VERIPLAST International is the sales and marketing division of Autobar Disposables Group.
The company is Europe's leading manufacturer of disposable packaging for the retail, foodservice and vending markets. With eight manufacturing plants across the UK, France, the Netherlands, Spain and Poland, the company supplies products to more than 40 different countries across the world.
Veriplast manufactures products ranging from vending cups and drinking glasses to sushi trays, sandwich wedges and punnets for fresh fruit and vegetables. Products are marketed under three distinct brands: Mono (all cups except foam), Fibracan (all foam products) and Veriplast (all food service disposables including fruit and vegetable punnets).
Veriplast utilises a network of 15 agents and 20 distributors to sell its fresh produce packaging across the world including North America, South America the Middle East and South Africa. Products are sold directly to growers, fruit and vegetable packing companies and retailers.
Fruit and vegetable punnets are manufactured at Veriplast Barcelona, a factory that is accredited to the ISO9000 series. The punnets are manufactured in a range of sizes and depths and are perfect for most fresh produce.
“When looking for packaging for fresh produce, our customers have three key requirements,” says Peter Stroosnijder, Veriplast International's export manager who is based in Barcelona. “These are to display the fruit or vegetable in the best possible light, to keep the produce as fresh as possible for as long as possible and to prevent the produce deteriorating during transportation. Many are also concerned that the products have the potential to be recycled after use.”
In order to stay at the forefront of fresh produce packaging, Veriplast is continually developing innovative products. One recent development is the air conditioned punnet.
Stroosnijder explains: “The air conditioned punnet was developed in order to provide our customers with a product that will keep their produce fresher for longer.
“The punnet has large perimeter perforations in the lid and the base ñ a Veriplast International European exclusive ñ to allow the contents to breathe better. Air is circulated more easily and the drainage is excellent, even when the punnets are stacked for distribution. Also, when the punnets are in cold storage, the produce is cooled more rapidly and efficiently with a notable reduction in condensation.”
Supplying different markets means that Veriplast frequently develops different products for specific markets.
Stroosnijder continues: “Some markets have a preference for a hinged lid punnet rather than a separate lid. For this reason we offer our customers both choices across the range. We also have the ability to produce customised punnets for customers wanting their own branding on the packaging or separate labelling.
“Traceability is another important issue for many of our customers who want to be able to track which growers the produce has come from and which packers have been involved in the distribution. All of our punnets can be fitted with a state-of-the-art traceability system to track the products from source to destination.”
When customers are looking for an appropriate packaging for their produce, they have three materials to choose from. These include PET, polypropylene and the 100 per cent compostable material PLA (Poly Lactic Acid).
“Veriplast International is the first disposable packaging company to be able to supply our fresh produce customers with punnets made from PLA,” confirms Stroosnijder. “This is an extremely exciting development because the material is produced from vegetable resources and, once used, it is not just recyclable but completely compostable and can return to the natural state it was sourced from.”
Customers do not have to compromise on performance either, as Stroosnijder explains: “PLA looks and performs like a clear plastic. It is resistant, versatile, crush proof and has excellent transparency and gloss qualities to enhance the presentation of the produce inside. When refrigerated, PLA also has the same anti-steam quality as our other materials, which means the produce inside is kept fresher for longer.”
He concludes: “PLA is certainly the material of the future, with many retailers beginning to recognise that using packaging that is biodegradable says something positive about that company's brand values and its active stance on the environment.”
