V-Shapes Introduces VS dflex for Convenient Nearline Sachet Printing

High-quality reel-to-reel nearline printing powered by Memjet and ColorGATE – ideal companions for V-Shapes unique single-dose packaging machine Bologna, Italy. 12 May 2021. V-Shapes, an innovative supplier of vertically integrated products and services for convenient, hygienic and sustainable single-dose packaging, today announced the launch of the V-Shapes VS dflex nearline reel-to-reel printer for printing the top layer of its unique single-dose sachets that are opened with a single gesture using one hand. This compact, professional-grade printing system, Powered by Memjet DuraFlex®, makes it easy to print flexible packaging on site, eliminating the need to outsource printing or to tie up other printing equipment in the plant, especially for shorter runs of customized sachets. VS dflex inks were designed for food packaging and specially formulated for quick drying after printing, allowing the substrate to be ready for use with the V-Shapes ALPHA fill and seal packaging/converting machine. The VS dflex touch screen interface makes it easy for operators to efficiently manage the printing process with minimal training required. “We have always had an objective of making high-quality printing available for our packaging/converting machines, to meet customer demand for faster time to market, personalization and more,” says Christian Burattini, CEO of V-Shapes. “We accomplished that earlier this year with the integration of the TrojanLabel T2 high volume digital label press into our V-Shapes PRIME single-lane packaging machine, and we have plans to integrate in-line printing into our six-lane ALPHA machine as well. But for those ALPHA machines already in the field or that will be acquired prior to availability of inline printing, we have developed VS dflex, a more productive reel-to-reel printing solution that makes it easier for packaging converters/fillers to accomplish the complete manufacturing process for our unique single-dose sachets under one roof with a compact footprint. In this configuration, the bottom layer of substrate is printed inline in black only.” The VS dflex reel-to-reel nearline printer takes advantage of the speed and image quality of Memjet’s DuraFlex® multicolor A3+ printhead and water-based pigment inks, along with the advanced features and color management capabilities of the ColorGATE Packaging Productionserver, a RIP and color management solution for industrial packaging printing to deliver high quality, color-accurate printing at 1600 dpi at a speed of up to 24.7 meters per minute (90 feet per minute). It uses certified recyclable substrates, either sourced from industry leader SIHL or with V-Shapes proprietary materials. “Our strategic partnership with SIHL is particularly valuable thanks to the ability to print very high quality with aqueous ink and no pre-treatment on SIHL Artysio laminates,” adds Burattini. “They also have our specific materials stocked in Germany and the U.S. to ensure fast and timely delivery.” “We are excited by the addition of VS dflex, the latest nearline printer from V-Shapes for their inline print, form, fill and seal packaging system,” says Russell Boa, Senior Vice President of Sales – North America and EMEA at Memjet. “The VS dflex enables professional printing with vivid colors, beautiful precision, simply and cost effectively at high production speeds. The combination of V-Shapes leadership in packaging innovation and technology integration makes them a first-class partner to work with.” “Founded in 1997, ColorGATE, unlike many other RIPs and color management vendors, has focused on industrial markets for the past decade, making this collaboration with V-Shapes and Memjet perfectly in line with our strategies and capabilities,” said Oliver Luedtke, Chief Marketing Officer at ColorGATE. “We have had a very productive relationship with the creative and innovative team at V-Shapes. We are absolutely aligned with them in the desire to bring top-notch color quality, digitization and Industry 4.0 compliance to the package printing process. We developed a bespoke Output Management Set specifically for this printing system that takes into account the Memjet DuraFlex architecture and brings all of the appropriate ColorGATE capabilities to the system for the utmost in printing productivity and quality. In addition, our REST API interface opens up for V-Shapes future opportunities for more workflow integration as their products continue to evolve.” To learn more about the VS dflex nearline printer, click here, and for other products and services from V-Shapes, visit www.V-Shapes.com.

PROPAK VIETNAM 2021: Keep The Pulse On New Trends And Make Business Connections In Processing And Packaging Industry

In 2020, COVID-19 has changed the conversation around every consumer behaviour in packaging industry. Being one of the first Asian countries to successfully contain the spread of the pandemic, Vietnam’s packaging industry has remained strong and witnessed a slight increase in demand of Food, FMCG, Retailers… despite the market volatilities arising from the closure of retail outlets and horeca establishment. According to the Vietnam Pulp and Paper Association, the demand for packaging paper was expected to strengthen to a pace of 14% over the next five to ten years. Also, the booming e-commerce market that has risen 30% year-on-year, the increasing foreign investment and the favorable regulatory environment have led a strong growth in packaging demand of the country. 2021 has seen also the expansion of overseas packaging groups towards Vietnamese market. As Vietnam takes the position of a favoured manufacturing hub, foreign investors have been seeking the opportunities in the country to implement their operations and foster their business. Thailand’s Siam Cement Group PLC entered into 70% Share Purchase Agreement with Duy Tan Plastics JSC, the leading company in the plastic goods markets in Vietnam last February 2021. Registered the high FDI inflow of USD 24.56 million (equivalent to 64.6% in total), the processing industry is expected to take a leap into its development stage in 2020. Thus, the slight chance from the rising local demand, the FDI inflow and the free trade agreement (FTA) have made a room for the processing and packaging industry to become a key driver of Vietnam’s economic in the future. ProPak Vietnam has prided itself in supporting the processing and packaging industry for 14 years. Returning to Ho Chi Minh city this July, ProPak Vietnam 2021 aims to become a premier networking for all domestic and international industry’s practitioners. It is a celebration of the cutting-edge products and technologies of the packaging in Food & Beverages, FMCG and Pharmaceutical industries. This year, 580 exhibitors from 31 countries and regions on one-stop sourcing platform will inspire and enthuse visitors about the innovations and the potential business opportunities. Especially, stay updated on a new trend that shape the future packaging, ProPak Vietnam 2021 will showcase a Smart Packaging Zone that has married an intensive innovation and a strong tech together, committing a place to learn new idea and figure out the business roadmap for all trade visitors. This year, Informa Markets Vietnam, the organizer of ProPak Vietnam 2021, will launch the hybrid version that have both virtual and physical, in-person components to engage the international community. “In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have introduced countermeasures to ensure business continuity in our marketplaces – allowing and assuring our buyers and sellers their ability to connect not only when trade exhibitions are permitted, but also when communication and commerce move online and when health and safety measures require social distancing. Wherever buyers and sellers may be located, using our online solutions, we ensure our trade events remain effective with extended reach via the internet. » - Tee Boon Teong, General Manager – Informa Markets Vietnam. Date & Time: 9h – 17h | 28 – 30 July 2021 Venue: Saigon Exhibition and Convention (SECC) – 799 Nguyen Van Linh Parkway, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City

Graphic Packaging International Adds Innovative Paperboard Punnet to Sustainable ProducePack™ Portfolio

