Food and Drink International

< Previous40 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net FOOPAK Imagine a bustling music festival in the heart of summer. Tens of thousands of revellers enjoy cold beers under the sun, and the grounds are filled with a sea of disposable cups. Traditionally, these single-use plastic cups would add to the mounting waste problem, often ending up in landfills or as litter. In fact, the total amount of waste generated in Europe has increased 1 even though the landfill rate has decreased from 23% to 16% for ten years before the pandemic. However, festival organizers can now choose a sustainable solution with cups made from eco-friendly materials Foopak Bio Natura 2 paperboard, designed to quench the thirst of partygoers while reducing plastic waste. Foopak Bio Natura crafted from PEFC- certified fibre as well as recyclable and compostable materials both in industrial and home levels, are designed to break down naturally. This makes them a greener alternative to traditional plastic cups. Foopak Bio Natura Cups can hold beverages, either hot or cold, with up to 8% alcohol content without compromising their structural integrity. They exhibit strong resistance to edge wicking and provide impressive barrier performance. Furthermore, these cups are free from harmful PFAS chemicals as the production process utilises advanced aqua-dispersion technology, which replaces environmentally damaging coatings with more sustainable alternatives. The European Union (EU) has made concerted efforts to address the issue of plastic pollution in Europe. Recent data from the European Parliament reveals that in 2021, the average EU resident produced 36.1 kilos of plastic packaging waste 3 , of which only 14.7 kilos were recycled. The remainder, which often ends up in landfills, is incinerated, or worse, pollutes our natural environments, contributing to the degradation of beaches, forests, rivers, and seas. In response to this pressing issue, the EU has implemented new regulations to curb plastic waste. These include targets for reducing packaging waste by 5% by 2030 and 15% by 2040, alongside a ban on certain single-use plastics 4 starting in 2030. The measures also stipulate that nearly all packaging must be recyclable and that a significant percentage of recycled content must be included in plastic packaging. Amidst these regulatory shifts, the introduction of Foopak Bio Natura, reflects a broader commitment to reducing plastic waste and aligning with sustainability goals. With approximately 190 kg of packaging waste generated 5 per person annually in Europe, sustainable options like Foopak Bio Natura cups are vital in driving meaningful change. By offering Foopak Bio Natura as an alternative for beer cup packaging at large- scale events such as festivals and events, Foopak aims to significantly reduce the use of single-use plastics. This initiative not only underscores Foopak’s commitment to sustainability but also contributes to creating a more eco-friendly environment. For more information visit www.foopak.com Cheers to a greener brew: plastic-free & compostable paperboard for your beer cup 1: www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/indicators/diversion-of-waste-from-landfill • 2: www.foopak.com/id/ • 3: www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20180830STO11347/how- to-reduce-plastic-waste-eu-measures-explained • 4: www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-reaches-deal-reduce-plastic-waste-packaging-2024-03-05// 5: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-reaches-deal-reduce-plastic-waste-packaging-2024-03-05/Designing sustainable packaging is a major focal point for the food industry, with myriad options and innovations available to improve the environmental footprint of a product. F ood and drink packaging, how it is designed, and the materials it is made from, plays an important role in day-to-day life as well as the long- term health of the planet. It ensures safety, practicality, freshness, quality, and prolongs shelf life while providing an opportunity to display memorable branding, encourage purchases, and build reputation for producers. With the global food packing market anticipated to reach a value of $512 billion by 2028, demand for food packaging is high, but this also comes with increasingly strong expectations requiring innovation, particularly where sustainability is concerned, with growing consumer interest in waste reduction and greenhouse gas emissions linked to packaging, whether encompassing plastic wrap, paperboard, aluminium cans, glass or other. When designing food packaging, there is much to consider, from the materials to use to the type