• New HDPE bottles and CRC caps offer competitive advantage versus current solutions
• HAT SNAP products manufactured at higher capacity in Changshu
• Investment at Changshu helps Airnov to modernize and meet the needs of the growing Chinese healthcare market

December 16, 2021 – Airnov, a global leader in innovating packaging solutions for the healthcare market, has completed an expansion and upgrade of its manufacturing facilities in Changshu, China.

The modernization of the site, which is around 100 kilometers northwest of Shanghai, includes the installation of new production lines that enables the company to produce a wider range of products at greater volumes.

As a result of the investment, Airnov is bringing several new products to the Chinese market.

The first is the HDPE bottle fitted with CRC caps. Made using a thick plastic polymer, they provide a superior barrier to humidity versus regular bottles, offering a low moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR).

Operating as a standard SP400 bottleneck and screw cap, the product can be produced in a range of sizes, from 30ml up to 150ml. It also carries complete pharmaceutical compliance certificates from the Chinese NMPA. In time, certification will be achieved worldwide from the likes of the FDA and European Union so that the products are available to all Airnov customers.

The newly expanded facility at Changshu will also be able to produce higher quantities of Airnov’s HAT SNAP product. This is an active and ergonomic vial with desiccant stopper that also includes tamper evidence features to help prevent counterfeiting.

Commenting on the strategic importance of the investment, Albert Zhao, General Manager of Airnov Asia Pacific, said: “The expansion has created and optimized an additional manufacturing space for our continuously growing business needs. In the meantime, we will strive to consistently offer better quality and sustainable products to customers both here in China and around the world.”

Changshu is one of two Airnov manufacturing sites in China. In the Pearl River Delta, the company’s site at Dongguan produces a series of rimless packets that were launched in April this year. Using 25% fewer raw materials than competing alternatives, these sustainable packets also offer greater moisture absorbing capacity and are designed for use in small pharmaceutical and diagnostic product bottles, as well as in medical device and food packaging applications.

For further information on Airnov’s global coverage, visit the Airnov website: www.airnov-healthcare.com/locations

About Airnov Healthcare Packaging

Airnov Healthcare Packaging is a global leader in shelf-life preservation solutions to protect pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and diagnostic products from moisture and oxygen. This includes drop-in sorbents such as canisters and packets, integrated desiccant systems, and specially designed container-closure systems. Airnov has five manufacturing plants located in France, the U.S., China, and India.

• The WorldStar awards are the most prestigious global packaging awards, recognising the best of the best in packaging innovations from across the world
• Mondi won an outstanding nine awards this year, celebrating Mondi’s sustainable packaging innovations and commitment to creating circular driven solutions

 Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, received nine awards in six categories at this year’s WorldStar Packaging awards. Open to packaging companies around the world, the WorldStar awards recognise the best ideas, innovations and technologies on the market, with a focus on sustainability, product protection and end-user convenience.

Mondi is a pioneer in making packaging sustainable by design. Our EcoSolutions approach means we always evaluate the best solutions for our customers, our planet and the end-user, using paper where possible, plastic when useful. Thanks to extensive collaboration with our customers, being honoured with nine WorldStar awards shows we are moving in the right direction. With sustainability firmly at the centre of our strategy, and ambitious sustainability commitments as part of our MAP2030 framework, we are determined to make our flexible packaging part of a circular economy.

We are delighted with our successful track record in winning WorldStar Packaging awards with our innovative, fit-for-purpose and sustainable corrugated solutions. In 2021, half of the awarded products are part of our eCommerce offering, which reflects the great opportunities we are seeing to partner with our customers in this area. With our network of more than 100 in-house packaging designers, we are setting new standards in the industry both in terms of sustainability and product design

CoralTray
We eliminate the plastic and plastic foil in conventional vegetable trays, with our fully recyclable, sustainable packaging. There is no loss in packaging performance: the lid of our Coral Tray ensures good product visibility, while protecting its contents and being easily stackable. The customer can print on the packaging. Plastic is eliminated while logistics are vastly improved: CoralTray runs on erecting machines at the same speed as a conventional corrugated tray without lid, a huge improvement as no foil is added either. Twice the amount trays can be stored in one E2 crate compared to a tray with foil.

EcoWicketBag
Mondi's EcoWicketBags are a paper-based packaging solution that provides an alternative to traditional plastic packaging for hygiene products such as nappies, bringing paper-based packaging to the hygiene market worldwide. They reduce plastic consumption and are made from a renewable resource - paper.

Functional Barrier Paper
Mondi's functional barrier papers can replace plastic films and laminates traditionally used for FMCG and consumer products with a recyclable and renewable solution. It reduces the amount of plastic by replacing it with a renewable raw material that has specific mechanical properties such as puncture resistance, flexibility, printability and barrier protection.

SIOC Pack for soaps
Following the trend to reduce packaging in the eCommerce Mondi created for one of our customers a bespoke SIOC solution (Ships in own container). The clever, 100% corrugated design protects the sensitive products across the eCommerce supply chain without any secondary box needed. The well-thought out dimensions of the design make the pack fit easily through a letterbox, meaning the end user’s unpacking experience begins immediately.

ToolBox XL
The Toolbox XL beats conventional 6-bottle beer carriers in design and capacity, providing space for 12 bottles and offering impactful product display and brand promotion. The box is fully stackable in transport and easy to carry for consumers. The fun design of a tool box together with offset printing triggers consumers to continue using the box after emptying.

