Mondi’s Terra Bag wins EUROSAC Grand Prix Sack of the Year 2010

EUROSAC, the European Federation of Multiwall Paper Sack Manufacturers, selected Terra Bag for its revolutionary approach for sustainable waste management of industrial bags. The yearly EUROSAC Grand Prix was held at this year’s congress in Stockholm and focused specifically on the topic “Naturally Sustainable”. Terra Bag not only answered the requirement of a cutting-edge product but also fit the sustainability topic perfectly.

Terra Bag was developed in close collaboration with the French cement producer Ciments Calcia (Italcementi Group), the film extruder Barbier and cereals producer and Mondi customer Limagrain. “With this project we offer a tangible waste management solution for construction sites and have made sure distributors and building organisations are involved from an early stage onwards” explains David Guglielmetti, Head of Marketing Ciments Calcia.

“This project is a great example of how suppliers and customers can successfully work together,” says Claudio Fedalto, Sales & Marketing Director of Mondi Industrial Bags. “Each partner contributed to the successful development of the biodegradable bag bringing in their specific experience. Through this collaboration and exchange of know-how we managed to achieve an innovative solution meeting the clear requirements of Ciments Calcia with regards to filling speed and bag resistance”, he adds.

What is the Terra Bag?

Terra Bag is a paper bag (one or more plies) with a biodegradable film for humidity protection. The entire bag is biodegradable and optimised for industrial composting, turning waste into valuable humus. Terra Bag is certified according to EN 13432, a harmonised European standard that defines the “Requirements for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation”. Terra Bag is part of the Green Range® - Mondi’s unique family of paper and packaging products optimised to save natural resources and reduce waste.

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Kellogg Recalls 28 Million Boxes of Cereal‎

Working in consultation with the United States Food and Drug Administration, Kellogg Company is implementing a voluntary recall of certain breakfast cereals due to an uncharacteristic off-flavor and smell coming from the liner in the package.

Included in the recall are select packages of Kellogg's Corn Pops, Kellogg's Honey Smacks, Kellogg's Froot Loops and Kellogg's Apple Jacks. Only products with the letters "KN" following the Better If Used Before Date are included in the recall. Products with a "KM" designation are not included in the recall. In addition, no products in Canada are affected.

While the potential for serious health problems is low, some consumers are sensitive to the uncharacteristic off-flavor and smell and should not eat the recalled products because of possible temporary symptoms, including nausea and diarrhea.

No other Kellogg's products are part of this recall. The recalled products were distributed nationwide.

"We apologize to our consumers and our customers and are working diligently to ensure that the affected products are rapidly removed from the marketplace," said David Mackay, president and chief executive officer, Kellogg Company.

Source: Kellogg Company

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EU demand for stand-up pouches to grow 9.1%

The positive advantages of the stand-up pouch (SUP) will continue to drive strong growth in European demand for this packaging format, according to a new report from PCI Films Consulting.

Although developed nearly 40 years ago, the stand-up pouch (SUP) has taken some time to be truly accepted in the European flexible packaging marketplace. In 2009, nearly 19 billion SUPs were estimated to have been supplied, accounting for 5% of the total value of converted flexible packaging used in Europe. Wet pet foods accounted for almost a third of this volume and non-retortable food pouches were among the fastest growing. Around 975 million square metres of laminate was used to make pouches, of which 65% was used to make pre-made pouches, with the balance supplied as reels to packers for use on form-fill-seal machines.

PCI’s study has found that, in the five years up to 2008, European demand for stand-up pouches grew by 10 - 15% p.a. Demand slowed during the economic downturn in 2009, but stronger interest from packers is expected to return in future years.

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Pack News of the week: compostable, protective and Cartoon Packaging

Compostable Packaging: The Reality on the Ground

This report reveals survey results from 40 facilities that accept food waste, which were identified to provide a range of size, composting method and geographic location of facilities. The survey was motivated by the packaging industry’s confusion as to how composting facilities treat foodservice packaging, because some facilities reject packaging, citing it as a contaminant to their composting process and finished product. Due to the growing number of individual facility, regional and state compostability standards, packaging designers and engineers have been unsure of how to approach compostable packaging.