of packaging, which vitally must meet the requirements of the food contained. Without thorough assessment there can be many negative consequences including contamination and damage to goods. Are Food & Drink International 41 www.fdiforum.net PACKAGING MATERIALS AND DESIGN 42 Á solutions Sustainable © stock.adobe.com/zzzdim42 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net PACKAGING MATERIALS AND DESIGN you packing cream? Then an airtight seal is essential to freshness. Are you packing dry products? Then a moisture resistant material will be beneficial. It is also key to design with a close focus on function, use and inclusivity, considering how the product will be handled — will it be held while consumed, like on the go drinks, or will transparent materials be needed to provide a visual of inside contents? With the initial essentials in mind one can then think about presentation and branding, with this of course crucial to attracting consumers. Material choice is important here, with some ideal for bold, eye catching designs and others offering a luxurious image, or leaning into the minimalist trend. The environmental impact of packaging materials must also be evaluated, as one of the hottest areas of focus in the industry thanks to consumer and investor expectations and ever more stringent regulations coming into force. Opting for sustainable materials and a design that allows for easy recycling, reuse or eco-friendly disposal have become a priority. This month’s PPMA Show (24-26 September at the NEC in Birmingham), will offer useful insight into cutting-edge technologies and solutions in processing and packaging. The first line of action for many businesses in bolstering the eco-credentials of their packaging is a redesign to decrease the amount of material required to pack products, done through lightweighting or creating new designs with less resource consumption. This facilitates not only improved sustainability metrics but cost savings, reduced transport needs and waste. Other companies, meanwhile, are reconsidering the form of packaging they choose, switching to, for example, flexible options, with flexible packing lightweight, requiring less resources and less energy to manufacture and transport (with more products fitting into a single truckload), extending product shelf life and cutting waste. However, the system for recycling this packaging is fragmented in many places. Reducing, replacing, and rethinking plastic is perhaps the primary target for the food industry on its packaging sustainability journey. Perception of the material is in the gutter, due to its connections to fossil fuels, poor recycling rates, and mountains of waste in landfill and oceans, despite some of its important advantages such as in preventing food waste, a key environmental burden, and its versatility. Action is being demanded where the use of plastic is problematic or unnecessary, seeing plastic switched for materials like biodegradable and recyclable paper and cardboard with certifications from organisations such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Recent examples have seen Mondelez join forces with Saica Group for a new paper-based product targeted to multipacks-products for the confectionery, biscuits and chocolate markets. The new paper-based packaging is designed to be recyclable in the paper waste stream and is suitable for heat sealable packing process, with the option to be produced coated or uncoated depending on the desired final appearance. The initiative is part of Mondelez International’s ongoing efforts to pack ‘light and right’ in service of its global sustainable packaging goals. Meanwhile, at the start of 2024, in the biggest ever single plastics removal in its history, Sainsbury’s revealed it was switching its own-brand mushroom punnets from plastic to cardboard in a move which will save over 775 tonnes of plastic, equivalent to over 52 million pieces of plastic a year. Moreover, in May, Diageo announced plans to trial paper-based packaging for Baileys, the Original Irish Cream Liqueur. In partnership with PA Consulting, as part of the BAG SEALING MACHINES RM Sealers remain a leading British manufacturer and supplier of high quality Bag Sealing Machines, also known as Rotary Band Sealers and Impulse Sealers. Call 01442 843387 to speak to a member of our team SEALERS © www.rmsealers.co.ukFood & Drink International 43 www.fdiforum.net PACKAGING MATERIALS AND DESIGN Bottle Collective with PA and PulPac, the Dry Molded Fiber bottle is 90% paper, with a thin plastic liner and a foil seal. The bottle is designed for recycling in standard paper streams and does not require the consumer to separate the plastic liner