Sustainability

Many considerations go into any packaging design: What is the function of a particular package? What are the regulatory requirements we need to satisfy? What are the brand considerations? What small changes in each package can add up to big steps forward for sustainability over time?

First off, they switched the materials they use for the pod packaging to now be made completely out of cardboard, making it easier to recycle after usage.

The innovative film is made of chitosan, a natural molecule found in shellfish shells. This food industry by-product contains key antifungal properties that curb mould growth. The packaging film also contains essential oils and nanoparticles, both of which possess antimicrobial properties.

"Essential oil vapours protect strawberries. And if the film comes into contact with strawberries, the chitosan and nanoparticles prevent mould and pathogens from reaching the fruit's surface," said Professor Lacroix, expert in sciences applied to food.

WestRock Company, a leading provider of differentiated paper and packaging solutions, has announced a partnership with Recipe Unlimited to implement a suite of recyclable paperboard packaging, intended to divert 31 million plastic containers from landfills across Canada each year. The packaging began appearing at Swiss Chalet restaurants in October, 2021 and is now available across all its locations. 

As part of the project "Development of natural bioaromas to increase the shelf life of fresh food and reduce food waste," which was led by a team from the Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Sciences at the University of Alicante, the researchers developed the new material from the core and rind of pineapples.

According to its developers, the material features active natural compounds with antioxidant capacity that can both be transformed into packaging containers and help to preserve the food held within those containers, thereby increasing its shelf life.

Berry’s ongoing innovation in its manufacturing processes has enabled the company to manufacture the mono-material cups, making their recycling a real possibility in regions where there is the appropriate recycling infrastructure in place for PP.

Berry Global has become one of the first packaging manufacturers to develop a recyclable lock-up 2cc dispenser. The new Berry Wave2cc, a product of the Company’s B Circular range, meets market demands for a more sustainable version of the popular pump format that is widely used for a variety of personal care products including liquid soaps, body lotions, body milks, shampoos, conditioners and hair treatments.