CHEP beverage trays reduce cardboard packaging waste, provide a 'one-touch' packaging solution

Pallet and packaging supplier CHEP Australia has been named a finalist in the Environmental Innovation category of the awards for the deployment of its beverage tray equipment pool for the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector.

The Environmental Innovation award recognises "new technology, design or research that results in significant resource savings, new approaches in sustainable practice or innovative change in environmental management."

The NSW Government notes that CHEP's beverage trays eliminate around 1,250 tonnes of one-way cardboard packaging waste each year from the beverage supply chain.

Designed as a 'one-touch' packaging solution, these trays can be used for storage, transportation and in-store retail displays, not only reducing the amount of packaging required at each point in the supply chain, but also significantly reducing transport fuel use and associated greenhouse gas emissions.

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Innovative and creative Paper-based packaging design box: Chiah Ti Ti

Replicating the vintage sweet and crispy flavor, the product is named in “Chiah Ti Ti” which means “eat sweet” in Taiwanese. The meaning of the product also becomes the essence of symbol. Analyzing the font of the product packaging with the happy atmosphere, we find out an innocent and childlike smiling face is added among the calligraphy of playful vibe indicating good things can happen anytime, just like the brand name “Chiah Ti Ti” full of blessings and enjoyment.

Considering the retail price, the packaging adopts the reduction package of one-piece design that not only enables a wrapper to fold the box quickly, saving the cost of time and labor while packaging, but also decreases packaging expendables. To satisfy the requirements of 3 different flavors in this series, the packaging shares the same style of outer box but uses sticker of different colors and patterns to differentiate among 3 flavors. In addition to boarding the unity of this product series, enhancing consumers’ impression, the design of sharing the same packaging box also save unnecessary cost on materials, improving the function.

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Global aseptic packaging forecast to grow 24% in next five years

New study estimates that by 2016, the world market for aseptic packaging will reach 153 billion liters, in 333 billion packs, with the majority of additional demand coming from South/Southeast Asia and China.

The world market for aseptically packed products amounted to 123 billion liters, contained in 269 billion packs during 2011, according to the new “Global Aseptic Packaging” report from Zenith Intl. and Warrick Research Ltd. Volumes have grown by just more than 5% a year since 2008, with South/Southeast Asia achieving the fastest rise at 22% a year.

White drinking milk accounts for 39% of aseptically packed products, with beverages responsible for 37%, and other dairy or food products making up the remainder. Aseptic filling has yet to make a significant impact in food markets, but there are some established niche applications; sauces, tomato products, and baby food are important new areas of development.

“The market for aseptic packaging developed in Europe, and the industry supplying it has been centered on Europe. This report shows the market shift to Asia in the past four years and raises the prospect of this continuing in the next few years,” comments Warrick director David Warrick.

Adds Esther Renfrew, market intelligence director at Zenith, “At a time of economic recession in much of the world, the aseptic packaging market has grown at more than five percent a year in the past four years, as the technology is well positioned to supply the needs of new markets and applications,”.

Other findings of the 2012 "Global Aseptic Packaging" report include the following:

1-     There are more than 13,000 operational aseptic filling systems worldwide and more than 40 companies supply aseptic filling systems.

2-     The largest regional markets for aseptic packaging are set to be China and South/Southeast Asia, both of which are overtaking West Europe as the former largest region.

3-     World use of aseptic packaging has reflected global economic trends. Usage has been static in much of Europe, while there has been rapid growth in many countries across Asia.

4-     Value-added dairy products will be a fast-growing area of demand for aseptic filling systems. In some regions, fillers are used for both ambient and chilled products.

By 2016, Zenith and Warrick estimate that the world market for aseptic packaging will reach 153 billion liters, using 333 billion packs. The majority of additional demand will come from South/Southeast Asia and China, where growth is forecast at 11% a year and 3.5% a year, respectively.

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13 Emerging Flexible Packaging Markets

In a new study, PCI Films Consulting have identified 13 emerging flexible packaging markets comprising of Poland, Russia, Turkey, Mexico, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Nigeria and South Africa. Collectively these markets, valued at $14 billion, have grown by almost 70 percent since 2006 and now account for 20 percent of total world demand.

