Pentawards 2008 : World’s Most Beautiful Packaging

The international jury for the Pentawards, the first worldwide competition devoted exclusively to Packaging Design, presided over by Gerard Caron, announce their 2008 list of winners.

The Piper Heidsieck Rosé Sauvage champagne bottle, signed by the Dutch designers Viktor & Rolf, presented to the competition and produced by Sleever International, wins the Diamond Pentaward for Best of the Show 2008.

The Platinum Pentawards, which crown the best packaging in the 5 major categories, are:

• Beverages Category: Turner Duckworth, USA, for Coca Cola Aluminum
  
• Food Category: Pemberton & Whitefoord, UK, for Tesco Tortilla Chips
  
• Body Category: DesignBridge, Holland, for Schwarzkopf Professional OSiS+
  
• Other Markets Category: Aekyung, Korea, for Spark
  
• Luxury Category: Dentsu Kyushu, Japan, for Yaoki Saké

27 Gold Pentawards have been awarded, as well as Silver and Bronze Pentawards.

All the winning designs can be seen on the site thedieline.

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Nestlé to remove plastic from 80% of Easter egg packs

Nestlé is to remove the plastic packaging from 80% of its shell eggs to be launched next Easter.

The firm will secure the Easter eggs in their boxes in a fully recyclable card tray that is sourced from sustainable forests.

Nestlé said the move is part of a drive to reduce both plastic and card packaging across the whole range of shell eggs and equates to an overall reduction of 30%, surpassing the Waste & Resources Action Programme (Wrap) industry agreement to reduce medium egg carton weights by 25%.

The firm has also removed the plastic wrappers from the white chocolate drops and sweets inside the new Milkybar Shaker Egg and Smarties Shaker Egg.

Kit Kat Chunky, Aero, Smarties and Rolo medium eggs will also contain 25% less packaging and include on-pack recycling information that is clear and easy for children to understand.

Nestlé UK trade communication manager Graham Walker said the changes to the spring 2009 range "will support the environment by resulting in 700 tonnes less waste, and also benefit retailers as packaging reductions will maximise distribution efficiency and shelf utilisation".

Source

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Cereplast Biopropylene: 42% Reduction in Carbon Footprint

Cereplast, Inc., manufacturer of proprietary bio-based, sustainable plastics, today announced that it has received confirmation of the low carbon footprint of its bioplastics-based Biopropylene® resin. In conjunction with Ramani Narayan University Distinguished Professor of Michigan State University, and after several months of research by an independent testing laboratory, it is demonstrated that the intrinsic carbon dioxide emissions reduction in using Biopropylene® in place off regular polypropylene is 42%.

The study found that approximately 1.82 kilograms of carbon dioxide are produced for each kilogram of Biopropylene® used, compared to 3.14 kilograms of carbon dioxide emitted for the same amount of polypropylene.

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“By using Biopropylene® instead of polypropylene, converters generate 1.32 kilos less carbon dioxide for each kilo of product they manufacture,” said Frederic Scheer, Cereplast’s Chairman and CEO. “This is a very significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, especially when considering that worldwide market for polypropylene is about 45 billion kilograms, or approximately 100 billion pounds.”

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“This recent development offered by Cereplast is quite interesting. I see this family of resins providing an intrinsic reduced carbon footprint value,” said Professor Narayan.

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“Besides dramatically reducing carbon dioxide emissions during conversion, Biopropylene® also delivers the environmental advantage of replacing up to one-half of the petroleum content in traditional plastic with renewable, bio-based materials,” continued Scheer. “Furthermore, Biopropylene® can be used in a variety of applications which so far were satisfied only with traditional polypropylene.”

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Biopropylene® is a patented compound manufactured by Cereplast using traditional polypropylene and up to 50% starch content, making it the first real “hybrid” bioplastic. Since its introduction at the end of 2007, Biopropylene® has been tested by more than 90 major corporations, with particular attention from companies in the automotive, consumer products and cosmetics industries. While the drivers vary by industry, significant interest in Biopropylene® has been motivated by some of the new properties that it offers, such as better printability, softer touch, and other attributes.

