In our latest Wrap-Up … World on brink of plastic treaty. Packaging innovation in demand. Brands focus on recycling. Supermarkets given more waste time. Single bin solution being introduced. EPR legal action looms. Colourful packaging degrades faster. And more …
World on brink of treaty but plastic disagreements persist
The world is on the brink of reaching a treaty to limit plastic pollution, with only one meeting left to finalise the agreement. However, arguments persist, particularly around implementing a global cap on plastic production.
The recent INC-4 meeting in Ottawa highlighted key insights such as the pressure from scientists, impacts on indigenous communities, intensified presence of industry representatives, challenges around production, and the need to abandon consensus for stronger outcomes.
Packaging innovation – supply and demand
There is a wide gap between the desire for innovation in food and beverage packaging and the actual implementation of innovative approaches, according to research from Industrial Physics.
It was found that while 96% of packaging professionals expressed the importance of new developments in packaging, only 24% of organisations are currently taking an innovative approach.
However, according to Speciality Food magazine, the UK's packaging industry is evolving with a focus on sustainability and technological innovations. Key trends include interactive packaging, bold designs, and eco-friendly materials.
To explore more, you may visit London Packaging Week, which returns to ExCeL in September. The event focuses on sustainability, design, and innovation, offering opportunities for businesses to grow and connect within the packaging supply chain.
PepsiCo Europe plans to eliminate virgin fossil-based plastic in its crisp and chip bags by 2030. To achieve this, it is partnering with GreenDot, which is expanding its advanced recycling operations in Germany, Austria, and Italy.
PepsiCo has already developed recycled content packaging for brands like Sunbites and Tyrrells crisps.
Glass and a half of recycling
Mondelez International removed over 1000 tonnes of virgin plastic from its supply chain in 2023 by redesigning packaging to include post-consumer recycled content and eliminating outer plastic wrapping on chocolate products.
In the UK, Cadbury Milk Tray and certain Christmas selection boxes now contain 80% post-consumer recycled PET, and plans include replacing rPET with cardboard.
Mondi has partnered with Scan Sverige to create PP-based mono-material packaging for P?rsons brand cold cuts, aiming for recyclability and sustainability. The WalletPack range offers high barriers and easy peel features and is certified as 93% recyclable.
Saputo Dairy UK is to remove non-recyclable cover papers from its Clover, Utterly Butterly, and Country Life Spreadable lines. This move will prevent 44 tonnes of packaging from going to landfill annually.
- More time given to waste: Coles and Woolworths in Australia have been granted more time to manage the soft plastic waste left after the collapse of the REDcycle recycling programme. The Environment Protection Agency hopes this extension will prevent the waste from ending in landfills.
- Card’s on the table: Sainsbury's is changing its fish and chicken packaging to reduce plastic waste by nearly 700 tonnes annually. These changes involve introducing recyclable card trays for their products.
- Tracking invisible tags: M&S has been announced as a founding member of Polytag's Ecotrace Programme, which aims to improve the tracing and recycling of single-use plastic in the UK. The programme uses Invisible UV Tag detection in recycling centres, providing real-time data on recycling rates.
- Sustainability is an Aldi thing: Aldi is rolling out a recyclable wrap packaging on two of its own-label butter lines. In another "UK first", the supermarket chain is incorporating recycled plastic into its own-label crisp packaging.
- Laser-guided trial: Tesco is trialling laser-etched barcodes on avocados to eliminate millions of plastic labels. If successful, this eco-friendly method will be rolled out to 270 stores, removing over 20 million labels annually. Tesco is also testing recyclable cardboard packaging for avocados.
- Flexible collections: ShopRite, in the US, has launched a recycling programme for flexible-film plastic packaging. Customers can drop off various flexible-film waste at colourful kiosks outside ShopRite stores.
- Taking steak on board: Morrisons has partnered with Graphic Packaging International to innovate the retailer’s steak packaging with recyclable photographic print pressed board trays.