APRIL 19, 2021 Fiber-based packaging leader Graphic Packaging International (‘Graphic Packaging’) is pleased to announce the launch of its ProducePackTM Punnet, an innovative paperboard alternative to plastic punnet trays for fresh fruit and vegetables. This new product, available for all commonly used punnet sizes, is fully recyclable and reduces plastic by up to 100 percent, depending on application. As a result of the pandemic, consumers now place significantly more value on food safety and hygiene and see sustainability as increasingly important as we emerge from the crisis, according to a recent McKinsey survey1. ProducePack Punnet offers growers and retailers the opportunity to cater to increased consumer demand for hygiene while also prioritizing sustainability. Designed with optimum operational efficiency in mind, ProducePack Punnet can be top-sealed at speeds equivalent to traditional plastic punnets. The sustainable solution works with existing machinery and tooling for plastic trays, meaning that minimal investment is required for packers looking to make the switch to paperboard. For brands and retailers, the pack has been proven to offer equivalent shelf life to plastic for certain produce items while reducing the potential for food waste. A range of board and barrier options is available, which have all been selected to ensure the package remains robust in cold storage and throughout the supply chain. ProducePack Punnet can be supplied formed or flat, the latter offering CO2 reductions in transit due to higher punnet tray volume per truckload. In line with Graphic Packaging’s Design for the Environment (DfE) approach, its features can be customized to suit various markets and potential applications. From tomatoes to berries and more, the unique solution ensures sustainability is at the forefront at each stage of the manufacturing process. ProducePack Punnet can also be graphically printed to maximize branding opportunities without the need for additional labelling. Elodie Bugnicourt, sustainability manager at Graphic Packaging International, said: “ProducePack Punnet delivers a 90 percent reduction in plastic when compared to polypropylene or polyester trays, and a 100 percent reduction if a barrier coating is not necessary for the application. It is expected to provide carbon footprint reduction versus standard fossil plastic trays and a much greater circularity with an average paperboard recycling rate of more than double that of plastics, on average, in most countries. The interest we received in ProducePack was extraordinary following its launch earlier this year. ProducePack Punnet now extends the range to new applications such as berries, enabling our customers to reap the environmental benefits of paperboard packaging in a wider variety of fresh produce applications.” Ricardo De Genova, Graphic Packaging’s SVP, global innovation and new business development, added: “As growers and producers look to move towards recyclable fiber-based solutions, they can count on our expertise to deliver value-added innovation as well as like-for-like functionality versus traditional plastic trays. Aligned with our Vision 2025 and DfE methodology, this launch is another example of how we can partner with customers to accelerate the transition to a more circular economy.” ProducePack Punnet is available for commercialization now. For more information on ProducePack Punnet, please visit graphicpkg.com. 1. McKinsey, Sustainability in Packaging, Inside the Minds of Global Consumers, 2020 Origin source: https://www.graphicpkg.com/news/graphic-packaging-international-adds-innovative-paperboard-punnet-to-sustainable-producepack-portfolio/

Smurfit Kappa's Bag-in-Box is first to secure Amazon's ‘Frustration-Free Packaging’ certification

APR 14, 2021 Smurfit Kappa’s innovative three litre Bag-in-Box packaging design has received Amazon’s “Frustration-Free Packaging” (FFP) certification. This is a world first for a generic packaging design, applicable for a wide range of products. The company unveiled this unique Amazon FFP pre-certification to thousands of customers at its recent invite-only virtual Better Planet Packaging event. Businesses selling on Amazon Marketplace can now use this ready to go, pre-certified Bag-in-Box design avoiding the need to go through costly and time-consuming testing at a specialised ISTA certified laboratory to gain FFP certification. Commenting on the collaboration, Smurfit Kappa VP of Innovation and Development, Arco Berkenbosch stated: “We are delighted to partner with Amazon to deliver the first ever pre-certified FFP design. It is a testament to the experience Smurfit Kappa has gathered conducting ISTA certified packaging analysis and Amazon FFP certification over the past 14 years. This new collaboration gives businesses the opportunity to sell through Amazon Marketplace at a much faster speed.” Bag-in-Box, part of Smurfit Kappa's eBottle portfolio, is the ideal packaging solution for transporting liquids, such as juices and wine, to be sold online. It is robust enough to protect the product during transit and its shape allows for optimal logistical efficiency and handling. Bag-in-Box uses on average 75% less plastic than rigid plastic packaging and has easy to separate materials, therefore guaranteeing high recycling rates. When in Rome is a British wine company which will benefit from the announcement. Rob Malin CEO of When In Rome, said: "When in Rome is a premium Italian craft wine brand and we have sold very successfully on Amazon UK since July 2020. The availability of pre-certified FFP designs will certainly make it easier for us and other eco-friendly wine brands to grow the market share of bag-in-box wines on Amazon and, accordingly, help us reduce the environmental footprint of the wine industry." Bag-in-Box is a part of Smurfit Kappa’s Better Planet Packaging portfolio of products that seek to make a positive impact on supply chains, while improving packaging’s environmental footprint. Origin source : https://www.smurfitkappa.com/newsroom/2021/smurfit-kappa-bag-in-box-is-first-to-secure-amazons-ffp-certification

Greiner Packaging has developed a special yogurt cup made of PP that reduces material usage by 20 percent.

IML lightweight cup achieves material savings

15/04/2021, Phillip Maurer Greiner Packaging is taking various steps to make its packaging solutions as sustainable as possible. One key approach is reducing material usage while maintaining or improving recyclability to save weight as well as cutting carbon emissions. The company is now unveiling a plastic cup for Greek yogurt that demonstrates the strong success of these efforts. Material reduced by 20 percent compared with current production methods Smaller carbon footprint thanks to reduction in materials Polypropylene (PP) for filling with warm or cold products IML decoration for optimal branding and premium look Kremsmünster, Austria, April 2021. Austrian dairy company Ennstal Milch operates a filling plant for various flavors of Greek yogurt. Greiner Packaging has successfully developed an ideal packaging solution for the yogurt – a cup that features an appealing design while significantly reducing the use of plastic. The packaging manufacturer is now producing this solution as well, allowing it to respond to the market’s requirements and the trend toward lightweight packaging decorated with IML technology. Reduced material usage: the approach for new packaging solutions One aspect of Greiner Packaging’s sustainability strategy is reducing its material usage, a goal it has been pursuing for some time now. The company aims to produce packaging that exhibits the same functionality and improved recyclability compared with previous solutions in order to cut back on plastic from virgin materials as well as carbon emissions. This represents an essential, sustainable approach for the plastics experts – in addition to using recycled materials and renewable raw materials while increasing the recyclability of its packaging solutions to as much as 100 percent. Sometimes, less is more Greiner Packaging achieved a material savings of 20 percent for the new plastic cup for the Greek yogurt, having reduced the solution’s weight by making adjustments to technical conditions in production. And this reduction has absolutely no impact on the functionality of the cup or its suitability for logistics and filling line systems. Likewise, it is still just as easy to separate the empty cups and stack the sealed cups filled with yogurt. The polypropylene (PP) plastic used in the cups is designed to be suitable for filling with dairy products and other foods in a refrigerated environment or at room temperature. A concerted effort is already underway in Europe to build a collection and recycling infrastructure that is as comprehensive as possible, so the future prospects for recovering the material in optimal quantities are highly promising. Moreover, the carbon footprint incurred during transport is significantly reduced due to the decreased weight of the cup. Almost endless design possibilities The PP cup also offers numerous plus points in terms of its design. Thanks to the in-mold labeling technology – that is, the use of a label fused with the cup during the production process – the cup boasts a premium look and makes a particularly impressive statement on store shelves. IML allows for a tailored brand identity with the same high quality as photo printing, ideal for attracting the consumer’s attention at the POS. Double-sided or interactive labels can be used to take consumer interactions to the next level. A QR code or digital watermark, for example, can be integrated for competitions, promotions, or similar consumer engagement activities. Plus, a wide range of surface effects is available to enhance the product’s premium look, including soft touch, matte, ultra-glossy, metallic, transparent, or imitation paper finishes. Another option: renewable materials As part of its efforts to utilize more renewable materials, Greiner Packaging also offers its customers biocircular plastics on request, such as those made from agricultural production waste. Because Greiner Packaging is ISCC Plus certified (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification), the company’s customers can highlight this on their packaging solutions if their organizations are also certified as part of the value chain. In addition, customers can use sealing film made of polypropylene so that the cup, IML label, and sealing film are made of the same material. This represents a further step ahead in terms of recyclability. “The new, lighter-weight IML cup for Greek yogurt is a great example of Greiner Packaging’s dedication to reducing material usage and the weight and carbon savings that come with it. The fact that we also make products from renewable materials on request, which in turn are 100 percent recyclable, is completely in line with our sustainable mindset and our mission to actively advance the transition to a circular economy,” says Philipp Maurer, key account and IML category manager at Greiner Packaging. Packaging facts: Technology: Injection molding Decoration: IML Material: PP, including bio-circular on request About Greiner Packaging Greiner Packaging is a leading European manufacturer of plastic packaging in the food and nonfood sectors. The company has enjoyed a reputation for outstanding solutions expertise in the fields of development, design, production, and decoration for more than 60 years. Greiner Packaging responds to the challenges of the market with two business units: Packaging and Assistec. While the Packaging unit focuses on innovative packaging solutions, the Assistec unit is dedicated to producing custom-made technical parts. Greiner Packaging employs a workforce of around 5,000 at more than 30 locations in 19 countries around the world. In 2019, the company generated annual sales revenues of EUR 690 million (including joint ventures), which represents more than 40 percent of Greiner’s total sales. Please direct any questions to: Roland Kaiblinger I Account Executive SPS MARKETING GmbH | B 2 Businessclass | Linz, Stuttgart Jaxstrasse 2–4, 4020 Linz, Austria Tel. +43 (0) 732 60 50 38-29 E-mail: [email protected] www.sps-marketing.com/en Origin article: https://www.greiner-gpi.com/en/Media/IML-lightweight-cup-achieves-material-savings_s_294036

