Earthcycle punnets from CKF
With its sealable, compostable and recyclable wood pulp punnets for 350g to 400g of strawberries, Canadian packaging manufacturer CKF is setting an example of environmental protection in terms of sustainability.
The wood pulp punnet not only provides a great deal of protection for the fruit and a view of the product, but also ensures a longer shelf life, without using plastic. Made from a blend of virgin and wood pulp, Earthcycle is made with either FSC-controlled or FSC-certified wood sourced from “low risk” areas of Canada and the US.
Distributed in the UK by Produce Packaging, the thermoformed moulded pulp pack is certified home compostable, is widely recyclable in the UK waste paper stream and is plastic free. Packing line trials have shown that Earthcycle punnets match automation speeds of plastic punnets for denesting and offer a consistent and strong top seal.
Infinite shelf-life technology by It’s Fresh!
It’s Fresh! is well known for its ability to keep fruit and veg fresh for longer but now rather than using filters, sheets and pads, the food tech firm has started printing its shelf life-extending active ingredient directly onto the packaging itself. Absorbing the natural ripening hormone ethylene, Infinite helps to reduce food waste in supermarkets, in the supply chain and at home.
According to It’s Fresh!, tests have proven that Infinite is more efficient and environmentally friendly than any alternative methods currently in use since the technology is non-invasive and can be used in packs of untreated or uncoated fruit.
Following the technology’s release in December last year, co-founder of It’s Fresh! Simon Lee said: “The reality is that the fresh food industry does need packaging. Ours is what we would call ‘purposeful packaging’, which is genuinely helping to reduce food wastage and which will in turn reduce the amount of packaging needed overall as the produce lasts longer.”
PerfoTecO2Control gas flush system from PerfoTec
When it comes to extending a product’s shelf life it’s not just about using the right packaging, but also creating the right conditions. The PerfoTecO2Control from Dutch freshness specialist PerfoTec is a gas flush system for both horizontal tray seal packing and vertical packing machines.
Packers can reach the optimal level of modified atmosphere in the packs, while also reducing gas waste, increasing packing speed, reducing product in seal, and achieving an accurate and stable oxygen level with a deviation of less than 0.5 per cent between packs.
According to PerfoTec, this leads to a “significant and stable” extension of shelf life, better product quality, up to 20 per cent higher productivity in the packhouse, reduced food waste, minimal gas waste and lower costs overall. Conveniently, the technology works with any type of packing machine, vertical or horizontal tray sealers.
Recyclable PE film from Coveris
On the recyclability side of things, Coveris has launched a fully recyclable PE film at Tesco and the Co-op for prepared vegetables and bagged salads that it says delivers the same protective, functional and shelf-life benefits as existing non-recyclable options. The packaging manufacturer hailed the launch as “a major step forward” in delivering its Plastics Pact pledge to make 100 per cent of its plastic packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.
“Recyclable films are the future as we see it,” said Coveris’s group marketing manager Sian Bates, “and we’re having a lot of interest and traction from the major retailers.” The packaging supposedly delivers the same performance benefits of existing plastics that are not yet recyclable such as OPP and is made from polyethylene material very similar to the plastic found in carrier bags. Consequently, it can be recycled at the carrier bag collection points of larger UK supermarkets, but as it stands the plastic film cannot be collected for recycling at kerbside.
Grasspaper by Scheufelen
If you’re looking for packaging that treads lightly on the environment, paper made from grass is hard to beat. Made from up to 50 per cent fresh grass fibre, this fully recyclable and biodegradable corrugated base paper can be used for corrugated and liner layers, as well as graphical applications. The grass is produced from perennial grass plants in Germany near Scheufelen’s paper factory in the Swabian Alps.
Energy and water consumption can be drastically reduced since traditional pulp fibre requires 30,000 litres of water per tonne compared to zero litres for grass fibre production.
In addition, pulp consumes 6,000 kW/h of energy per tonne compared to only 150 kW/h for grass fibre, while grass is also more sustainable, growing back more quickly than trees after cutting.
Nominated for the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award last year, the packaging is distributed by Scheufelen in different qualities under the brand names Greenliner for container board and liner, and Grasspaper for graphical applications.