Key findings include:

• 90% of facilities surveyed actively accept compostable packaging.
• 67.5% require compostable packaging to have some type of standard or certification before allowing it in the front gate.
• 82.5% want a more universally recognizable label of compostability.

Protective packaging market expected to rise to $22.2 billion by 2014

According to a new report by Bharatbook, "World Protective Packaging to 2014," world demand for protective packaging is projected to increase 7.8 percent per year to $22.2 billion in 2014. This represents a notable acceleration from the pace of the 2004-2009 period. Advances will be stimulated by an upswing in manufacturing activity and the continued proliferation of Internet shopping in both developed and developing regions.

These factors will necessitate heightened requirements for cost-effective packaging used in the protection of goods from shock, vibration, abrasion and other damaging effects of shipping and handling. Value gains will also be helped by the growing presence of environmentally friendly products -- such as those made from recycled or biodegradable materials -- which tend to be more costly than their conventional counterparts. However, such gains will stem from a low base. Also, the importance of price in the purchasing decisions of most packaging users will moderate demand for green products to some extent.

Kids Prefer Cartoon Packaging

Shrek, Dora the Explorer, and other animated TV and movie stars beloved by children have been moonlighting as junk-food pitchmen in recent years. And they're good at it.

In the study, which is published this week in the journal Pediatrics, Roberto and her colleagues presented 40 children ages 4 to 6 with paired samples of graham crackers, gummy fruit snacks, and baby carrots. Each pair of sample foods was identical down to the clear packaging, except that one of the packages had a sticker of Shrek, Dora the Explorer, or Scooby Doo on it.

Between 50 percent and 55 percent of the children said that the food with the sticker on it tasted better than the same food in the plain package. (The percentage varied with each food.) And between 73 percent and 85 percent selected the food in the character packaging as the one they'd prefer to eat as a snack.

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Marcal Packaging to Include Environmental Fact Panel

Marcal Manufacturing, the nation's number one maker of household paper goods from 100 percent recycled paper, has introduced new packaging highlighting environmental facts critical to its products' manufacturing process.

The new panel is a nutrition facts-style Environmental Facts panel and now gets fron placement on every Marcal® Small Steps® package, clearly detailing information like recycled paper content (100%), how much chlorine bleach was used for whitening (zero %) and use of chemical-based additives like fragrances and dyes (zero %).

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Evergreen: Innovative, Convenient and Sustainable Packaging

Produced from 100% recycled paperboard, the Evergreen Bathroom Tissue Carton provides space-saving, one-at-a-time roll dispensing. Other features of the pack are an easy-to-carry handle, a die-cut window to view the product, and a spent-core return.

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• Rolls dispense easily from the attractive, compact carton at home, shop or office.
• Sustainable. No plastic is used for packaging. Individual tissue rolls are un-wrapped.
• All Packaging and core materials are made from recycled fiber paper.
• Unique core return feature to help re-capture roll cores that often go to the landfill.
• All packaging and core materials are themselves recycleable with minimal effort.
• Even the shipping pallet can be recycled at the store along with other corrugated boxes.
• No chlorine based chemicals used in the production of the bath tissue or the carton.
• Reduced packaging content - no corrugated boxes are used for transport. Costs and store level waste are reduced!

BioVeille : Agropolymères et biopolymères de source bactérienne

Dans un contexte mondial marqué par une diminution des ressources fossiles et une hausse croissante du prix du pétrole, la mise en marché de matériaux biodégradables produits à partir de ressources renouvelables et non renouvelables représente un facteur majeur pour l'essor du développement durable. À cet effet, les bioplastiques suscitent un intérêt grandissant dans plusieurs secteurs industriels.

Ce BioVeille® présente un aperçu de certaines recherches et innovations réalisées au Québec, au Canada et dans le monde touchant les agropolymères et les biopolymères de source bactérienne.