ALDI LAUNCHES FIRST PACKAGING-FREE PRODUCTS TRIAL

Aldi has launched a trial selling its first packaging-free products to help customers shop more sustainably. The trial is available at one store in Ulverston, Cumbria, but if successful, Aldi will look to develop its refillable options in other stores in the future. Four household staples – basmati rice, brown rice, penne pasta and wholewheat fusilli – are available to buy loose in store. The move could remove more than 130 tonnes – or more than 21 million pieces – of plastic annually from stores. The products are available by weight, and Aldi will provide customers with free paper bags that are fully recyclable and made of FSC-certified material. Richard Gorman, Plastics and Packaging Director at Aldi, said: “Customers at our Ulverston store can now buy the same high-quality items they know and love, while also cutting down on plastic packaging. “We’re always looking for new ways to reduce waste plastic and limit packaging, as many of our shoppers are increasingly conscious of the environment and their impact on it. “We hope local customers embrace the trial and we will use their feedback to inform any future plans around refillable products.” In 2020, Aldi announced its ambitious new commitment to halve the volume of plastic packaging used by 2025. This will see it remove 74,000 tonnes of plastic packaging from products over the next five years. The supermarket, which has been carbon neutral since January 2019, is also on track to have all own-label products as recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2022, and branded products sold at Aldi by 2025.

Avient Debuts Next-Generation CESA™ Nofog Plus for Hot and Cold Food Packaging

SHENZHEN, China – April 13, 2021 – As ready-to-eat foods, ready-to-cook foods, and food delivery services experience rapid growth, the demand for better food packaging has also increased. Today at Chinaplas 2021, Avient unveiled the next-generation of its anti-fog additive, CESA™ Nofog Plus, which helps prevent fog for both hot and cold packaging. By reducing moisture accumulation, CESA Nofog Plus helps prolong the shelf life of packaged foods. It can clear fogging immediately in hot conditions, and within 5 minutes in cold conditions. Lids and protective films produced with this food contact-safe additive also remain clear, so that consumers can observe the food quality. This additive can be used in both rigid and flexible food packaging, including mono- and multilayer structures. It is suitable for thermoformed sheets as well as transparent food packaging, agricultural, and protective films. “By helping to maintain the freshness of food in packaging and limiting the growth of bacteria and fungi, it’s possible to reduce food waste and improve food hygiene,” said Say-Eng Lee, vice president and general manager, Color & Additives Asia. Available as a solid masterbatch, the additive can be extruded with packaging resins without the need for extra equipment. It is also compliant with US FDA and EU regulations. Avient is advancing packaging performance and sustainability through innovation and collaboration, and will be exhibiting these capabilities at Chinaplas 2021 in hall 16, booth 16J41. About Avient Avient Corporation (NYSE: AVNT), with 2020 pro forma revenues of $3.8 billion, provides specialized and sustainable material solutions that transform customer challenges into opportunities, bringing new products to life for a better world. Examples include: • Barrier technologies that preserve the shelf-life and quality of food, beverages, medicine and other perishable goods through high-performance materials that require less plastic • Light-weighting solutions that replace heavier traditional materials like metal, glass and wood, which can improve fuel efficiency in all modes of transportation • Breakthrough technologies that minimize wastewater and improve the recyclability of materials and packaging across a spectrum of end uses Avient employs approximately 8,400 associates and is certified ACC Responsible Care®, a founding member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste and certified Great Place to Work®. For more information, visit www.avient.com. To access Avient’s news library online, please visit www.avient.com/news. Origin:https://www.avient.com/avient-debuts-next-generation-cesa-nofog-plus-hot-and-cold-food-packaging

Versalis to launch new product for food packaging made with 75% post-consumer polystyrene

San Donato Milanese (MI), 07 April 2021 - Versalis, Eni's chemical company, is today expanding its range of “circular” products, made from recycled raw materials. The Versalis Revive® portfolio will now include a new product for food packaging made with 75% domestic post-consumer polystyrene. The product, referred to as Versalis Revive® PS Air F - Series Forever, is the result of the existing collaboration with Forever Plast S.p.A., a leading Italian company in the recycling of post-consumer products into high-quality raw materials, and has been developed as part of a collaborative project with various players in the polystyrene industry value chain: Corepla*, ProFood* and Unionplast*. This collaboration has given rise to an innovative recyclable tray suitable for food and composed of recycled polystyrene developed by the companies that are members of Pro Food. The tray consists of an inner layer containing Versalis Revive® PS Air F - Series Forever and two outer layers made from virgin polystyrene. This structure, known as the A-B-A functional barrier, ensures food contact compliance. The functional barrier design and stringent testing were developed in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging (IVV), a leading German applied research institute that works with industries to develop viable technologies for bringing innovative products to the market. The Versalis Revive® PS Air F – Series Forever is scheduled to be marketed over the next few weeks and is mainly aimed at the meat and fish packaging market. The Versalis Revive® range comprises products exclusively from mechanical recycling of post-consumer and plastics and those from the industry supply chain. In addition to Versalis Revive® PS, other polymer-based products are available on the market: expandable polystyrene (Versalis Revive® EPS) and polyethylene (Versalis Revive® PE). *Corepla (National Consortium for the Collection, Recycling and Recovery of Plastic Packaging), ProFood (Association of Food Processors) and Unionplast (Plastic Rubber Federation). Origin: https://www.eni.com/en-IT/media/press-release/2021/04/cs-versalis-lancia-nuovo-prodotto.html

Mondi's new packaging for Bell Germany's ‘Abraham’ ham range requires 37% less material and saves 35 tonnes of plastic

Food producer Bell Germany is set to launch new recyclable packaging for its sliced ham range, developed by Mondi and available on shelves in spring 2021 Mondi’s WalletPack protects the ham, and the environment, by preventing food spoilage and improving recyclability The lightweight material decreases plastic waste by 35 tonnes per year for Bell Germany 30 March 2021 – Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, has produced recyclable packaging for Bell Germany’s ‘Abraham’ range of thinly sliced gourmet ham that ensures perfect conformity with existing recycling guidelines. Bell Germany is launching a mono-material recyclable WalletPack in March for over 30 products including Seranno, Prosciutto and Savoy sliced ham. The new solution will replace a multi-material non-recyclable plastic solution, using 37% less material compared to standard modified atmosphere packaging. This switch will also reduce plastic waste for Bell Germany by 35 tonnes per year thanks to the lightweight solution. It will also lower waste disposal fees for Bell Germany and meets the design for recycling guidelines of leading retailers[1]. Created after two years of development, the new Mondi WalletPack operates as a folder, which the consumer opens to unpack the product. It features a re-close function on the backside to prevent food spoilage, provides excellent protection for thinly sliced deli meats, and has been verified by the German institute cyclos-HTP as 93% recyclable. Thomas Kahl, EcoSolutions Project Manager, Mondi, says: “Our aim is to create packaging that is sustainable by design. It should be better for the environment, while protecting the food, and standing out on shelves to represent the Abraham brand. Our unique EcoSolutions approach takes all these elements into consideration: we worked closely with Bell Germany at every stage to ensure that this was the best solution for all their products.” Jessica Trautmann, Senior-Productmanager, Bell Deutschland adds: “As with all food packaging, the priority is to protect the contents, however it has been our aim for some time to improve the recyclability of our packaging as we look to make all parts of our business more sustainable. Mondi has been a valuable partner in the creation of this solution and we are delighted to be launching this new packaging that is recyclable, while being functional and attractive on the shelf.” The new packaging will be launched with German retailers from March 2021. Learn more about our EcoSolutions approach here. [1] Figures on savings calculated by Bell Germany. Reader enquiries Mondi Group Marxergasse 4A 1030 Vienna Austria +43 1 79013 4059 www.mondigroup.com mondi-group

