Page 8 - Packaging News Magazine Jan-Feb 21

8 NEWS |
www.packagingnews.com.au | January-February 2021
Amcor launches recyclable shrink bag
THE Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) has appointed its board of directors for 2021, comprising industry leaders spanning the waste and recycling; packag- ing; food and beverage; and sus- tainability sectors.
Appointed at the annual gen- eral meeting on 18 November, which took place virtually, two new directors joined the APCO Board for 2021: Richard Smith of Amcor and Kylie Freeland of McDonald’s Australia.
Richard Smith is currently
director of safety, quality and sustainability at Amcor, and will take up the position of industry association director for a term of three years, replacing board member Keith Chessell.
Also joining the board in the role of brand owner director is Kylie Freeland, director of sup- ply chain and sustainability, McDonald’s Australia, for a period of three years.
In a nod to the growing rele- vance and impact of the APCO community and members in the Australian marketplace, the
brand owner director board position was strongly contested this year.
Two new directors on the APCO Board: Richard Smith and Kylie Freeland
points are increasingly pop- ping up in shopping centres, universities, and at sporting events.
The $697,000 in government funding will be spent convert- ing this to a fully national ser- vice: an additional 400 collec- tion points will be established in existing states and the pro- gram will be expanded to include 60 sites in Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
The focus is on establishing robust circular economy solu- tions. The funding will be used to work back up the supply chain to involve coffee cup manufacturers in delivering sustainable options and down the supply chain to improve and develop a variety of prod- ucts made from recycled cups.
AMCOR has launched a recycla- ble PVDC-free shrink bag for fresh and processed meat, poul- try, and some cheeses.
Amcor Eco-Tite R, launched in the European market, is designed to maximise shelf-life, maintain food safety, reduce food waste, and it can be recycled in polyeth- ylene plastic recycling streams where they exist.
Amcor Eco-Tite R is a multi- layer, mono-PE packaging that maintains a high barrier to oxy- gen and water vapour, even when exposed to high-moisture environments such as cooler cases and refrigerators. The
company said the new shrink bag provides an alternative to PVDC packaging, which is not recyclable in mechanical or chemical recycling systems.
To validate recyclability in real-world conditions, Amcor Eco-Tite R has been certified by the Institute cyclos-HTP, an independent testing lab.
Amcor marketing manager for meat and fresh produce Rosalia Rosalinova said with this shrink bag, the team has overcome the challenge of developing a high- performance shrink bag that is PVDC-free and recyclable, while maintaining food safety.
Amcor, McDonald’s execs join APCO Board
Coffee cup recycling goes national with funding boost
Closing the coffee cup loop: (L-R): Angus McKay, CEO, 7-Eleven; Minister Trevor Evans; Rob Pascoe, MD, Closed Loop Environmental Solutions
AUSTRALIANS use one billion coffee cups per year, and their recycling continues to present a challenge. The Simply Cups programme has been working on closed-loop systems since 2017, and now a government grant will boost its national presence.
The Simply Cups coffee cup recycling programme, run by Closed Loop Environmental Solutions, received a welcome boost late last year, receiving a grant from the federal govern- ment’s Product Stewardship Investment Fund.
The timing of the grant coin- cides with the Simply Cups program’s expansion. Once limited to office buildings and a small number of 7-Eleven stores, Simply Cups collection