Mushroom punnet capacity has been increased by Sharpak, a supplier of thermoformed rigid plastic packaging. The firm has boosted capacity from 24 to 27 in a crate, and improved pallet utilisation by 38 per cent.
The company has moved away from its standard 250g punnet to a 250g elements punnet, which means 198 fewer truck movements, or the equivalent of an intercity train travelling 500,000 miles.
Coming at a time when leading retailers, in conjunction with the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), have set demanding targets to reduce packaging waste in the UK by the end of 2008 and an absolute reduction in packaging waste by 2010, the new elements punnet design is an example of Sharpak’s commitment to the cause.
“Sharpak knows the importance of reducing carbon when it comes to the business and the environment,” said the company.
“Whether enhancing existing products or innovating new ones, Sharpak continues to optimise on the potential offered by environmental packaging.”
Sharpak’s range of r-PP punnets is a natural choice for the mushroom industry, containing mineral filler and significantly reducing petrochemical content by 25 per cent. The product is manufactured with a minimum of 50 per cent recycled material and contains approved post-consumer waste from recycled HD milk bottles.
Sharpak has drawn extensively on its material science know-how, allied to its rotary thermoforming process, to develop this range using mineral blend substitutes and supply chain waste, offering a straightforward answer to the environmental challenge.