from the paper bottle when disposing. In some instances, plastic cannot be avoided, pushing the integration of recycled plastics like rPET to gain momentum, to minimise virgin fossil-based plastic use. Businesses are finding ways of increasing the recycled content in their packaging, no doubt in part driven by plastic taxes, with crisp brand Walkers for instance recently transforming its Sunbites range with the rollout of packaging made with 50% recycled plastic. With recycled material, companies can facilitate waste reduction and resource conservation. The war against plastics has further stimulated innovation in the development of promising bio-based materials, derived from plants, animals and fungi. These sustainable, renewable, bioplastic alternatives, sourced from bamboo, corn, chitin, seaweed, et al., can produce fewer greenhouse gases during production and are often biodegradable or compostable, breaking down into natural substances like carbon dioxide, water, and biomass under specific conditions. There are however complexities with some of these materials, as while cellulose-based films gain interest for their ability to decompose naturally, shrink landfill waste and carbon footprints, bio-based materials do not always biodegrade quickly or fully, leaving potential BENCHTOP BAG SEALING MACHINE IMPULSE BAG SEALING MACHINE HORIZONTAL BAG SEALING MACHINE VERTICAL BAG SEALING MACHINE Twinings launches its new powdered Thé Latté drink in Sonoco’s EnviroCan ® for the French market International Tea and Herbs drinks company Twinings & Co. has selected Sonoco’s paper bottom EnviroCan ® for its new powdered drink, Twinings Thé Latté. The company chose Sonoco’s paper based EnviroCan because it is designed with recycled paper fibre, water-based inks and adhesives and can be recycled, while maintaining durability, performance and product freshness. Furthermore, the solution demonstrates the Sonoco’s’ commitment to keeping innovation at the forefront of its strategy. The project team of Twinings & Co., which manufactures a multitude of drinks including tea, herbal infusions and other powder drinks is delighted to be using Sonoco’s EnviroCan® paper bottom can for their new product, Twinings Thé Latté. Bernhard Straub, Senior Sales Manager at Sonoco Europe, comments: “At Sonoco, our mission is to revolutionise the packaging industry with innovative, more sustainable solutions that meet high standards of quality and functionality. Together, we can create a more sustainable future, one package at a time.” For more information visit www.sonoco.com 45 Á © stock.adobe.com/Sergey RyzhovMix & Match ^ŵĂůůYƵĂŶƟƟĞƐ͕ŝŐ^ĂǀŝŶŐƐ tŚŽůĞƐĂůĞƉƌŝĐĞƐŽŶƐŵĂůůƋƵĂŶƟƟĞƐĨŽƌĂǀĂƌŝĞƚǇŽĨƚĂŬĞĂǁĂǇƉĂĐŬĂŐŝŶŐ͘tŚŽůĞƐĂůĞƉƌŝĐĞƐŽŶƐŵĂůůƋƵĂŶƟƟĞƐĨŽƌĂǀĂƌŝĞƚǇŽĨƚĂŬĞĂǁĂǇƉĂĐŬĂŐŝŶŐ͘ NEW Noodle boxes • ƵƌĂďůĞĂŶĚůĞĂŬͲƌĞƐŝƐƚĂŶƚ • sĞƌƐĂƟůĞĂŶĚĐŽŶǀĞŶŝĞŶƚ • DŝĐƌŽǁĂǀĂďůĞĂůůŽǁŝŶŐĨŽƌ ĞĂƐǇƌĞŚĞĂƟŶŐ ŝŽĚĞŐƌĂĚĂďůĞ ZĞĐǇĐůĂďůĞ NEW Tulip boxes • ^ƚƌŽŶŐĂŶĚƐƚǇůŝƐŚ • YƵŝĐŬƚŽĂƐƐĞŵďůĞ • /ĚĞĂůĨŽƌƐĂŶĚǁŝĐŚĞƐĂŶĚ ĐĂŬĞƐ ŝŽĚĞŐƌĂĚĂďůĞ ZĞĐǇĐůĂďůĞ ^ĂǀĞƵƉƚŽ 40% powered by employee share-ownership 02476 420065 ŽǁŶůŽĂĚŽƵƌ ĂƉƉƚŽĚĂǇ͊ kitepackaging.co.uk Find out more Love your planet, please use less packagingFood & Drink International 45 www.fdiforum.net Elevate Your Packaging Game CRYOVAC® Darfresh® new PE sealant 80-micron top webs. less plastic without compromising quality Lower total cost of packaging vs MAP 21-37% carbon footprint reduction vs MAP Boost your productivity! sealedair.com/uk/skintopwebs Find out more! for microplastics, and those that are compostable may require an industrial facility. A recently invented material showing promise, out of the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, is made from modified starch that can completely decompose in nature within just two months. Using natural plant material from crops, the new material could be used for food packaging, among many other things. Professor Andreas Blennow of the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences said: “We have an enormous problem with our plastic waste that recycling seems incapable of solving. Therefore, we’ve developed a new type of bioplastic that is stronger and can better withstand water than current bioplastics. At the same time, our material is one hundred percent biodegradable and can be converted into compost by microorganisms if it ends up somewhere other than a bin.” The new material is a biocomposite composed of several different substances that decompose naturally. Its main ingredients, amylose and cellulose, are common across the plant kingdom. With Aarhus University, the research team founded a spinoff company in which they developed a barley variety that produces pure amylose in its kernels. The