Materials

Enabled by foam forming technology, VTT’s formable cellulose-based webs with 30% extensibility were used to make rigid packages using an industrial product packaging line. This opens up the manufacturing of a wide range of sustainable packaging solutions.

Supermarket chain Aldi has announced that it will no longer use plastic packaging for its own-label four-packs of beer and cider. The plastic shrink wrap and rings that had previously been used to hold the cans together have been replaced with a cardboard alternative. Aldi estimates that the switch will remove some 95 tonnes of plastic packaging per year.

Through a voluntary Green Deal agreement, Valio is committing to reduce the amount of plastic used in its single-use, single-serving packaging by 15% by the end of 2026 compared to 2022. Valio will now package all Valio PROfeel quark products in recyclable paperboard cups.

SN Maschinenbau and SÜDPACK have entered into a developmental partnership to create an innovative overall concept for the in-house production of stand-up pouches with spouts designed for packaging pasty and liquid products.

Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, has announced that its entire portfolio of kraft papers for packaging has been certified as home or industrially compostable.

Researchers at Clarkson University in New York, US, have received a $42,000 grant from The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute as part of an inaugural student and faculty research program: food spoilage mitigation through packaging.

An European Union push towards bloc-wide rules on recyclable packaging to cut plastic and other waste got initial support in the European Parliament on Tuesday.

The EcoeFISHent project comes into play to promote a demonstrable and replicable cluster implementing systemic solutions through multilevel circular value chains for eco-efficient valorization of fishing and fish industries side- streams.

Brunel University London recently announced their new findings concerning two enzymes that can break down one of the most common single-use plastics, in a study published in the Biofilms and Microbiomes journal.

Ukrainian startup Releaf has been celebrated as the first worldwide producer of paper packaging from fallen leaves. The company processes leaves gathered by local city authorities – that would typically be left for decomposition – and turns them into pulp and paper for the packaging industry.

Michigan State University’s School of Packaging is developing a new, compostable material to help cut down on waste. Rafael Auras, a professor and researcher at MSU, believes that composting is a key component to reducing waste. Auras has been working for almost 20 years on biodegradable material, looking to create a plastic alternative that can be composted.

Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, is investing in innovative technologies to increase FunctionalBarrier Paper capacity in order to meet the growing demand for sustainable paper-based packaging solutions.

With the most recent innovation – Koehler NexPure OGR – Koehler Paper is expanding its line-up of environmentally friendly fast-food products.

Materials researchers from Flinders University are partnering with German biomaterials developer One-Five to develop non-pollutive biopolymer coating materials for food packaging.

The European association representing the paper industry Cepi has updated its European test method for paper recyclability to ensure all paper packaging is recyclable by 2025.

Toppan has expanded its range of GL Barrier products centered on transparent barrier films by adding new polypropylene (PP) mono-material barrier packaging with heat and water resistance, making it suitable for retort sterilization.