The Le Baron Brie and l’Ortolan Bio cheeses are making use of Amcor’s AmFiber Matrix breathable wrap. As well as being designed for recycling in existing paper streams, it is said to facilitate control over moisture levels within the product – regulating air exchange to prevent sogginess – while avoiding excessive porousness, which can cause dryness.
According to Amcor’s ASSET Life Cycle Assessment, the pack reduces water consumption by 53% when compared to the previous design. It claims to benefit the ripening process and preserve the texture and flavour of the cheeses contained within.
Furthermore, the AmFiber Matrix is set to meet consumer demand for natural dairy products in paper packaging, with Fromagerie Milleret sourcing all its milk within an average distance of 30km from its cheese factory.
This development is the latest in Amcor and Fromagerie Milleret’s partnership, which has exceeded thirty years and combines an expert knowledge of soft cheese with the pursuit of more sustainable packaging.
“We know that 84% of European consumers actively seek recycling instructions on packaged products, while 60% say that recyclability instructions and sustainability logos positively influence their purchase decision,” said Laura Delapeyronnie, marketing manager Dairy at Amcor.
“The solution is breathable in a way that protects product quality in shops and at home, addressing consumer concerns about the shelf-life of dairy products and food waste. And the packaging can be fashioned into a variety of shapes, colours, and sizes.”
“Fromagerie Milleret has been producing soft cheese products for over a century,” adds Chloé Petit, export manager at Fromagerie Milleret. “Since our foundation, we have worked to ensure sustainability in our products.
“Our long-standing partnership with Amcor to produce more sustainable soft cheese packaging reinforces our shared commitment to achieving full recyclability for all our dairy products.”
Earlier this year, a survey conducted by Amcor suggested that transparency and effective sealing are the most important aspects of hard cheese packaging for European consumers. However, points were raised that such packaging could be difficult or impossible to recycle at end-of-life.
Since then, Amcor and Saputo Dairy UK’s recycle-ready flowpack for Cathedral City grated cheese has been named ‘Flexible Plastic Pack of the Year’ at the UK Packaging Awards 2023. The pack is said to reduce the carbon footprint of its previous design by 47%.
ICA’s Hushållsost cheese has also been packaged in a mono-polypropylene base and lidding film from Mondi and Skånemejerier. The pack is designed for recycling and seeks to preserve food quality while closing the material loop.