cellulose utilised by the researchers is a nanocellulose made from local sugar industry waste. The new biomaterial is produced by either dissolving the raw materials in water and mixing them together or by heating them under pressure. By doing so, small ‘pellets’ or chips are created that can then be processed and compressed into a desired form. Though switching to sustainable packaging comes with initial challenges and costs it also presents a chance to boost a business’s market position, gain the loyalty of eco-conscious consumers, and of course improve a product’s environmental footprint. With close attention to design and materials, companies can simultaneously increase sales, reduce costs, and cut carbon emissions. © stock.adobe.com/_KUBE_46 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net EVOLUTION BOTTLING AND PACKAGING SOLUTIONS LTD Q&A Tell us a bit about Evolution Bottling and Packaging Solutions Ltd? For nearly 20 years Evolution BPS have provided quality, innovative machinery to the bottling & food packaging sectors. Our Customers are well known brands based all over the UK and Ireland, and we are proud to be trusted with their packaging machinery needs. We work in partnership with a range of carefully selected manufacturers to offer our customers the best possible technology for their bottling and packaging lines. We can supply single machines to integrate with existing production lines, or we can deliver a fully project managed turnkey solution. Q&A Evolution Bottling and Packaging Solutions Ltd We spoke with Evolution BPS about their technologically advanced portfolio of machinery for Bottling and Packaging lines, as well as about their plans for the upcoming PPMA Show. Our core portfolio comprises: MBF for rinsing, filling and capping machines. MBF are renowned experts in the careful management of delicate products such as wine and premium spirits through the filling process. In addition, the Evolution portfolio includes TMG for depalletisers, palletisers, case- packing machines and all end of line machinery; Robino & Galandrino for all capsuling and wire hooding machines; P.E. LABELLERS for labelling machines; Logics & Controls highly advanced inspection systems for fill level, label, empty bottle and closure inspection. When bringing our expertise to the food, dairy and personal care sectors we propose a net weight filling solution from Serac. Food & Drink International 47 www.fdiforum.net EVOLUTION BOTTLING AND PACKAGING SOLUTIONS LTD Q&A Visit Evolution on stand E14 at PPMA Show evolutionbps.co.uk 01721 724296 sales@evolutionbps.co.uk You mention first class Customer Service, tell us more? We have the Customer at the heart of our service proposition. When a customer buys a machine from us they are guaranteed ongoing support from their Business Development Manager, as well as having access to a full After Sales proposition from our Customer Service Coordinators who will liaise closely with our UK based Field Service Engineers as well as our suppliers and their technical teams to ensure we meet all of Customers’ ongoing service and parts needs. We have at our disposal access to support from our suppliers Engineers, however more importantly we have our own UK based engineers who install, commission and maintain our portfolio on our Customers’ sites. We strive to continuously improve and we have expanded our Customer Service base such that more than three quarters of our team are dedicated to delivering service and technical expertise. You are exhibiting at PPMA Show – what can visitors expect from your stand? Our colleagues from our supplier Serac will join us at the PPMA Show again this year. Serac supply a complete range of Weight Fillers, Cappers and Sealers, Packaging Decontamination, Bottle Blow Moulders and complete Turnkey lines. From their launch in 1969 Serac have a reputation as pioneers in weight filling and dosing technology across food, dairy, juice, personal care, and household chemical sectors. They work with many world renowned brands across all sectors and have over fifty years experience in machine manufacturing for bottle filling with all types of liquid products: viscous, foamy, sheer sensitive, corrosive, and flammable. With net weight filling solutions suitable for dairy drinks, juices, sauces, dressings, oils, household and personal care and machine speeds ranging from ten thousand to forty five thousand bottles per hour, Serac provide innovative packaging machinery, demonstrating expertise in six key areas: Packaging Manufacturing, Packaging Decontamination, Filling, Capping, Turnkey Lines complemented by full Lifecycle support. Renowned experts in filling Milk and Dairy products, and with