One of the key findings is that although a number of these emerging markets have been affected by the global economic downturn, they have weathered the crisis well, with demand growth averaging almost 11 percent per annum since 2006, led by countries including India, Indonesia, Brazil and Russia. In general, all emerging markets have illustrated strong growth over the past five years, with only three of the thirteen posting overall growth of less than 30 percent between 2006 and 2011.

The report identifies the major driving forces in flexible packaging demand within these emerging markets including strong GDP growth, high population growth, liberalization in a number of markets, continued urbanization and the development of mass retailing. In addition, changing consumer lifestyles and increasing disposable incomes have encouraged the development of new convenient packaged food and non-food products.

For further information click here

Coffeebrewer: Innovative and smart paper-based bag

Danish Coffeebrewer Nordic has created a disposable French press called the Coffeebrewer that works right inside its own bag. 

The Coffeebrewer is basically a hybrid between a filter dripmaker and a French Press. The design of The Coffeebrewer enables a perfect extraction as the volume of the pouch allows the hot water to interact with the coffee grounds and extract the aroma. The filter is designed to preserve all natural oils and flavours in the coffee.

 

The rise of smarter packaging

Increasingly demanding requirements from food manufacturers and their consumers mean that packaging is becoming progressively 'smarter'. Active or intelligent packaging is a sector which continues to grow in size, with expansion driven by new applications and innovation. Jonathan Thomas reports.

Many areas of the global food industry now feature active and intelligent packaging. Although this covers a multitude of different areas, the sector is best described as a specific type of packaging capable of controlling or reacting to what is going on inside the container. Active/intelligent packaging offers numerous benefits, ranging from extending the shelf-life of certain products to controlling temperature and moisture levels inside containers.

Most estimates agree that the active and intelligent packaging sector is growing in size. According to data from BCC Research, the global active and intelligent packaging market rose from US$6bn in 2008 to US$7.6bn in 2011, with a figure of US$8.7bn forecast for 2013. If a broader definition incorporating other forms of controlled packaging is used, global market value increases to nearer US$20bn. Some of the world's largest markets include the US, Japan, the UK, Germany and Australia.

Although the active and intelligent sector still accounts for just 2% of the global packaging market at present, further growth in market value is expected. According to a spokesperson from Linpac Packaging, this is due to "the convenience trend, the need to extent shelf-life and reduction of waste". The market is also set to benefit from growing concerns over food safety, with more legislation expected in this area.

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Bannissement des sacs plastiques : cause environnementale dérisoire ?

Depuis plusieurs années, un peu partout dans le monde, les sacs en plastiques sont mis à l’index, accusés d’être un terrible fléau environnemental dont le symbole ultime est le terrible 6ème continent formé par un vortex de déchets essentiellement plastiques flottant au centre du Pacifique.

Au Québec, il paraîtrait que la taxe de 5 cent a porté ses fruits et que les consommateurs seraient de plus en plus nombreux à utiliser les sacs réutilisables. Et tout le monde s’en félicite.

Selon une étude (ici) présentée lundi par le ministre du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs, Pierre Arcand, les Québécois ont réduit de 52 % leur utilisation de sacs d'emplettes à usage unique entre 2007 et 2010.

Mais est-ce vraiment un geste vert dont on doit s’enorgueillir quand on sait que…? :

-   Les sacs représenteraient seulement 1 % des matières envoyées aux sites d’enfouissement dans lesquels le problème n’est pas le plastique inerte mais les matières putrescibles.

-    L’une des alternatives qu’on nous propose, le sac biodégradable ne fait toujours pas la preuve de sa valeur ajoutée ni de son innocuité environnementale. Pire, les centres de tri, les accusent de contaminer la chaîne du recyclage et nous demande de les jeter aux rebus, bref de les destiner à l’enfouissement.

-    Le véritable problème est celui du suremballage qui est bien plus dommageable.

-   Le souci environnemental c'est moins  le sac en lui-même que le comportement inconsidéré de certains consommateurs qui  jettent les sacs n'importe où.

-     Encourager l’usage du sac réutilisable est une politique de petits-pas qui ne cause pas de débat politique risqué, et qui contente ceux qui veulent se donner bonne conscience…c’est peut être bien, mais c’est trop peu, surtout pour les entreprises de la distribution qui souhaitent développer une image éco-responsable. On parlera de véritables efforts lorsque l’éco-conception des emballages sera généralisée.

