Category Archives: A&A News

Cardboard Shredding Machines

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CPI announces corrugated CFQ standard

The Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) is set to launch a Common Footprint Quality (CFQ) standard for the UK fresh produce industry.

CPI
CPI aim is to ensure safe and high performance corrugated packaging for fruit and vegetables.

Revealing the initiative at the London Produce Show at the Grosvenor House Hotel, CPI’s director of packaging affairs, Andy Barnetson, said the move will further improve the efficiency of the fresh produce supply chain by allowing common footprint trays from different suppliers to be stacked safely and quickly, maximising space in both storage and shipping.

CPI, who shared a platform with the European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers (FEFCO) at the event for the fresh fruit, vegetable and flower industries on 8-10 June, says it is collaborating with its European counterpart during the process for establishing its own CFQ with a view to introducing the standard later this year.

Speaking to an audience of fresh produce suppliers and growers at the show, Barnetson explained: “The CFQ standard is another initiative by the industry aimed at retaining corrugated’s position as the packaging material of choice in the 21st Century. The mark will be an assurance that fruit and veg are suitably protected through the supply chain.

“Corrugated packaging’s ability to adapt to all shapes and sizes, its greater protective qualities and how it has evolved from a conventional brown box into a marketing tool thanks to the development of attractive shelf ready packaging (SRP), gives growers improved saleability for their products.”

Fresh produce needs packaging that provides cushioning, ventilation, strength, moisture resistance and protection. The CPI believes corrugated packaging combines all of these attributes as well as being sustainable.

Barnetson concluded: “Corrugated is the perfect fit for fresh produce. Nothing beats it for strength, space efficiency and stacking. Rolling out the CFQ standard is further proof that the industry is not resting on its laurels and is determined to ensure the best packaging solutions for all fresh produce companies.”

Circular economy MEP to boost renewables

Circular economy MEP to boost renewables, the Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE) has welcomed the European Parliament draft reports on waste legislation.

Circular economy MEP to boost renewables

Circular economy MEP to boost renewables, ACE said it commended the Rapporteur on the overall direction of the draft reports and supports in particular the proposals to encourage the use of bio-based packaging.

The ENVI Committee’s Rapporteur has proposed legislative action requiring Member States to take such measures as “improving market conditions” and “reviewing existing legislation hampering” bio-based packaging. This is a significant step forward from the policy intentions of the European Commission’s Circular Economy Action Plan, said ACE.

“ACE members welcome the Rapporteur’s emphasis on incentivising the use of renewable, bio-based sources in packaging materials”, said ACE president Kristian Hall. “These legal measures are needed to secure investments in the production of innovative materials from renewable sources. This will support Europe’s access to resources and improve the environmental performance of packaging.”

ACE said it is also encouraged by the Rapporteur’s proposal to increase separate collection and sorting of all packaging wastes and to reduce municipal waste landfilled by 2030 to 5%. “This sends a strong signal that all packaging that is recyclable should be recycled”, said Sabine von Wirén-Lehr, chair of ACE Task Force circular economy and senior manager, public affairs at Tetra Pak International.

ACE will consider the details of the Bonafè draft reports in the coming days and said it’s looking forward to further discussion with the European Parliament over what is needed in terms of legislation on waste to contribute to the realisation of a circular economy.

Glass Packaging Industry Legislation

Glass Packaging Industry the European Container Glass Federation (FEVE) has supported the European Commission’s Circular Economy Packaging.

Glass Packaging Industry

Glass Packaging Industry. A new FEVE paper said it supports a legislative framework for mandatory separate collection schemes, targets focused on recycling, and acknowledgement of the superior value of permanent materials.

Today, 73% of all post-consumer glass packaging is collected for recycling on average in the EU, and about 90% of it is actually recycled into new bottles and jars.

But FEVE said the challenge is to collect the remaining 27% while ensuring the quality of recycled glass.

Vitaliano Torno, president of FEVE, said: “For the circular economy to function and for all member states to meet their targets, it is fundamental that separate collection schemes become mandatory across the EU to increase the quantity as well as the quality and safety of recycled materials”.

He added that the new recycling targets of 75% (by 2025) and 85% (by 2030) provide a good framework to support investments in separate collection schemes and recycling infrastructure. But the targets must unambiguously focus on recycling, without any competing EU-wide targets on preparing packaging for re-use. Reusable packaging is a product that only satisfies demand from very specific markets, typically local or those functioning in closed circuits, and such targets would create barriers to the free movement of goods in the internal market.

“Materials that can maintain their properties during their repeated use and that can be recycled over and over again must be put at the heart of the EU circular economy”, said Torno. “Glass is a permanent material that is 100% and endlessly recyclable without any degradation of its intrinsic properties no matter how many times it is recycled. This allows for important raw material and energy savings with major benefits for the environment and the economy.”

EU approve smart plant based food packaging

EU Bioplastic packaging project that extends the shelf life of food and informs when it is no longer fit to eat has been given the green light by the EU.

EU

EU launched the project four years ago with the aim of developing plant-based bioplastic packaging that not only extends the shelf life of foods, but also contains a sensor that notifies retailers and consumers of when the food inside is really no longer fit to eat.

The Portuguese-based company Logoplaste, in collaboration with SINTEF and other research partners, has developed a blow-moulded bottle, while the Greek project partner Argo has developed a pot designed to hold seafood such as crabs and prawns. Both types of container are covered with an oxygen-proof exterior coating developed by SINTEF.

Åge Larsen at SINTEF is now ready to present the first demonstration packaging, made of PLA (polyactic acid) and bio-PET (polyethylene terephthalate). Larsen told that this development takes plant-based food packaging a couple of steps further with, “the implementation of the smart element and, in addition, the oxygen-proof exterior coating.”

“The packaging is made of biopolymers to which we have added nanoparticle components. This provides the packaging with new and improved food preservation properties.”

Larsen previously said about the packaging: “It is designed mainly to protect the contents from their surroundings and thus extend shelf life. We achieve this by means of improved oxygen barriers. Standard plastic packaging allows the entry of air which places restrictions on shelf life. Moreover, the new approach considerably reduces the carbon footprint,” Larsen explained.

A three-layer coating has been developed consisting of a cellulose-based film sandwiched by two biodegradable biopolymer layers that serve as oxygen barriers. This can be utilised in the same way as the rigid plastic currently used as food bowls.

The fourth prototype produced as part of this project is a blow-moulded film. This is essentially plastic foil similar to that used to make plastic bags and as oxygen-protective coverings for plates containing food.

The researchers have also developed sensors that can detect, for example, whether the temperature of the food has become too high or if a product has soured.

Larsen added that there will always be an issue regarding how the sensors are incorporated into the product. This must be a decision of the manufacturer. Sensors installed on the inside of the packaging and in contact with the food, such as in bottle caps or corks, will have to be approved by the food hygiene authorities.