- Simple single bin solution: The UK government has announced a new, simplified waste collection system to increase recycling rates in England. The new system will allow councils to collect plastic, metal, glass, paper, and card in a single bin, reducing confusion about what items can be recycled.
- First rate: In 2023, the UK's aluminium packaging recycling rate reached 68%, with 162,357 tonnes recycled, 81% of which were beverage cans.
- Chemical hazard: A Swiss FOEN review found that chemical recycling of plastic waste lacks demonstrated technical feasibility, environmental benefits, and economic viability. The review cited issues with contaminated waste, overstated benefits, and high subsidy or investment requirements.
- Chemical elements: Mura Technology and Elite Recycling Solutions have partnered to supply post-use plastic packaging to the first commercial-scale chemical recycling facility using Mura's hydrocracking technology.
- Chemical formula: Dow has secured a feedstock agreement with Freepoint Eco-Systems for 65,000 tonnes per year of circular feedstock derived from plastic waste via pyrolysis oil at a new chemical recycling facility in Eloy, Arizona, starting operations in 2026.
- EPR legal action looms: Thousands of companies may face legal action for failing to submit packaging data by the recent deadline under extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations. As of March, only 1986 out of 5125 fully enrolled large producers had submitted their data.
- Green light for resin: PureCycle's ultra-pure recycled resin has received FDA approval for food packaging, allowing use with all food types. The approval enables PureCycle to use a broader range of feedstocks, including kerbside recyclables and provides the same conditions of use as virgin polypropylene.
- 100% accuracy: The Foodservice Packaging Association has released guidance on plastic-free packaging, emphasising that packaging claiming to be plastic-free must be independently tested and certified as 100% plastic-free.
- Barrier breakthrough: ExxonMobil, with partners including Henkel, has developed a recyclable high-barrier MDO-PE//PE laminate packaging. This solution meets various food packaging needs.
- Meat and new reg: California's new packaging law, set to go into effect in 2025, will significantly impact meat packaging, requiring the industry to make necessary adjustments to comply with the regulations.
- Colour-coordinated packaging: Researchers have found that brightly coloured plastic degrades into microplastics faster than plainer colours, urging retailers to avoid using red, blue, and green plastic in everyday products. Studies conducted in the UK and South Africa show that black, white, and silver plastics are more resistant to degradation over time.
- Slow progress: A new report by Aquapak shows 92% of UK FMCG packaging experts intend to replace plastic with paper and bioplastics, but 30% find the transition too slow, urging faster adoption of alternative materials.
- Fast decomposition: Scientists have discovered a way to create algae-based plastic that completely decomposes within seven months, avoiding the formation of harmful microplastics. The new plastic is made from a bio-based polyurethane polymer that can compost and break down naturally.
- Italy in legal trouble: The European Commission has initiated infringement proceedings against Italy for failing to transpose the Single-Use Plastics Directive into national law fully.
- Ban tackles health risk: EU member states have supported banning the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) in food and drink packaging. Used in plastics and resins, BPA will be phased out with limited exceptions. Effective later this year, the ban aims to minimise consumer risk while allowing industry adjustment.
- Fresh funding: A company whose technology increases food shelf-life and reduces waste has secured funding to support its rollout across the UK. OSY Group's antimicrobial packaging coating enables a range of food types to stay fresh in their packaging for longer.
- Unique: G.Mondini has been highlighting its delivery of unique snack packaging solutions that stand out in the market.
- Efficient: Proseal has turned the video camera on a snack chicken line with state-of-the-art equipment to ensure efficiency and quality.
- Flexible: Packaging Automation has focused on the Rev3 tray sealer, designed for maximum flexibility and deskilled operation.
We are pleased to introduce you to Anita Furman, who has joined our team as a Quality Technologist.
From the KM team … protecting, presenting, and preserving your products.
