Sharp Interpack is launching a new and improved version of its SP soft-fruit punnet range in R-APET, containing up to 60 per cent fully traceable and recycled post-consumer food use approved waste.
The company has invested £2 million in new machinery to produce the improved SPE range, which has been proven 87 per cent stronger than the existing packaging in load-bearing testing, thanks to its ribbed design, which promotes rigidity. At the same time, the new punnets are substantially lighter than their competitors, with the SPE85 weighing 23g, according to the firm, meaning less waste to landfill.
The new line was launched to customers in a special presentation box, highlighting its environmental credentials. Users of Sharp Interpack’s existing SP range include Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons.
Ruth Price, European strategic development manager at Sharp Interpack, told FPJ: “The SP range has been on the market for the best part of six years now, so we felt it was time for a change, and so did the retailers. The original range has been a loyal servant to the soft-fruit market, but technology is moving on and soft-fruit packers are using more automated machinery.
“We therefore felt we needed to strengthen the punnets to withstand the pressure from the machinery, but in order to meet the retailers’ pledges to cut packaging by 25 per cent, we could not do this by increasing the amount of plastic - hence the ribbed design.
“The produce looks just as good in the new packaging, and our competitors’ punnets are much heavier than ours. If a product is over-packaged, consumers are less likely to buy it. The new SPE range is already in production and should be available on-shelf from March.
“This is a very innovative product of which we are really proud, and it has taken the market one step ahead,” Price added.
Sharp Interpack’s products are all manufactured in the UK, added marketing manager David Riley, reducing the number of lorries on UK roads and on the continent.
