Ceepackaging

In an international context marked by a decrease in fossil resources and an increase in oil price, the development of materials made from renewable resources becomes the main challenge of sustainable development. Furthermore, today’s environmentally conscious consumers and brand owners are seeking out eco‐friendly products, such as biodegradable plastics.

World demand for foodservice disposables is forecast to increase 4.8 percent per year to $48.6 billion in 2013. While the US will remain the largest user of foodservice disposables by a wide margin, the most rapid increases will continue to occur in China and the world’s other developing regions.

A new product has joined the range of catering solutions available in Mater-Bi®. The biodegradable and compostable sugar sachet, born of a partnership between Novamont and Novarese Zuccheri joins the cutlery, plates and cups already available.

A Canadian company, Dr Vie Inc, has chosen sustainable and compostable NatureFlex™ from Innovia Films to wrap its entire range of nutritional “superfood” products.

Can a luxury pack also be an eco friendly pack?

Innovia Films’ high barrier compostable cellulose-based material, NatureFlex™ NK, has been chosen by an Austrian producer, Sonnentor, to wrap its range of herbs and spices.

Pregis Corp. is introducing EP-Flex™ Renew™, a high performance low-density polyethylene air pillow film that is made with up to 50% less resin than competitive inflatable void-fill products. The new film structure also contains a proprietary organic additive that accelerates microbial biodegradation, without compromising recyclability.

Innovia Films’ biodegradable and compostable flexible material, NatureFlex™ has been chosen for a new range of organic, mostly raw nutrition bars produced in the USA.

Clarifoil, makers of biodegradable cellulose acetate films for labels, seals and window packs, have joined the drive to crack down on counterfeiting and improve tamper evidence in 2009 with new technical developments of their range.

With the packaging of a product a producer makes also a statement on his attitude towards the environment. To position his product well, he must reconcile contradictory demands. On the one hand he must display environmental friendliness and keep the price low. Yet on the other hand the food must be reliably protected from exposure to oxygen and humidity. To address this challenge, ten SME-AGs and SMEs have joined forces with four research partners under the leadership of IRIS, a Spanish research centre, and PIMEC, the Catalonian SME association. Together they have discovered that whey protein has the potential to substitute polymer layers in the packing of food, and in particular of fresh food. By developing a technique for the manufacture of whey-coated plastic films with excellent oxygen barrier properties, improved water vapour properties and, in addition, antimicrobial activity, the consortium will improve food safety through the use of bio-based and partly also biodegradable packaging. Using a by-product from cheese production that accumulates in vast amounts to create value for commercial use means killing two birds with one stone - without making any concessions concerning safety and shelf life.

Iggesund Paperboard has received its first order for bioplastic-coated paperboard. This means Invercote can now be supplied with a barrier that is biodegradable and is also made from a renewable source. Uses include food packaging and drinking cups.

PWP Industries has recently launched a colorful new series of biodegradable packaging, AgroResin® Rainbow, expanding its AgroResin® fiber composite packaging portfolio.

Innovia Films’ biodegradable and compostable flexible material, NatureFlex™ has been chosen as part of the packaging for a new range of all natural, organic dog biscuits produced in the USA.

Multi award-winning artisan organic flour producer, Bacheldre Watermill, has chosen Innovia Film’s biodegradable and compostable material, NatureFlex™, to add the finishing touch to its stylish flour packaging.

Innovia Films’ biodegradable packaging material, NatureFlex™, is helping a raw snack food company – Superfood Snacks - to fulfill its ideal for natural eco-friendly sustainable bags to package their first product, Chocolate Goji Treats. They are a synergistically balanced fusion of some of the world’s most nutritious ancient superfoods and speciality ingredients, including Goji berries, Raw Cacao, Maca Root and sundried Vanilla Bean.

Innovia Films’ biodegradable, compostable NatureFlex™ film is being used as part of the packaging for a leading British cereal producer’s organic range.

BASF SE has announced plans for a significant expansion of its production plant for the biodegradable plastic Ecoflex® at the company’s Ludwigshafen site. The move will raise Ecoflex production capacities from the current 14,000 by 60,000 metric tons per year. Production at the expanded plant will commence in the third quarter of 2010.

Sleever International, the world-leading specialist in sleeve decorative solutions, will present at Interpack 2008, the latest developments in Sleever® technology.

To help retailers keep pace with consumers who are ever more environmentally conscious, PWP Industries is introducing AgroResin® sustainable packaging.

Jordans has been busy re-launching its organic range.

Decorative Sleeves has become the first European shrink sleeve manufacturer to include a film made from renewable resources among its range of products.

The biodegradable BASF plastics Ecoflex® and Ecovio® recently received the iF material award 2007. The International Forum Design (iF), the design center in Hannover (Germany), this year conferred the award for innovative materials and material ideas for the third time.

To support customers who have a commitment to environmental protection, Rexam today features three major lines of product innovation for its make-up packaging business: 1) the injection of corn-based resin 2) the injection of wood-based resin 3) the design and manufacture of refillable packagings

Huhtamaki's BioWare cutlery made from Mater-Bi is a new addition to the current BioWare range of cups and plates. The new compostable cutleries have the established and popular shape of Huhtamaki's Super Party cutleries.