Sommaire :
Introduction
Enjeux technologiques
Biopolymères d'origine végétale
Biopolymères issus de fermentation bactérienne
Centres de recherche et regroupements spécialisés
Glossaire
Sites Internet de référence

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Sustainable Packaging: Nestlé to launch 10% lighter Go-Cat packs

Nestlé Purina is to reduce the packaging of its Go-Cat dry cat food by 10% with a new format that will hit shelves next month.

Design agency Toucan has decreased the space at the top of the pack in a bid to save more than 195 tonnes of packaging a year from the 950g and 375g boxes of Go-Cat.

The smaller packs will allow for a more efficient use of shelf-space, Nestlé said, and would in some cases mean an extra shelf could be added.

Nestlé Purina customer development manager Andrew Harding said: "Reducing our packaging represents an opportunity for retailers to fulfil their sustainability agendas and maximise shelf space to increase profitability."

The reduction means that the 250g and 375g will save 96.9 and 98.8 tonnes of packaging, a 10% reduction on 2009 the firm said.

Toucan has also redesigned the look of the packaging to accompany the relaunch to reassure customers that the product itself has not been changed.

Nestlé has also revamped the Go-Cat website to include a games section and a downloadable cone for shoppers to measure the correct amount of food for their cat.

Source

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Emballage des marques de distributeurs : astuces et environnement

Excellent dossier Spécial grande distribution concocté par le capital.fr

Packaging : Leclerc, Casino et les autres rivalisent d’astuces

Le contenant est parfois plus déterminant, pour déclencher l’achat, que le contenu. Du coup, les marques de distributeurs (MDD) défient les grandes marques avec des emballages de plus en plus sophistiqués. Inventaire.

Lire la suite

Environnement : Des millions d’euros sont investis pour diminuer le CO2

Supprimer les emballages superflus, développer les gammes bio… Tous ces efforts sont habiles d’un point de vue marketing. Et en plus, ils sont rentables. Démonstration

Lire la suite

FibreForm : sliced meat in paper packaging

Marks & Spencer has launched sliced meat in paper packaging based on Billerud FibreForm – the paper with high stretchability, which can be formed in existing thermoforming lines without requiring costly investments.

The FibreForm Packaging provides a premium look to our ham and is constructed from sustainable FSC sourced paper.

At the base of the Paperlite material is paper produced by Billerud in such a way that it is inherently stretchable. This material is sent to Flextrus for a coextrusion coating of PE/EVOH/PE. The EVOH provides the oxygen barrier properties needed for the modified-atmosphere package. In a second pass, Flextrus flexo prints the material black, which is done for aesthetic reasons.

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Emballage Flexible: Vert, Innovant et Emballant

Le secteur de l’emballage alimentaire est devenu un secteur dynamique où l’innovation est un vecteur incontournable du développement. Longtemps considéré comme accessoire, l'emballage alimentaire tient désormais une place importante dans la chaîne de production qui relie le produit au consommateur. Outre son rôle de protection, de transport, de stockage et de conservation de l'aliment, il est devenu un support d'information et de communication, aux fonctions économiques et sociales indéniables. Aujourd’hui, «emballer, c’est penser» ou, autrement dit : Penser au-delà de la boîte.

Les tendances socioculturelles en pleine mutation (nomadisme, emballages actifs et intelligents, développement durable, éco-conception…) et une demande toujours plus grande pour la sécurité (préservation et prolongation de la durée de vie, traçabilité…) et le confort (facilité d’ouverture et de fermeture, praticité…) sont les principaux moteurs de l’innovation en emballage alimentaire.

Le Consortium de recherche en plasturgie et composites du Québec organise le premier atelier thématique : Tendances et innovations dans les emballages flexibles, le 22 juin à 13h, à l’École Polytechnique de Montréal. Lors de cet atelier, je donnerai une conférence intitulée: Emballage Flexible: Vert, Innovant et Emballant.

Au plaisir de vous rencontrer.

DBA 98 Biodegradable Pen : Think before you write...

The DBA 98 Pen is the only 98% biodegradable pen in the world. Compared to mass-manufactured pens, the DBA pen's potato-based plastic can be composted within 180 days (the only catch is the stainless steel nib - which makes up 2% of the pen and is left behind). The pens are made in a wind-powered factory and packaged in 100% recycled and recyclable FSC-certified paper that's printed with vegetable-based inks.

