Page 57 - Packaging News Magazine Sep-Oct 2018

September-October 2018
www.packagingnews.com.au
SUSTAINABILITY
57
Waste cutters
Innovation to fight plastic waste is on the rise. PKN looks at an adhesive dot system for reducing secondary packaging for cans, and the first ABA-accredited home compostable flexible barrier film.
CARLSBERG SNAPS INTO ACTION
Beer brand Carlsberg is launching a world premiere for can multipacks under the name Snap Pack, which combines beverage cans with adhesive dots instead of shrink- wrapping, hi-cone and other secondary packaging solutions, in a move to reduce packaging waste.
Produced by KHS subsidiary NMP Sys- tems the Snap Pack has been created in re- sponse to customer demand for sustainable packaging solutions.
The brewery group expects that by dis- pensing with shrink-wrapping in its can packs, up to 76 per cent of plastic can be saved – in absolute figures this amounts to around 1000 tons per year for Carlsberg when fully rolled out.
In addition to the reduction in plastics Carlsberg was also impressed by the pack- aging solution from NMP Systems in terms of consumer convenience. The company says it scores, for example, with the possi- bility of precisely orientated cans, which it says means consumers can easily identify the product. This feature offers additional advantages at the point of sales.
“Orientating the layout of each single can creates a billboard effect. This effect brings a larger visual communication area for the brand displayed on the shelf,” ex- plains Christoph Georg von Aichinger, se- nior sales director at NMP Systems.
The project included an intensive R&D phase, according to NMP Systems. A partic- ular challenge was the composition of the adhesive which bonds the filled cans with only a few adhesive dots to create a stable pack. The many hours of development have ensured that the individual cans can easily be separated with a single movement.
“We have succeeded in developing an adhesive that works without damaging the
printing ink and lacquer on the can,” says von Aichinger. Carlsberg will roll out the innovation for cans as four and six packs including the carrying handle and initially will be selling it in the UK and Norway with Denmark, Carlsberg’s home country, following in early 2019.
HOME COMPOSTING BREAKTHROUGH
PA Packaging Solutions has partnered with Parkside Flexibles, UK to produce the only multi-laminate flexible barrier film packaging, with ABA accredited Austra- lian Standard AS 5810-2010 Home composting – ‘Biodegradable plastics for home composting’.
Seen as the breakthrough in compostable multi-layer film barrier laminates, the packaging comprises a bio-film, created from wood-pulp that the company says comes from certified sustainable forestry sources only.
This flexible barrier film can be supplied as a double or triple layer structure, made up of clear or laminated paper, with the op- tion for a metallised and bio polymer seal- ant web. This laminate provides excellent moisture and oxygen barrier properties that extend product shelf life to help both retail- ers and consumers minimise food waste.
The packaging, tested and certified by the Australian Bioplastics Association, can be placed in a home compostable bin. It will break down under specific compost- ing conditions back into water, carbon di- oxide and biomass, within 26 weeks.
PA Packaging’s compostable packaging is available in many packaging styles suitable for clear, paper or metallised printed films, and pouches (with or without a certified compostable ziplock) or sachets. A home
compostable barrier lidding film that can be applied to standard and biodegradable trays is also available.
Two Australian brands that have adopt- ed the product are SIPP and We Bar None.
SIPP, the first local customer, packs its sus- tainable coffee and tea in the flexible triple layer barrier film home compostable pack.
Dylan Garft, co-owner and developer of SIPP says, “Using PA Packaging’s certified home compostable packaging really com- pleted everything our brand stands for – we want to make a difference to our environ- ment, from start to finish. We found that there was a lot of compostable products available in the Australian market but find- ing a supplier that had certification was a challenge.”
Ellen Burns, owner of Ballarat boutique food company We Bar None, produces a range of wholefood energy bars and crackers that are gluten free and vegan, with low FODMAP and low carb options. The snack bars range is packaged in PA Packaging Solution’s duplex crafted paper home compostable film, wrapped on a flow wrapper.
She says, “I want my food business to be as plastic-free as possible. I use recycled cardboard and packing materials and tried hard to find certified eco-friendly packag- ing. I am proud to be the first Victorian food business to use Australian certified duplex home compostable film.” ■
ABOVE LEFT: The Snap Pack adopted by beer giant Carlsberg will reduce plastic usage per annum by 1000 tons.
ABOVE: SIPP was the first Aussie brand to use the home compostable barrier pack.
LEFT: We Bar None energy bars are wrapped in home compostable duplex crafted paper film.