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Source: Cereplast, Inc

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Packaging of the week: Hot N Handy pouch

Hot N Handy pouch was developed to solve a long time problem in the supermarket deli - leaking and greasy rotisserie chicken packages.

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Hot N Handy Feature and Benefits:

• Microwave Safe
• Re-closable Zipper helps to keep package closed
• Flexible Handle to keep hands free from hot products
• Large Window to view the product
• Advance anti-fog technology
• Wide gusset for easy loading and larger products
• Stronger films available for tougher products like crab legs
• Proprietary Venting to keep fried foods crisp, rotisserie products moist and for special wet products like ham, ribs, etc.

The Hot N Handy Pouch was awarded the 2008 Gold Award in Environmental and Sustainability Achievement from the Flexible Packaging Association. The award recognizes how Hot N Handy Pouch provides the most advanced sustainable solution for rotisserie chicken packaging in the market today:

• Uses 88% less fossil fuel to produce
• Produces 85% less CO2 emissions during the manufacturing process
• Offers a 66% reduction in solid waste

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Trophées Ecotop 2008 : Innovation et Éco-conception

Les Trophées de l’optimisation et de la prévention (Ecotop) récompensent chaque année depuis 2005 trois PME, engagées avec Eco-Emballages dans le développement d'une démarche de prévention et de conception plus environnementale de leurs emballages.

Cette année, les lauréats 2008 se sont distingués par des projets innovants visant la réduction à la source des matériaux d’emballage :

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ALSACIENNE DE PATES MENAGERES: entreprise spécialisée sur le marché de la pâte à tarte, en sous-traitance ou pour des marques de distributeurs

• Le projet : Modifier les emballages (carton et plastique) des deux principaux types de conditionnement utilisés pour les pâtes à tarte (tubos flowpack, triangles flowpack avec cartonnette) sans remettre en question les fonctions fondamentales des emballages : résistance à l'oxygène, à l'humidité ainsi que le passage en machine.
• Résultats : Les principales solutions d'optimisation retenues sont le changement de grammage des cartonnettes (- 25 % = 48 tonnes de carton en moins), de structure ou d'épaisseur de film plastique (- 20 % = 26 tonnes en moins).

EUROTAB OPÉRATION: entreprise produisant et commercialisant une large gamme de tablettes pour lave-linge, lave-vaisselle... en sous-traitance et les grandes surfaces alimentaires.

• Le projet : Rationaliser, optimiser et standardiser l'ensemble de la gamme packaging de la société, des emballages primaires (boites carton, pots et bouchons plastiques, flow pack,...) jusqu'aux emballages d'expédition. Pour mener à bien cette optimisation des boîtes, qui ne devait pas compromettre leur bonne résistance à la compression au moment du transport, la stagiaire a proposé les modifications suivantes : diminution de la surface de découpe, prolongement de la prédécoupe sur la face avant de la boite et déplacement de l'ouverture. Ce nouvel emballage se substituera progressivement aux anciens conditionnements.
• Résultats : Au global 42,5 tonnes de carton économisées par an (7,7 %) et 42,5 tonnes de plastique (14,4 %).

TRIBALLAT NOYAL: entreprise spécialisée dans les marchés émergents du végétal, bio... (Marques : Sojasun, Vrai, ...)

• Le projet : Optimiser les emballages carton de regroupement (wrap) et cavaliers de suremballage de trois produits (briques de Sojasun, produits ultra frais Sojasun, yaourts pots de verre à marque Vrai). Le projet industriel a porté sur trois axes : une proposition innovante pour remplacer l'emballage de regroupement en carton (le wrap) de 6 briques de boisson au soja Sojasun, l'optimisation des cavaliers en carton des produits ultra frais Sojasun (par 4 ou par 6) et l'allègement des pots en verre des yaourts de la marque Vrai.
• Résultats : 1) 50,21 tonnes de carton ondulé économisées par an pour les emballages wrap (-71,5 %); 2) 62 tonnes de carton par an en moins pour les cavaliers des produits Sojasun (- 11 %); 3) 3,5 tonnes de verre économisées par an suite à l'allégement des pots en verre des yaourts brassés et des bénéfices additionnels tout au long de la chaîne, de la fabrication de l'emballage à l'expédition des produits.