particular expertise when filling into glass, Serac has become a worldwide leader with an impressive number of references at the most prestigious dairy plants. From the high-speed rotary net- weight filling lines, to the linear volumetric applications, Serac always offers equipment that meets the demands of numerous dairy applications (fermented and white milks, yogurts, curds, multilayer desserts and more). For the beverage, sauce or dairy market, Serac is able to provide the best solutions for glass, HDPE or PET filling, as standalone but also synchronized solution in Combi / Combox blow-fill line adapted to various applications: clean, ultra-clean and aseptic. Serac has consistently given priority to innovation and has been very active in the dairy field and to answer a global demand for optimizing the hygiene conditions. Serac has developed a packaging decontamination expertise offering peroxide or peracetic acid fully controlled systems. What else will you be showcasing on your stand? We will be showcasing our full portfolio at the show, emphasising our ability to cater for a wide range of sectors: wines & spirits; dairy, food, soft drinks & fruit juice; personal care, household chemical, agrochemical and more. The Evolution team will be on hand to discuss all types of projects and we will have representatives from our OEM partners on hand throughout the week.48 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net PPMA SHOW 2024 The show is a fantastic platform to showcase this rapidly growing industry, with over 300 businesses displaying their latest products, services and technologies to the thousands of visitors expected to attend in September. They will be able to discover state-of-the-art solutions in production, manufacturing and packaging. The PPMA Show covers the full spectrum of the industry; from food, beverage and FMCG to micro-breweries and distilleries and pharmaceuticals, and many more. The show is organised by Automate UK, which comprises the Processing and Packaging Machinery Association (PPMA), British Automation and Robot Association (BARA) and UK Industrial Vision Association (UKIVA). These three specialist trade associations serve over 550 member and affiliate member companies. The PPMA Show is designed specifically for decision makers including CEOs, MDs, Directors, Managers, and other key staff members who play vital roles within their companies, including engineers, production specialists, designers, buyers, processing specialists, and project managers. Krzysztof Brylinski, Technical Manager at Ardo Ltd said this about last year’s show: “I’ve been here to look for equipment to improve our process. I have found everything I wanted and more, which I can use in my business.” This year’s three-day exhibition is packed with content, providing visitors with plenty to see and explore. Here’s a flavour of what visitors can expect: • Live demonstrations of fascinating new machinery in action. • Inspiration and innovative solutions which visitors can integrate into their businesses to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and boost productivity. • A full programme of seminars to learn from the industry experts about the latest trends and innovations and how to apply these to their own business. • Network with industry experts, peers and potential suppliers to share information and gain valuable insights. • Experience the complete production line in action from start to finish, from labelling, filling and packaging to processing, robotics, automation and industrial vision systems. The ‘smart show’ The PPMA Show in September will be the ‘smart show’ that enables exhibitors and visitors to exchange information via their smart phones. Visitors can scan the QR code on the exhibitors’ stand to access more information about them, 50 Á Established over 35 years ago, the PPMA Show is recognised as the UK’s largest processing and packaging machinery exhibition. Each September, world-class companies come together to display their latest cutting-edge technologies and solutions in processing and packaging machinery, robotics and industrial vision systems. This year’s show takes place once again in Hall 5 between 24-26 September at the NEC in Birmingham. 7+(+20(2)9,6&286 3803,1*62/87,216 ᅚ+RQH\ ᅚ3HWUROHXP-HOO\ ᅚ0DVFDUD ᅚ6DXFHV ᅚ/DQROLQ ᅚ/LS*ORVV ᅚ(VVHQFHV ᅚ(\H2LQWPHQW ᅚ0HDW3DVWH ᅚ3DUDIILQ:D[ 7 (VDOHV#NHFROFRXN :ZZZNHFROFRXN ᅚ)DFH6FUXE ᅚ7HHWKLQJ*HO ᅚ7RPDWR3XUHH ᅚ0HGLFDO$GKHVLYHV ᅚ9HWHULQDU\&UHDPV ᅚ)UXLW3DVWH ᅚ7RRWKSDVWH ᅚ0DOW ᅚ-DP ᅚ:D[ .HFROKDYHRYHU\HDUVRI H[SHULHQFHLQKDQGOLQJDOOW\SHV RIYLVFRXVSURGXFWVLQWKHIRRG SKDUPDFHXWLFDODQGFRVPHWLFV PDUNHWVDVZHOODVJHQHUDO LQGXVWULDODSSOLFDWLRQV $VDPSOHRISURGXFWVZHDOUHDG\SXPSƁNext >