Le sac plastique c’est un peu un non problème pour lequel on a trouvé une solution.

Food Packaging: Less is Sometimes More!

Food waste is a growing issue, anything that can assist to reduce the volume of spoilage in a safe manner are welcome advances.  At the same time the growing volume of garbage is also a global issue and food packaging is a substantial contributor to this dilemma.  Reducing packaging at its source means less waste and material to recycle and lowers overall transport costs; thus lowering the environmental impact. Few things influence individual health more than the food they eat, therefore safety in the packaging of food items is a global health issue. The quest to create safe, low waste, low environmental impact packaging is therefore likely to continue to drive innovation in this area.

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Flexible Packaging Reduces Energy Consumption First

The flexible industry is claiming to be the most energy efficient in a paper released last month (Here).  Most sustainability energy mantras say “Reduce first and then optimize”, with renewable where possible.

According to Flexible Packaging Europe, because flexible packaging can be assembled at the filling plant from rolls of material, there is no need to transport the empty, but already formed packaging, from the packaging converter to the filling/packaging facility, hereby saving a significant number of truck journeys on our congested European road network. For example, it would take approximately 26 truck journeys to transport the equivalent quantity of pre-formed packaging from the manufacturer to the filling factory whilst it would require only one truck load for the equivalent quantity of rolled flexible pouch material.

Flexible packaging not only occupies minimal space during the inbound transport, but also on the outbound transport of the filled product to the retailer/consumer.

Optimized transportation of filled packs made from lighter and thinner materials means more product per truck load which in turn equals less energy consumption. Comparing the difference between transporting a beverage packed in a 0.2l flexible stand-up pouch with a 0.2l glass bottle, we see that product packed in foil-laminated pouches requires half the number of standard truck loads due to the lower weight and reduced space between the products says the flexible packaging body.

These energy savings translate directly to a reduced overall environmental impact. On top, the reduced truck loads along the supply chain help reduce traffic congestion in the cities and on the highways. And this leads to more energy savings due to a more fluent traffic and less frustration for drivers.

Flexible packaging provides both effective and efficient packing solutions according to the industry body because it can optimize the combinations of different materials to maximise the practical functionality of the packaging and optimize the cost whilst reducing the environmental impacts throughout the product’s lifecycle.

To learn more about how Flexible Packaging aids more resource efficient consumption and lifestyles

check out ‘A Perfect Fit’ on www.flexpack-europe.org.

US demand for Pouches to Reach $8.8 billion in 2016

Demand for pouches in the US is projected to increase 5.1 percent per year to $8.8 billion in 2016, driven by faster gains for standup pouches stemming from sustainability, functional, and marketing advantages over alternative packaging media. Unit demand is expected to expand 3.0 percent yearly to 90 billion.

Burgeoning consumer acceptance of pouches as an alternative to rigid containers will buoy demand, as will such advantages as superior aesthetic appeal, portability, light weight, reduced material use, and significantly lower shipping costs than rigid containers.  In addition, heightened use of reclosing and dispensing components will increase the competitiveness of pouches against rigid containers. These and other trends are presented in Pouches, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry market research firm.  

Standup pouch demand is forecast to expand 7.2 percent annually to $2 billion in 2016. Advances will be well above those of the overall packaging industry, reflecting heightened interest among packaged goods companies resulting from savings achieved in shipping costs due to the benefits of lighter weight and lower material use compared to rigid containers. Also supporting gains will be attributes of product differentiation; aesthetics; the presence of convenience features (e.g., zippers, spouts); and the perception, especially among younger consumers, of pouches being a more contemporary packaging format than cans, bottles, and cartons.

Demand for flat pouches is forecast to increase 4.5 percent yearly to $6.8 billion in 2016, fueled by above average gains for four-side-seal pouches based on rising demand in medical and pharmaceutical markets and in food uses such as meat, poultry, and seafood; and cheese.  Advances will also be aided by improved barrier structures and solid gains for pouches employing self-venting films to enable steam cooking of contents in the package.  Additionally, robust growth is expected for stick packs (small tube-shaped flat pouches), based on differentiation and material savings over conventional single portion configurations.