Multipurpose bioplastic from soy residues: A pilot plant to Finland

Four companies have collaborated to develop the first process in the world to produce compostable bioplastic from food and feed production side streams. A biopolymer plant will be built in Uusikaupunki, Finland, in which bioplastic production will be piloted on an industrial scale. Finnfoam, Brightplus, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Nordic Soya have explored together the possibilities of soy molasses, i.e. soy processing side stream, as a raw material of the future. The research project, partly funded by Business Finland, took four years. "The process developed as an outcome of this cooperation project is the first in the world to produce an ecological lactic acid polymer from the side streams of soy production. This way we can offer a sustainable alternative to sugar and corn based polylactic acid, i.e. PLA, says Henri Nieminen, CEO of Finnfoam. Soy molasses, which is not suitable for food, has previously been disposed of by incineration. Producing biomaterials from side streams of food production also improves the food production value chain. Nordic Soya Oy uses soy grown in Europe in its Uusikaupunki plant. Soy molasses left over from its processing has been used as the raw material in the research. This Finnish innovation combines synthetic biology, chemistry and material technology in a completely new way. "This project is both an excellent example of what expertise in industrial biotechnology can achieve and a triumph in converting a challenging industrial residue into a higher value product using microbes. This endeavour required significant efforts in technology at various stages of the process. It particularly made use of VTT's expertise in synthetic biology, the modification of microbes and optimisation of bioprocesses,” says Tiina Nakari-Setälä, Vice President, Strategy and Business Intelligence at VTT. An ecological alternative to plastic In the future, this Finnish sustainable concept for the development and production of bio-based raw material can be extended to new markets where soybean is processed for food and feed production. Bioplastic produced from the residues of soy processing has huge potential as a scalable export product in circular economy. Globally, residues from soy production could produce around 22 million tonnes of bioplastic per year. Also known for its medical applications, bioplastic is also ideal for, e.g., the manufacture of various compostable packaging applications and 3D-printing filaments. Finnfoam intends to use the new bioplastic in the production of thermal insulation for buildings. Its ecological quality is enhanced by the fact that thermal insulation also serves as a carbon sink, thus helping to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings. The new plant operating by the end of 2023 For the purpose of piloting new biomaterial innovations, the companies are launching a pilot plant project in Uusikaupunki in connection with Nordic Soya Oy, the largest soy protein concentrate processing plant in EU. The pilot plant will be built during 2021-2022. The full-scale plant will be operating by the end of 2023. "When completed, the pilot plant will significantly support Finland's sustainable development ecosystem and creation of future jobs," says Tiina Nakari-Setälä of VTT. At the beginning of 2021, Finnfoam Oy was divided into two companies, of which FF-Future will focus on future solutions. The pilot plant project is FF-Future's first major investment. "Finland has a huge potential to become a pioneer in biomaterials, but this requires resources for testing the scalability of the production process. We want to build concrete resources for the national ecosystem in the industry, and we are looking for partners who are interested in building the production of Finnish biomaterials and commercialising it for the global markets,” says Henri Nieminen. Looking for pioneer-minded partners Brightplus Oy, responsible for coordinating the project, produces new green chemistry innovations together with its partners that can be tested at the pilot plant. "It is a major technological step forward that side streams that are unusable in food production can now be used to produce responsible high value bio-based products," says Jarkko Leivo, Technology Director of Brightplus Oy. “Depending on the application, we can modify the properties of the biomaterial, such as its transparency and thermoformability, or improve its chemical resistance and reusability. We are now looking for pioneer-minded partners interested in this great technology with whom we can develop more innovative applications for this biopolymer.” Henri Nieminen, the initiator of the project, expresses his gratitude to Brightplus and VTT for the technical success of the project, having developed a functional concept from thousands of alternatives examined, as well as Business Finland, whose financial support has been a prerequisite for the success of the project. Further information Henri Nieminen CEO Finnfoam Oy +358400636992 [email protected] Jarkko Leivo Technology Director Brightplus Oy +358503226455 [email protected] Tiina Nakari-Setälä Vice President, Strategy and Business Intelligence VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd +358408215794 [email protected] Veli-Matti Reunasalo CEO Nordic Soya Oy +3585060134 [email protected] Finnfoam Oy Finnfoam Oy is a family-owned company founded in 1982 focused on production of thermal insulation materials. Finnfoam is one of the leading Baltic region producer of thermal insulation boards for building and construction insulation purposes, such as ground frost, base, wall and roof insulation materials. Main products are Finnfoam (XPS), FF-EPS and FF-PIR insulation boards. Finnfoam Oy is strongly committed to circular economy and generating more sustainable solutions for thermal insulation. Read more: www.finnfoam.com Brightplus Oy Brightplus is a pioneering Finnish biosourced materials company. We create reusable, recyclable and biodegradable side-stream material solutions with our visionary chemistry. Our versatile offering ranges from coating and barrier solutions to plastic replacement materials. Brightplus supports leading global manufacturers and major brands in e.g. packaging, consumer goods and agriculture to achieve their sustainability goals. Our multitalented team works closely with customers to co-create innovations that seamlessly comply with their existing processing methods and requirements. Our side-stream solutions reduce the circularity gap and meet the EU Green Deal 2030 targets. Read more: www.brightplus.com VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd VTT is a visionary research, development and innovation partner. We drive sustainable growth and tackle the biggest global challenges of our time, and turn them into growth opportunities. We go beyond the obvious to help the society and companies to grow through technological innovations. We have almost 80 years of experience of top-level research and science-based results. VTT is at the sweet spot where innovation and business come together. Read more: https://www.vttresearch.com/fi Nordic Soya Oy Nordic Soya production facility is the largest full scale, multi-stage soy processing plant in the European Union. The annual soybean processing capacity is 240,000 tonnes for feed, food and technology industries. Our main products include soybean meal, soy protein concentrate (SPC) and soy oil with co-products of soy molasses, lecithin and soy hulls. We are certified Europe Soya, Pro Terra and FoodChainID non-GMO refining facility, holding a membership of the Round Table on Responsible Soy Association. Our goal is to be Europe’s leading producer of further refined, high quality soy raw materials for the food and feed industries. Read more: https://www.nordicsoya.com/

Smurfit Kappa develops sustainable packaging solution for Signify's antibacterial light

Smurfit Kappa has designed a new integrated packaging system following close collaboration with Signify, the world leader in connected LED lighting systems, by designing the BioShift UV-C Chamber Case, used to ship and transport UV-C lights that have significant antibacterial properties, which kill germs and viruses. The new packaging solution is a 100% mono-material paper-based solution, that removes all plastics and reduces the number of packaging materials used, from five to one. The BioShift case is secured by a fit-to-size hood with special multi-use locks. The case is then placed on a corrugated pallet. In addition to providing a more sustainable solution, the new integrated packaging system also reduces costs. The BioShift UV-C Chamber’s lightweight design reduces assembly labour by 50% and reduces storage space by 30% which allows for 16 additional pallets per truck. The new packaging also guarantees 100% security during transport. Damian Grzelak, Signify Strategic Buyer Packaging EMEA, said: “UV-C lights are a growing segment of business for us, particularly in the context of the global pandemic. Smurfit Kappa has been vital in helping us reduce costs and ship our product in a safe and more sustainable manner.” Separately, Smurfit Kappa has worked with Signify to remove almost all Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) from its packaging in Europe, helping Signify achieve its goal of carbon neutrality. Commenting on the collaboration, Smurfit Kappa VP of Innovation and Development, Arco Berkenbosch stated: “The relationship between Smurfit Kappa and Signify has grown from strength to strength. We are delighted to help our customers find innovative, cost effective and sustainable packaging solutions for new and exciting products they are bringing to their markets.” Jacek Nieweglowski, CEO of Smurfit Kappa Poland added: “Working with Signify locally to create a more sustainable packaging, that is innovative in design and optimised from a cost perspective, has brought a great sense of pride to our team, especially by supporting the world-wide shipping of a product with benefits of protection against viruses.” The BioShift UV-C Chamber Case is a part of Smurfit Kappa’s Better Planet Packaging portfolio of products, which offer substantial alternatives to single-use plastics, as they are renewable, recyclable and if littered biodegrade naturally without leaving a trace.

