Page 30 - Packaging News magazine Sep-Oct 2022

FOOD PACKAGING
Bonson produces rPET food packaging
Packaging supplier Bonson is now a thermoforming manufacturer with the capability to produce recycled PET food packaging in New Zealand, previously only offered through one of its Enviro brands. Colleen Bate reports.
BONSON HAS EXTENDED its popular RePlay range with new recycled PET (rPET) products and now has
the capability to custom manufacture rPET food packaging, made possible by acquiring thermoforming machinery.
This enables the company to man- ufacture post-consumer recycled PET plastic packaging in-house for the first time at its advanced facility.
Until now, the company has offered imported rPET products through one of its Enviro brands. However, in 2022 and beyond, it plans to gradually intro- duce more products that are produced in New Zealand under the RePlay brand.
Bonson sees this is an exciting step forward in its journey towards increased sustainability and its goal of helping to create a circular economy.
Explaining the motivation and mar- ket drivers for the “considerable” investment, Rodney Bennett, busi- ness development manager, Bonson Industrial, says, “There was a need to grow our existing technology base
Research shows that the production of recycled PET emits five times less carbon emissions compared to virgin PET.”
which was limited to injection mould- ing, as well as pressure from our customers looking for alternatives to our current range, with some looking to convert from PP to PET.”
THERMOFORMING RPET
All Bonson-made packaging is recycla- ble, an important step towards diverting packaging from landfill. But if after recycling the PET plastic can be used again to make other food-grade pack- aging products, the outcome is even better from a sustainability perspec- tive because it gives existing materials a completely new life and purpose, the company says.
Thermoforming machinery is key to make that transformation pos- sible, and according to Bonson, is a significant investment that has been made not only to satisfy the demand for rPET packaging but also to keep manufacturing local.
The company says that local manu- facturing will help mitigate global supply chain issues and provide a more reliable supply to its customers, while at the same time, support the local economy.
rPET packaging shares similar fea- tures to that made with virgin PET, making it an outstanding solution for packaging food. It is clear, thin, light- weight and is backed by Bonson’s packaging expertise and technical sup- port from its award-winning team.
According to Bonson, research shows
Above: The RePlay range is made with FDA-approved recycled PET, meaning less virgin PET plastic is wasted with every item of RePlay packaging used.
that the production of recycled PET emits five times less carbon emissions com- pared to virgin PET*.
The company confirms that while it attempts to use as much recycled plastic in its RePlay range and custom-manu- factured rPET products as possible, this is a balancing act.
To ensure packaging performs well enough on a functional level from both a food safety and prevention of food waste perspective, Bonson points out that products can contain both recycled and virgin plastics of varying amounts.
PACKAGING’S SECOND LIFE
The RePlay range is made with FDA- approved recycled PET material, meaning less virgin PET plastic is wasted with every item of RePlay packaging used.
Bonson says the range features excep- tional durability and clarity, similar to the virgin PET products, contributing towards a circular economy “without compromising quality”.
Bennett confirms the rPET ther- moformed packaging will be used in consumer goods food packaging and food service packaging applications, and will be exported through Bonson’s dis- tribution company in Brisbane, for New Zealand and Australian markets. ■
*Source: www. preventedoceanplastic.com/ recycled-plastic-an-undervalued- carbon-reduction-strategy.
30 ❙ SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2022
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