Sustainability

States like California, New York, and Maine started the year with bans going into effect for food packaging that contains chemicals of concern, specifically per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals.” This leaves packaging manufacturers with the challenge of producing sustainable and chemical-free packaging that delivers the needs of its food and beverage customers.

Eat Happy is one of the first suppliers of freshly rolled sushi to go in Germany to introduce paper packaging with a viewing window made from plant cellulose. The new packaging is 100 percent recyclable in waste paper. The switch to a fully recyclable packaging solution in Eat Happy stores and chests will take place across Germany for the entire sushi range by October 2023.

The kp FlexiVac incorporates Dow’s Fusabond technology. The result is a high tensile strength suitable for bone-in cuts of fresh meat and poultry combined with its hermetical seal. The product has been certified as 100% recyclable as PE by cyclos–HTP and certified by Interseroh.

The best-case solution would be to use bio-based plastics that biodegrade instead, but many of those bioplastics are not designed to degrade in backyard composting conditions. They must be processed in commercial composting facilities, which are not accessible in all regions of the country.

ProActive Recyclable FibreSculpt is suitable for various products, including chilled cooked meats, cold cuts, sliced cheese and fish.

According to the company, FibreSculpt offers a wide range of sustainability benefits. It is lightweight, reducing packaging compared to alternatives like thermoformed materials. Engineered to maintain thermoforming line speed, it increases yield per roll, enhancing transportation efficiency and reducing changeover times on the filling line.

South Korea-based SK chemicals aims to enter the medical packaging market by unveiling a circular recycling solution at the upcoming Medical Design & Manufacturing West 2024 (MD&M) exhibition, held in Anaheim, USA from the 6th to the 8th of this month.

In a strategic move to address the increasing demand for recycled plastics in the medical device industry, SK chemicals plans to further solidify its longstanding partnership with Pacur, LLC, a leading US custom sheet extruder, with a primary focus on sustainable solutions for medical device packaging.

Japan’s Teijin Ltd. will commence production and sale of Tenax carbon fiber made with sustainable acrylonitrile (AN) based on waste and residue from biomass-derived products or recycled raw materials that have received ISCC Plus certification from the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification system. The Tenax carbon fiber under ISCC Plus certification will be produced at Teijin’s Mishima plant in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, using the mass balance approach.

Following the recent announcement of Kingsmoor's brand refresh and their new strapline, "Forming A Better Future”, this renewable energy project aims to serve as  testament to the company's dedication to this vision.