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AgroResin: compostable bulrush packaging

Environmental packaging supplier Biopac has introduced bulrush packaging to its portfolio to become the first European distributor of the biodegradable packs.

Bulrush is a common perennial plant that is grown in marshy areas normally considered unfit for growing crops.

The crops intended for Biopac are grown in the Jiangxi province in south east China and are harvested by approximately 50 small local businesses.

Waste water generated by the mill is treated in-house in a closed-loop system.

Biopac director Mark Bridgen said: "Not only is it a product that biodegrades within 90 days, it's growth benefits the environment and it provides livelihoods for farmers with land that would otherwise be deemed useless."

Bulrush packaging earned silver Cradle-to-Cradle status from MBDC, which considers materials, reutilization, social responsibility and energy and water use when certifying products.

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PakSense: Wireless Temperature Monitoring Label

PakSense, Inc., an innovator in sensory solutions for packaging, announced today at the Produce Marketing Association's annual Fresh Summit convention that it will release a wireless version of its award-winning temperature monitoring label in December. The PakSense Ultra Wireless Label will enable users to wirelessly download time and temperature information and analyze data before unloading a perishable product from a container.
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PakSense Ultra Wireless Labels are activated and applied to product or product packaging before shipping. At any point during distribution, the PakSense Ultra Wireless Reader can collect data from any label within a 300 foot line of sight range or approximately 60 foot obstructed range with the simple touch of a button. Information from up to 15 labels can be downloaded at one time. Time and temperature data can be examined on the screen of the Ultra Wireless Reader immediately after download, which improves reaction times and helps users make quick decisions on product quality. Detailed information from the reader, including temperature alert notifications, can then be downloaded to a PC for emailing and permanent storage.

PakSense Ultra Wireless Labels are flat, about the size of a credit card, and are encased in waterproof food-grade packaging. Environmentally friendly, they take up less space, have a lower carbon foot print than competing products, and can be easily returned to PakSense for recycling. The labels can also be used to easily monitor cold cases in retail stores.

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Packaging of the week: Resealable beverage can

The Ball Resealable End (BRE) is an aluminum can end with an integrated flat, plastic opening mechanism. A simple rotating movement uncovers the opening. The BRE is the world's first resealable can, and makes it possible to reseal a beverage can without losing the benefits of a can (stacking, vending, shelf life, recycling etc.). Cans with the BRE are tamper-resistant, and consumers can easily verify that the seal has not been broken.

The resealable can was named 'Can of the Year' during 'The Canmaker Summit Conference' in Warsaw, Poland. The product was prepared for worldwide production in collaboration with Ball Packaging Europe and Coca-Cola.
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Eco factors top of the list for French and Spanish consumers

Environmental concerns have a huge influence on the food shopping habits of Spanish and French consumers, a new survey has found.

The survey, conducted by Irish agency Bord Bia and launched at the Sial international food conference in Paris, looked at the shopping behaviour of a representative sample of adults aged 18 and over in France, Germany, Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands.

It revealed that 63% of French consumers said that they choose food with minimal packaging and 63% of Spanish consumers claim they prefer to buy from companies aware of environmental issues.

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The agency said a sample size of over 1,000 was obtained for each region to ensure comparable statistically robust data at a national level.

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The fieldwork, according to the agency, was undertaken during May and June 2008.

Read more…

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Activate drinks: Twist-and-Release Vitamin Water

Activate drinks feature these twist & release caps, which keep vitamins and herbs fresh. Because vitamins and other healthy ingredients can deteriorate in water, Activate promises a fresh, potent beverage, no matter how long it sits on the shelf.