A Can that Connects – and Fulfils Consumer Hygiene Expectations

CCL Label presents CANtastic, combining an aluminium can and shrink sleeve for an innovative and safe drinking experience CCL Label, the world leader in specialty label and packaging solutions, presents CANtastic a new type of aluminium can packaging that offers maximum hygiene and ideal marketing possibilities for promotions. “This new packaging product is all about connection and protection – it guarantees maximum cleanliness from production to the Point-of-Sale in supermarkets, convenience stores or gasoline stations, were cans are often openly displayed in an unprotected environment to catch the attention of the consumer. With CANtastic the cans are protected against all kinds of possible contaminations while ideally promoting the brand owner’s message”, says Reinhard Streit, Vice President and Managing Director Food&Beverage at CCL Label. “It goes further than other aluminium cans available in the market, allowing brand owners to build maximum trust with the consumers.” CANtastic will consist of a aluminium can with an engineered sleeve and top label that provides a 360 degree safety seal for the can making it hygienic and safe to drink from. The packaging fulfils all official food safety standards and the can is also re-closable to prevent for example insects to enter the can via the opening. Consumers demand more hygiene and food safety “We see that COVID-19 has transformed the consumer landscape – trust in brands is more important than ever. Health is now connected to heightened issues of food safety and hygiene with two-thirds saying that being healthy is being safe. Improving food safety is cited as the number one priority for manufacturers”. A study carried out by IPSOS* revealed that two thirds (66%) of consumers `concerned’ with the safety of their food and the Packaging Survey released by McKinsey** revealed that concerns connected to food safety and hygiene is a new trend amongst the top 6 packaging industry trends. Promotions: Back to a “New Normal” “Once the lockdown restrictions are lifted and life becomes more normal again, we expect promotional activities from brand owners to become an important marketing tool again. Our CANtastic can offers ideal space for branding and consumer communication. Firstly, there is additional space on the lid for extra activities or design possibilities. Contests, lotteries and loyalty programs can easily be integrated as well as Virtual Reality elements or special QR codes for unique and secure digital identity”, explains Streit. Sustainability: Aluminium Can are Widely Recycled The especially engineered sleeve and top construction allows for normal recycling of the aluminium can which very widely recycled in most countries. Aluminium is a 100% recyclable and sustainable metal and nearly 75% of all aluminium ever produced is still in use. Recycling aluminium saves over 90% of the energy needed to make new aluminium***. More information: https://ccllabel.com/news/cantastic/ Contact: Claudia Beer, Marketing ([email protected]) *https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/two-thirds-66-concerned-safety-their-food ** https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/paper-forest-products-and-packaging/ourinsights/sustainability-in-packaging-inside-the-minds-of-global-consumers ***Source: European Aluminium https://www.european-aluminium.eu/

UNITED CAPS Unveils Industry-First ‘Define Your Circle’ Initiative

Simplifies life cycle sustainability metrics by combining elements of Life Cycle Assessment and Sustainability Certification Wiltz, Luxembourg, 15 March 2021 – UNITED CAPS, an international manufacturer of caps and closures, today unveiled a new initiative, ‘Define Your Circle.’ As part of the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, ‘Define Your Circle’ is designed to provide UNITED CAPS customers and their customers a simpler way to calculate full life-cycle environmental impact of their products, from before the materials enter the plant right through to its performance in the hands of the end user. In addition, ‘Define Your Circle’ offers a means to customers of contributing to the development of a truly circular economy, in which plastics are too valuable to waste, and are wasted when they are considered single-use. “At UNITED CAPS, sustainability has always been at the core of our values,” said Benoit Henckes, CEO. “We are constantly looking for actions we can take to reduce the environmental impact of our caps and closures – how they are made, the materials they are constructed from, their weight, how they are sold and how they are distributed. With our industry-first ‘Define Your Circle’ initiative, we have extended that ability to our customers, providing easy-to-use tools that allow us to help them calculate their carbon footprint more accurately, taking actions where appropriate to reduce their life cycle environmental impact and make data-driven informed decisions about their products. We consider this to be a responsible approach to doing business in this era of climate change and negative human impact on the environment.” What Makes ‘Define Your Circle’ Different? UNITED CAPS are seeing a growing interest in the use of sustainability certified bio-based and recycled resins as part of an approach to product composition. At the same time, both customers and consumers have been seeking to better understand the weight of decisions they make in the realm of sustainability. One way to measure environmental effect beyond just making assumptions about impact, which is probably the most frequent approach, is through a process called Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) that assesses the environmental impact of food packaging, including material used, end of life (waste), as well as other environmental impacts, such as the overall effects of fossil-fuel-based or bio-based feed stocks. The process also shows the impact on the overall carbon footprint by using lighter-weight (but equally as effective) caps and closures, smaller neck sizes and more. Especially for smaller to mid-sized companies, this can be a challenging, complex and expensive process that requires specialists to complete. In addition, there are many misconceptions about the lifecycle environmental impact of various types of plastics, including those manufactured from fossil-fuel feed stocks and those manufactured from bio-based feed stocks. “Our goal with ‘Define Your Circle’ is to give our customers a tool to make informed choices in consideration of their environmental impact and to compare our products with each other and with competitive products to reach the most sustainable solution possible,” Henckes explained. ‘Define Your Circle’ offers manufacturers a data-based decision-making process to sustainability of product packaging. Instead of depending on the complexities of a full LCA assessment, UNITED CAPS has chosen to leverage one of the industry’s largest life cycle assessment databases, GaBi, which is constantly updated as new technology and new insights come to the fore. GaBi stems from the German words “Ganzheitliche Bilanzierung” for holistic balancing and has been around for a quarter of a century with the goal of easing the process of life cycle assessments. The UNITED CAPS ‘Define Your Circle’ tool gives customers access to this extensive database, delivering insight and guidance that leads to better sustainability decision making. As part of this holistic approach, ‘Define Your Circle’ allows customers to analyse the environmental footprint of caps, closures, and the containers they are used with, making better decisions about many aspects of product manufacture and distribution. “It’s important to recognise the complexities that surround making the right sustainability choices. UNITED CAPS have adopted an approach that places an emphasis on data-driven transparency to aid decision making,” says Henckes. “Take for example, our KINDCAP for infant nutrition products” adds Henckes. “We designed it to be the lightest product on the market, but we wanted to dive deeper to help people understand what that really means”. “By comparing our KINDCAP closure using the GaBi indicator with a standard 99 PE snap cap from Competitor X, we can see that KINDCAP is more than 20% more environmentally friendly in pretty much all aspects. From Water Scarcity to Climate Change and Resource Use, it is verifiably better for the planet.” “But then if you wanted to go even further, we could ask the question, “What if, a customer wanted to make that closure from bio-based or recycled resins?” It is a common belief that bio-based feed stocks that can be used for making plastic resin, such as corn or sugar cane, are the most sustainable approach. “If we further compare a typical PE snap cap made in the normal way versus a KINDCAP made with 50% bio-based resin, we can now have much greater understanding of the trade-offs involved in that decision. For example, the effect of reducing climate change would be substantial but the use of fertilizers and other chemicals can contribute to drinking water contamination. This unique-in-the-industry approach that has been taken by UNITED CAPS and enables fact-based decision making quickly and easily. The end-user solution adopted was to work with ISCC Plus Certified bio-based and recycled resins. Suitable for food applications, this certification allows brands to communicate the partial use of certified resin (less than 100%). So, for example, a closure may have been produced with ISCC Certified Resin but the bottle was not. In this example, the closure certification can be displayed on the packaging, aiding the consumer in making an informed choice. “We often talk in terms of caps and closures that have to perform in the plant and in the hand; it is our hope that ’Define Your Circle’ will also encourage people to talk about performing for the planet as well”! For more information about other products and services from UNITED CAPS, please visit www.unitedcaps.com.

