables MAX Burgers to replace plastic coffee lids in restaurants this year. 

Every year, more than 300 billion plastic lids – 1.5 million tons of plastic – are produced. Many of them end up as litter in the world’s oceans. A Swedish collaboration between three innovative companies at the forefront of sustainability - PulPac, Liplid and MAX Burgers - is now leading the way towards replacing the traditional plastic lid with a sustainable fiber-based alternative.

This very prestigious award for SimpliCycle™ comes after Aptar’s recyclable flow control valve received the Best CSR/Sustainability Initiative award at the 2021 World Food Innovation Awards. The WorldStar competition is one of the major events of the World Packaging Organization (WPO) and is the pre-eminent global award in packaging. SimpliCycle was selected among 440 entries for its impact on sustainability, innovation, and high-performance dispensing.

The use of disposable plastic cutlery will be banned in the European Union from mid-2021 – but a perfect alternative is being brought to market in the form of the new fold-out cardboard spoon developed by Greiner Packaging and Cardbox Packaging. Designed for enjoying dairy and snack products away from home, the spoon is right on track with both the convenience and sustainability trends: Consumers want food solutions that are easy to prepare and can also be enjoyed on the go – and they also want the food’s packaging and cutlery to be as user and eco-friendly as possible.

 Amcor, a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions, today launched a new platform of paper-based packaging products: AmFiberTM. AmFiber innovations aim to redefine the capabilities of traditional paper packaging, providing a wider range of features and functional benefits to meet the changing needs of consumers.

Sustainability has become the primary focus of the packaging industry, at each level of the value chain.

As a result of this engagement and the continuous work done to contribute to packaging circular economy, Bostik has obtained the approval by Recyclass that two Bostik adhesives are compatible with the polyethylene (PE) film recycling stream.