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Bioplastics News: Growth and future Market

Growth in bioplastics despite crisis: industry remains optimistic

The bioplastics sector, consisting of plastics that either biodegrade or have bio-based components, surged last year despite the economic downturn, according to an industry press release.

European Bioplastics, which represents European manufacturers, released the results of a survey of its members asking what sort of growth they experienced last year and what their expectations are for 2011. According to the survey, 47 percent of companies saw an increase in sales, with only 10 percent seeing sales decline last year. Some companies saw sales growth of more than 5 percent last year. Two thirds of the companies surveyed plan to increase investment next year, and 60 percent expected good to excellent results in the coming year.

According to European Bioplastics, bioplastics are being used with increasing frequency in durable products, including cell phone housing and car parts. The organization cited increasing demand for climate protection and reduced consumption of fossil fuels as drivers for the industry.

Despite recent growth, however, bioplastics still represent only 1 percent of the plastics market. The organization called for increased incentives in order to grow the market beyond its niche.

The future of compostable packaging for QSRs

Quick-service restaurants with Seattle locations are well aware the city's "foam ban" goes fully into effect July 1. That means throw-away packaging can no longer be made of expanded polystyrene and must be either recyclable or compostable.

While more QSRs are weighing eco-friendly packaging options, moving to a compostable lineup means overcoming a number of hurdles, Elmore said. Most brands are deterred by the cost. Although prices have come down in recent years, compostable packaging still costs more than traditional packaging.

Vegetal & Mineral Water va démarrer sa production de bouteilles en PLA
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La société Vegetal & Mineral Water va démarrer dans les prochains jours sa production de bouteilles en PLA (acide polyactique), extrait de l’amidon de maïs non transgénique, à Bourbonne-les-Bains (Haute-Marne).

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« Nous disposons de trois lignes de production, qui ont mobilisé un investissement de 1 million d’euros, dédiées respectivement aux eaux plates, aux eaux gazeuses et à diverses boissons. Par exemple nous sommes en contact avec des producteurs de jus de fruits bio », explique le dirigeant qui a élaboré ses bouteilles en bioplastique recyclable et intégralement compostables avec le concours du laboratoire d’étude des matériaux polymères d’emballage (LEMPE) de l’Université de Reims et de l’Ecole supérieure d’ingénieurs emballage et conditionnement (ESIEC), également à Reims.

Pour répondre aux contraintes (résistance à la pression et étanchéité) liées à l’embouteillage de boissons gazeuses, et renforcer l’effet barrière du PLA, l’entreprise utilise, alternativement ou simultanément, plusieurs process comme l’introduction de nanoparticules – notamment d’argile – ou le traitement plasma.

POLYSOLE: SOLEGEAR Bioplastics Inc.

After four years of intensive Research and Development, involving chemical engineers and scientists from around the world, SOLEGEAR Bioplastics Inc. is announcing the market readiness of POLYSOLE®.

POLYSOLE® is a 100% natural bioplastic that can biodegrade within weeks after disposal. While plastic bags, food packaging and cup liners are a huge step in the right direction, POLYSOLE® is an ENGINEERED, HIGH PERFORMANCE plastic designed for use in the automotive, electronics, pharmaceutical and consumer goods industries.
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Confusion inspires food packaging additives compliance service

New rules over food packaging safety are causing confusion across the industry, consultancy Intertek has claimed.

An updated, list of additives that can legally be used on food packaging in Europe, that was introduced in January this year, has led the business to launch a new compliance programme that will help packaging suppliers and buyers meet the EU rules.

Chantal Haarmann, marketing executive at the company, told Packaging News that the business had received a surge in requests for help this year, especially from smaller companies who do not understand the new regulations under the EU Framework Regulation 1935/2004 (EC) for Food Contact materials.

Click here for more information on EU food contact guidelines from the EU's website

Haarmann added: "The authorities and buyers are being much stricter and packaging companies want to make sure they stay within the rules. We provide free materials and do product testing to help people comply."

Packaging that is covered by the compliance service includes plastics, paper and board.

Source

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