FPA Announces 2021 Flexible Packaging Achievement Award Winners

Annapolis, Maryland: March 10, 2021 – The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA), the leading advocate and voice for the growing U.S. flexible packaging industry, is pleased to announce the winners of its 65th Annual Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards Competition. The winning entries were recognized during a virtual awards ceremony that was live-streamed on March 10th. This year, 75 package entries were submitted for the competition, with a total of 201 entries (some packages were entered into multiple categories). Twenty packages were honored with 27 Achievement Awards. The judges for this year’s competition included Cory Francer, Editor-in-Chief, Packaging Impressions; David Luttenberger, Global Packaging Director, Mintel Group Ltd.; and Keith Vorst, Ph.D., Director, Polymer and Food Protection Consortium, Iowa State University. Even though we’re amid a pandemic, the judges were thrilled at the number of entries for the competition. Luttenberger notes “I think the first thing that stood out was the number of entries. We've certainly had a unique and challenging year, but to have this many entries, as many, if not more, than we've had the past couple of years certainly was unexpected.” Technical innovation and sustainability continue to be a focus of the competition. “We saw some packaging that was what I would call the total package for new ideas and innovations,” says Vorst. “It’s not just one component but companies are looking at all the package components now, and that’s exciting.” Luttenberger notes “the technological innovations we saw this year were really unique, clever, and practical constructions, looking at the advancement of barriers, particularly for recyclable materials and extending shelf life.” An increasing trend seen for this year’s competition was the increase in international entries. We saw some entries from the Middle East, Europe, and Asia as well. So, really a nice global mix of packaging,” notes Francer. According to Vorst, “the international entries in many cases, brought some new technology to the game. I think we're seeing a different approach for packaging, maybe some things that we wouldn't typically see here in the U.S., and some of the entries that were entered were really impressive.” The printing quality of the entries this year was also remarked on by the judges. “The print quality that we saw this year was really, really impressive. Some amazing things are being done with the graphics in flexible packaging,” states Francer. Vorst agrees with Francer’s observation and adds, “it was the first thing that grabbed our attention.” Another trend seen for the competition is companies focusing on user experience for packaging. According to Luttenberger, “flexible packaging converters are recognizing that the end-user is not always a consumer - it could be an operating room technician, an EMT, or someone in a warehouse. Making sure that the packaging works as it's supposed to, and making sure that the product maintains safety, efficacy is protected, is easy to open, can tell us when it's already been opened is important. We have to think about the user experience in the context with who the user is, not just a shopper in a store or someone preparing a meal at home, for instance.” 2021 AWARD RECIPIENTS HIGHEST ACHIEVEMENT AWARD The Highest Achievement Award is evaluated by the judges as possessing overall packaging excellence, significant attributes in all award categories, and contributing most to the advancement of the industry. Crunch Pak's Toy Story Lunch Kitz Awards: Highest Achievement Award Gold Award – Technical Innovation Manufacturer: American Packaging Corporation, www.americanpackaging.com End-User/Customer: Crunch Pak Plant: Story City, IA Key Supplier: American Packaging Corporation Contact: Cindy Ingebritson, Corporate Marketing Specialist, [email protected], 515-733-1406 Description: American Packaging Corporation (APC) is proud to be part of the packaging for Crunch Pak’s Lunch Kitz. Lunch Kitz is a 4 oz. snack tray having individual compartments containing fresh sliced apples, an artisan cracker, string cheese, and Italian salami. The foods are fresh and healthy, including the salami which is without nitrates, nitrites, or artificial ingredients. **Please note that the recipient is aware of their Gold and Highest Achievement Award.** -------------------------------------------------- GOLD ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS Listed alphabetically by package name. Amcor's Dual Chamber Pouch Award: Gold Award – Technical Innovation Manufacturer: Amcor Flexibles, www.amcor.com End-User/Customer: Boston Scientific Plant: Mundelein, IL Contact: Angelia Schiedemeyer, Sr. Marketing Communications, [email protected], 920-527-7132 Description: The Amcor Dual Chamber Pouch is a specialty multi-layer pouch with a breathable membrane. The product consists of a peelable device chamber and a non-peelable desiccant chamber, and the desiccant is kept separate from the device with a symmetric coextruded vented nylon film. This solution is ideal for moisture sensitive products such as drug-coated products which may be adversely affected by reacting with various gasses found within the atmosphere of the package and is suitable for EtO sterilization. -------------------------------------------------- Arbor Teas Organic Tea Award: Gold Award – Sustainability Manufacturers: Polykar (www.polykar.com), Eagle Flexible Packaging (www.eagleflexible.com), and Futamura USA, Inc. (www.futamuragroup.com) End-User/Customer: Arbor Teas Plant: Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada Designer/Design Firm: Arbor Teas Key Suppliers: Polykar, Eagle Flexible Packaging, and Futamura USA, Inc. Contact: Bryan Mongeau, Marketing Communications Specialist, [email protected], 514-264-8158 Description: Compostable films are united to create an environmentally friendly tea packaging solution. The labels of the packaging are composed of hemp-based or sugarcane-based paper. The sealant layer is PKBIO200C from Polykar. This film is derived from resin which is partially bio-based from corn feedstock. It has high clarity and a low seal initiation temperature. The print web of the multi-layer structure is NatureFlex™ from Futamura, a compostable cellulose film based on wood pulp from sustainably-managed sources. These materials also reduce the weight of the packaging when compared to paperboard tubes or kraft bags. The material in Arbor Teas’ packages requires a less optimized environment for biodegradation, representing a major advance in low-impact packaging. -------------------------------------------------- ChameleonTM for Tyvek® Award: Gold Award – Expanding the Use of Flexible Packaging Manufacturer: PAXXUS, Inc., www.paxxus.com Plant: Addison, IL Contact: Dhuanne Dodrill, CEO, [email protected], 630-405-7801 Description: ChameleonTM for Tyvek® allows the user to readily evaluate the quality of a seal when used with uncoated Tyvek. Before opening, the seal shows as a darker color when viewed through the film side. Once the package has been peeled open, a vivid colored seal indicator presents on the Tyvek with a contrasting white seal indicator on the film. The easy ability for users to identify any seal flaws addresses the new EU Medical Device Regulation requirements that the "integrity of the packaging is clearly evident to the final user" while providing a consistent, smooth, fiber-free peel. -------------------------------------------------- Hunter’s® Gourmet – Quinoa Chips Awards: Gold Award – Packaging Excellence Gold Award – Printing Gold Award – Shelf Impact Manufacturer: Emirates Printing Press, L.L.C., www.eppdubai.com End-User/Customer: Hunter Foods – UAE Plant: Dubai, UAE Contact: Joseph Binoy, Senior Sales Manager, [email protected], +97145039999 Description: The first thing that consumers remember about a brand is its color. The print on matte OPP with a white background and multiple colors gives the package a very rich look, and the shelf appearance influences the consumers to buy the product. The structure of the package is 20μ matte OPP + 12μ metalized PET + 60μ LDPE-TR and maintains the required barrier for the chips. -------------------------------------------------- Industrial Compostable Coffee Pod Lidding & Mother Bag Award: Gold Award – Sustainability Manufacturer: TC Transcontinental Packaging, www.tctranscontinental.com/packaging End-User/Customer: Maxwell House Coffee Canada Plant: Brooklyn, NY Contact: Diana Courtepatte, Customer & Sales Solutions Manager, [email protected], 416-998-2214 Description: Both the pod lidding and mother bag are certified by the BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute), meaning that it is certified to breakdown in industrial composting. They are made from a high percentage of plant-based materials providing a sustainable solution for the single-serve coffee industry to mitigate landfill waste. The entire solution has a circular design with renewable inputs into the materials and a no separation pod design to ensure easy consumer disposal into the organics collection to be processed as industrial compost. The compostable lidding film has a good sealing performance as it seals onto the unique industrial compostable soft pod design and brown ring. The mother bag protects the pods and provides a barrier, all to help mitigate contamination in the end stream. -------------------------------------------------- Infused Face Mask Award: Gold Award – Shelf Impact Manufacturers: Karlville (www.karlville.com) and The Packaging Lab (www.thepkglab.com) End-User/Customer: Nufabrx Plant: Brooklyn Park, MN Designer/Design Firm: The Packaging Lab Key Supplier: The Packaging Lab Contact: Raul Matos, Vice President, [email protected], 305-533-1051 Description: Not all masks are created equal. The copper-infused face mask is impregnated with Shea Butter moisturizer as doctors, first responders, and millions of people are dealing with redness, irritation, or “maskne” caused by masks. For the packaging, the pouch is digitally printed, thermally laminated, and pouched all within 24 hours. To give moisture barrier the brand owner chose a BOPP. The structure is matte BOPP (1.1 mil)/EVA/ink /EVOH/PE (3.5 mil). -------------------------------------------------- Nutra Dates 3D Pouch Award: Gold Award – Printing Manufacturer: Emirates Printing Press, L.L.C., www.eppdubai.com End-User/Customer: Al Foah Dates Plant: Dubai, UAE Contact: Joseph Binoy, Senior Sales Manager, [email protected], +97145039999 Description: The Nutra Dates 3D Pouch compliments the contrast between the matte look with a patterned golden metallic design. The date image is designed to create a superior impact on the shelf and comes with a reclosable zipper to maintain product freshness and laser scoring for consumer convenience. -------------------------------------------------- Ruffles® Lime and Jalapeño Anthony Davis Bags Awards: Gold Award – Packaging Excellence Gold Award – Printing Gold Award – Shelf Impact Manufacturer: Printpack, www.printpack.com End-User/Customer: Frito-Lay Plant: Villa Rica, GA Contact: Lisa Preston, Marketing Communications Manager, [email protected], 404-460-7441 Description: Ruffles®’ new Lime and Jalapeño chip flavor is a collaboration between two bold and dynamic brands, Ruffles® and basketball star Anthony Davis. The collaboration was inspired by Davis' multidimensional personality and Ruffles®’ spirit of individuality. Three package designs reference Anthony Davis’ #3 jersey. Each package features one of two images of Mr. Davis placed on one of three different backgrounds of bold waves. The wavy lines of the package represent both Ruffles®’ iconic texture and Davis’ trademarked unibrow. These limited-edition bags marks the first time in Frito-Lay history that a chip package features a celebrity likeness. -------------------------------------------------- Shield Pack® Clear High Barrier Aseptic IBC Liner Award: Gold Award – Technical Innovation Manufacturer: Amcor Flexibles, www.amcor.com Plant: Oshkosh, WI Contact: Jennifer Hackinson, Marketing Communications Specialist, [email protected], 920-527-5604 Description: The Shield Pack® Clear High Barrier Aseptic IBC Liner provides the clarity and durability that the distribution process demands. This technology replaces laminated oriented metalized structures in applications where manufacturers are packaging up to 300 gallons of product for intermittent storage and transportation. The multi-layer structure safeguards against moisture, oxygen, and environmental contamination, while extending distribution range, reducing transit failures, improving product quality, and maintaining product color and vitamin retention. -------------------------------------------------- Volga Shahi Gold Pouch Award: Gold Award – Printing Manufacturer: Emirates Printing Press, L.L.C., www.eppdubai.com End-User/Customer: Walq Foods Industries LLC Plant: Dubai, UAE Contact: Joseph Binoy, Senior Sales Manager, [email protected], +97145039999 Description: The Volga Shahi Gold Pouch is printed with inline registered matte coating which makes the pouch stand out on the shelf. High dart PE used inside the gusset improves the dart impact of the laminate, sustain drop tests and bursting strength during transport, and handling of the package. The artwork was designed to enhance the traditional feel. The matte and glossy look of the pouch creates excellent shelf appeal, helping it catch the immediate attention of the user. A 3D pouch technique was used to replace the conventional pouching and woven bag. -------------------------------------------------- SILVER ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS Listed alphabetically by package name. 50% Recycled Content Multi-Use E-Commerce Mailer Awards: Silver Award – Packaging Excellence Silver Award – Sustainability Manufacturers: Manufacturers: Berry Global (www.berryglobal.com) and PAC Worldwide Corporation (www.pac.com) End-User/Customer: PAC Worldwide Corporation Plants: Danville, KY and Middletown, OH Contact: Caleb Triplett, Product Manager - Flexible Packaging, [email protected], 336-469-2471 Description: Berry Global and PAC Worldwide Corporation co-developed a multi-use e-commerce mailer that contains an industry-leading 50% recycled content. Using a proprietary blend, this mailer advances the circular economy through a material reduction of 20% to competing mailers and the prior mailer used. Also, this mailer is part of a family of mailers that utilize an exclusive closed-loop system of recycled content supplied in partnership with one of PAC Worldwide’s e-commerce customers. Uniquely engineered for best-in-class output, high-opacity, low-light transmission, high-performance seal characteristics, and extreme toughness, this mailer helps e-commerce brands meet sustainability objectives without compromising on performance. -------------------------------------------------- Amazon Tea Stand-up Pouch Award: Silver Award – Printing Manufacturer: Emirates Printing Press, L.L.C., www.eppdubai.com End-User/Customer: Al Maras Tea Filling Factory Plant: Dubai, UAE Contact: Joseph Binoy, Senior Sales Manager, [email protected], +97145039999 Description: The Amazon Tea Stand-up pouch is designed to create a superior impact on the shelf. The key features include rich vibrant colors and appealing visual effects achieved with 8 color gravure printing which makes the pouch distinctive. The printing on matte OPP with a very high-resolution product image gives the package a unique look. This pouch, both functional and elegant, is designed with a resealable zipper that keeps the product fresh for a longer time. -------------------------------------------------- Aunt Millie's Live™ Organic BIOVANTAGE™ Bakery Bag Awards: Silver Award – Sustainability Silver Award – Technical Innovation Manufacturer: Berry Global, www.berryglobal.com End-User/Customer: Aunt Millie's Plant: Macedon, NY Contact: Caleb Triplett, Product Manager - Flexible Packaging, [email protected], 336-469-2471 Description: Aunt Millie’s Live™ Organic is a new family-farmed organic bread emphasizing social and environmental responsibility strengthened through the use of Berry Global’s BIOVANTAGE™ bakery film. This film contains 50% renewable, bio-based PE sourced from sugarcane. BIOVANTAGE™ is a drop-in for traditional PE films, with no change in performance or packaging properties. Also, BIOVANTAGE™ films are How2Recycle prequalified. Through the use of BIOVANTAGE™, Biorenewable Content (BRC) certified inks, and 15% downgauging, Aunt Millie’s reinforced the appeal of the Live™ Organic product line to the target audience of environmentally and socially responsible consumers. -------------------------------------------------- Brookside Hershey’s Exotic Dark Pouch Award: Silver Award – Technical Innovation Manufacturer: Paharpur 3P, www.paharpur3p.com End-User/Customer: Hershey India Private Ltd. Plant: Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India Designer/Design Firm: Paharpur 3P and Hershey India Private Ltd. Key Suppliers: Ester Industries Ltd., Henkel Adhesives Technologies India, and Sakata Inx Contact: Vipendra Tyagi, VP – R&D and Quality, [email protected], +91-0120-4389173 Description: This innovative peelable strip in a pouch was developed where the consumer initially sees the existing branding (Brookside) and then peels the strip away to unveil the new Hershey branding (Hershey’s Exotic Dark). The strip is an integral part of the pouch and is not a pressure-sensitive paper label. Paharpur 3P developed this concept, modified existing equipment, and was able to manufacture the pouches with a zipper and bottom gusset plus the registered strip with minimum tolerance. The challenge was to develop the laminate structure for the pouch and strip which should look similar to the existing laminate and exhibit good heat seal and easy peel properties. The specifications of the base gusset of pouches were slightly changed, and it passed all hurdles of machinability/barrier properties and standability. -------------------------------------------------- CaPao Cacaofruit Smoothie Balls Award: Silver Award – Shelf Impact Manufacturer: ProAmpac, www.proampac.com End-User/Customer: Mondelez Plant: Hartford, WI Designer/Design Firm: Bulletproof Contact: Mariah Thurston, Marketing Coordinator, [email protected], 413-875-9858 Description: CaPao brought to market their Cacaofruit Smoothie Balls – little balls of goodness – combining cacaofruit pulp with other fruits, nuts, and seeds to deliver a completely new plant-based snack experience. These bite-sized nourishing snacks are produced in a wind-powered manufacturing facility and are individually wrapped on a high-speed vertical form/fill/seal line with a unique recyclable high-barrier paper touch film, then placed in reclosable pouches also made with a unique recyclable high-barrier paper touch structure. -------------------------------------------------- Krakatoa Hot Chips, 6.7 oz. Award: Silver Award – Shelf Impact Manufacturer: Printpack, www.printpack.com End-User/Customer: Amplify Snack Brands Plant: Villa Rica, GA Designer/Design Firm: Jeff Day and Joanie Cahill, Amplify Snack Brands Contact: Lisa Preston, Marketing Communications Manager, [email protected], 404-460-7441 Description: The north star of Krakatoa Hot Chips is “heat.” As such, the brand is named after Mount Krakatoa, a volcano in the Indonesian Islands famous for one of the most violent explosions in human history. To that end, Krakatoa’s logo doubles as both the human mouth “on fire” as well as a volcano erupting. The brand has five trademarked names that represent a flavor experience that ranges from spicy to volcanic as measured by the brand’s “Krak Scale.” The “Krak Scale” is featured prominently on the back of the bag so consumers know exactly what they are getting into. -------------------------------------------------- Numi Tea Award: Silver Award – Sustainability Manufacturer: Plastic Suppliers, Inc. (www.plasticsuppliers.com) and Elk Packaging (www.elkpackaging.com) End-User/Customer: Numi Tea Key Supplier: Plastic Suppliers, Inc. (PSI), EarthFirst® PLA sealant film supplier Contact: Cecelia Glackin-Hunt, Marketing Project Manager, [email protected], 614-418-3829 Description: Timed with a brand refresh, Numi Tea introduced a new plant-based package for their individually wrapped tea. This new pouch incorporates renewable, bio-based plastic, including EarthFirst® PLA sealant film, instead of fossil fuel-based plastic. Every layer of the packaging is now plant-based. The tea packages passed ASTM D6868 biodegradation testing for disintegration and ecotoxicity, making the tea wraps compostable in commercial facilities. Now, Numi Tea packages naturally lower the carbon footprint of the packaging. -------------------------------------------------- Reset360 Large Format Protein Pouch Award: Silver Award – Printing Manufacturer: Nosco, www.nosco.com End-User/Customer: Reset360 Plant: Carrollton, TX Key Suppliers: Film suppliers: Advanced Converting Works and Nobelus®; Ink Supplier: HP Indigo ElectroInks; Closure Manufacturer: Zip-Pak®; and the Printing Press Supplier: HP Indigo 20000 Contact: Steven Krueger, New Product Development Manager, [email protected], 847-360-4866 Description: When Reset360 came to Nosco seeking a large format digital flexible packaging pouch with metallic color, Nosco’s team of engineers and graphics experts went to work on a solution. Because metallic print cannot be attained on press today, the team first recommended a metPET material for its metallic properties. They then paired this material with the appropriate screen values to allow for the desired metallic effect to show through – matching the metallic PMS color originally requested by the customer. Premium white ink was then printed in the areas where Reset360 did not want a metallic effect, which provided the clean look desired. This pouch features 5 HP Indigo ElectroInk colors. -------------------------------------------------- Smithfield Prime Fresh Delicatessen Award: Silver Award – Expanding the Use of Flexible Packaging Manufacturer: Berry Global, www.berryglobal.com End-User/Customer: Smithfield Foods Plant: Milwaukee, WI Designer/Design Firm: Berry Global Contact: Caleb Triplett, Product Manager - Flexible Packaging, [email protected], 336-469-2471 Description: The Smithfield Prime Fresh Delicatessen package is a proprietary dual-forming web engineered to mirror packaging typical to cold cuts just sliced at the deli counter. The Prime Fresh package is the only deli-meat package of its kind. It is a surface-printed coextruded film with high-barrier properties, enabling it to replace laminated structures that are typical to processed deli-meat. Through an innovative extrusion process and careful material selection, this package offers improved shelf life and enhanced consumer experience, while eliminating the PET web typical to laminations. The Prime Fresh bag also uses 31% less material than the conventional tubs that hold competing pre-sliced deli meat, resulting in other sustainability benefits like fewer transportation miles and less product waste. About the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) The Flexible Packaging Association is the voice of the U.S. manufacturers of flexible packaging and their suppliers. The association’s mission is connecting, advancing, and leading the flexible packaging industry. Flexible packaging represents over $33 billion in annual sales in the U.S. and is the second largest, and one of the fastest growing segments of the packaging industry. Flexible packaging is produced from paper, plastic, film, aluminum foil, or any combination of those materials, and includes bags, pouches, labels, liners, wraps, rollstock, and other flexible products. Origin: https://www.flexpack.org/publication/RG93bmxvYWQ6NTk5

Every liquid has a fingerprint and now it can be measured in real time

A new radio wave-based analysis technology, developed by the Finnish high-tech company Collo, makes it possible to continuously monitor the state of any liquid in industrial processes, be it thick slurries, resins, adhesives, coatings, emulsion, beer, water or any other fluid. Collo’s technology is based on an electromagnetic resonator that emits a continuous radio frequency field into the liquid. The signal reacts to interferences caused by different components, chemicals and phases in the liquid. The analyzer immediately warns if the process is disturbed in any way so that the process can be adjusted according to the online data. “Our sensors can be placed anywhere in the process to optimize for instance the use of raw materials and chemicals in the critical process steps”, says Matti Järveläinen, CEO and founder of Collo. “Our analyzer monitors the process constantly, compared to manual samples that provide a delayed snapshot of the process status at a given time. The advantage of real-time monitoring is that it takes away the guesswork when adjusting the process, which in turn can save a lot of chemicals, materials, energy and time.” Brewing better beer Collo Analyzer simultaneously measures eight proprietary parameters from a liquid, which together form the liquid’s fingerprint. If these characteristics are changed during processing, for example if unwanted solids are formed or the chemical balance is negatively impacted, the analyzer shows the changes so that corrective measures can be made immediately. “For the first time it is now possible to analyze the changes in any desired liquid in real time, using our radio wave technology that penetrates liquids of any dry mass”, Järveläinen says. “A brewery is an example of a typical slurry process, where solids are blended into the liquid followed by several critical steps that each has to be optimized to get an even quality. Now it is possible to measure these critical steps in real time using one single technology.” Unlike generic measurement techniques, Collo doesn’t just measure the liquids, but combines data with sophisticated analytics, providing actionable information for improved process performance. For optimal result, analytics are adjusted for each liquid application. “Once adjusted, the same system can be replicated in similar processes”, Järveläinen says. “This is especially beneficial for customers that have a vast number of identical liquid processes, as they are able to achieve significant economies of scale with Collo. The analyzer is very low-maintenance, since the sensor is not sensitive to dirt and does not require cleaning.” Less scrap and complaints As Collo’s technology displays real-time measurements, it is possible to continuously adjust the process according to the results. “The benefit of this continuous quality control is that process deviations are identified immediately when they occur and before they have caused any issues in the process or decreased its performance”, says Mikko Tielinen, Head of Sales. “If the problem is realized too late, it may escalate and become much more expensive to solve.” For example, resin mixtures in electrical components insulation processes require a correct level of viscosity. If the critical stages can be analyzed online, the process will be steadier, resulting in less scrapped parts or faulty components shipped to customers. “When using Collo Analyzer you can see when the liquid has the right properties and when adjustments are needed”, Tielinen says. “This means you don’t have to add more raw material than needed or use time and energy to blend the liquid longer than necessary, just because you cannot be sure of the consistence. This way the productivity gets a boost, and the use of energy and materials is decreased, while at the same time less waste is generated, and the final product is much less vulnerable to complaints because of quality issues.” Collo Collo is an industrial liquid process performance solution, developed by ColloidTek Oy (Collo), founded in 2017 after extensive scientific research in measurement technology at Tampere University by its founders and key personnel. Collo develops and commercializes the Collo technology for various industries, helping customers better understand and develop their liquid processes. Amongst the customers are well-known industrial companies like ABB, Danone, Evonik, LKAB, Element Six, Kemira and Outotec. Origin:http://ins-news.com/en/100/999/2755/Every-liquid-has-a-fingerprint-and-now-it-can-be-measured-in-real-time.htm