TwistMailer
Clever use of wave orientation and two hotmelt strips means that this packaging is immediately ready to be filled and can secure contents without any fixing materials. Variable in height, it is easy to pack and takes up little storage space, offering protection during transportation and overall improved efficiency. Made from fully recyclable corrugated board, this packaging replaces polyethylene bags, PE bubble-lined envelopes, and smaller F0201 used in e-commerce. Constructed without gluing, it ships less air so is cost-effective and is printable, with zipper or tear tape openings.

(Un)-Lock System
Two-piece packaging created for client’s new vacuum process, which lifts the pack from above. Existing bottom gluing machine still can be used without changing the parameters. Once the lid and bottom part are locked to each other the clever function provides a secure locking and lifting process (with vacuum machine) without using any glue or tape.Made of 100% paper. Optimal closing option to ensure fully automated warehouse distribution and changing handling processes of retailers are met.

WalletPack
Mondi's WalletPack is a recyclable mono-material solution that replaces a non-recyclable multi-material plastic. The high barrier material protects food and the environment by preventing food spoilage and improving recyclability in compliance with existing recycling guidelines.

X-fold Box
Can X-FOLD design offer the quick and easy set up like a box with 4 or 6 gluing points? Mondi´s team of e-commerce packaging designers looked into this together with their customer LPP and created a smart 2 point glued solution that does the trick. Mondi once more proved to live up to its 3e promise for eCommerce: e-conomic, e-fficient, e-asy.

The UK’s leading frozen food specialist has partnered with Mondi to package its products more sustainably
Mondi’s functional barrier paper solutions will reduce the amount of plastic used by 80%
New approach supports Iceland in its ambitious goal to eliminate plastic packaging by the end of 2023

Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, has teamed up with the UK’s number 1 frozen food retailer to provide renewable, recyclable packaging in a move that further validates Mondi’s approach of using “paper where possible, plastic when useful”.

Iceland is replacing its previous packaging with Mondi’s versatile functional barrier paper across a number of its ranges. The first newly packaged product to hit the shelves earlier this month was the retailer’s frozen chicken dippers, which reduces the amount of plastic used per year by 80%.

The functional barrier paper is made from renewable resources with Mondi managing the paper production and coating in-house, providing a fully integrated solution. It is easy for consumers to recycle the paper in existing waste streams and as paper is the most widely recycled material in the world - 74% of paper and 83% of paper-based packaging in Europe are recycled – the solution ensures that the paper can be recycled at the end of its life, contributing to a circular economy.

Stuart Lendrum, Head of Packaging, Quality and Food Safety at Iceland added: “We’ve been bold in our aims to remove plastic: we were the first UK retailer to publish our plastic footprint along with our pledge to ultimately become plastic free. To deliver on this “Doing it Right” promise, we knew we would need the expertise of global packaging suppliers like Mondi. Their collaborative EcoSolutions approach meant that our teams worked together to consider all elements of the product manufacturing and delivery journey. We now have a sustainable solution that is efficient to use, protects the products and meets the expectations of our customers.”

Importantly, Mondi’s functional barrier paper offers complete product protection, ensuring the product has the same shelf life as it did with its previous packaging. Thanks to the high stiffness of the paper, the packaging is puncture resistant and ensures an efficient filling process that runs seamlessly on existing machinery.

Iceland has set out ambitious sustainability targets and has already made great strides in reducing plastic packaging. Some products need more specialised solutions to ensure consumers get safe, high-quality food. Mondi’s functional barrier paper uses a wafer-thin coating that provides all the necessary barriers to keep food fresh and can still be recycled. It is a pleasure to be working with Iceland on their range of frozen food products.

Iceland aims to be the first UK supermarket to become plastic neutral, adapting to paper packaging wherever possible and offsetting its remaining plastic footprint by recovering and recycling environmental and nature-bound waste plastic. By working with Mondi, Iceland has benefitted from the packaging specialist’s EcoSolutions approach to work closely together to ask the right questions and develop the most sustainable packaging solutions.

About Mondi

Mondi is a global leader in packaging and paper, contributing to a better world by making innovative packaging and paper solutions that are sustainable by design. Our business is integrated across the value chain – from managing forests and producing pulp, paper and plastic films, to developing and manufacturing effective industrial and consumer packaging solutions. Sustainability is at the centre of our strategy and intrinsic in the way we do business. We lead the industry with our customer-centric approach, EcoSolutions, where we ask the right questions to find the most sustainable solution. In 2020, Mondi had revenues of €6.66 billion and underlying EBITDA of €1.35 billion.

Mondi has a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange (MNDI), and a secondary listing on the JSE Limited (MNP). Mondi is a FTSE 100 constituent, and has been included in the FTSE4Good Index Series since 2008 and the FTSE/JSE Responsible Investment Index Series since 2007.

About Mondi Functional Paper and Films

Mondi Functional Paper and Films (FPF) is part of Mondi’s Business Unit Engineered Materials, providing paper and film-based solutions such as release liners, barrier coatings, and technical films following our motto paper where possible, and plastic when useful so we can provide customers with products that are sustainable by design. The industries served are graphic arts, labels, tapes, fibre composites, industrial, building insulation, hygiene, medical, envelopes, food & consumer goods, corrugated case linings, foam liners, automotive, and industrial packaging. Oriented towards a sustainable future and committed to quality, Mondi FPF is an agile and innovative partner with technically advanced expertise, global availability, and customised solutions.  Well-connected within the Mondi Group, we are an integrated part of the value chain. Mondi FPF can imagine, design, and create innovations to meet the rapidly changing demands in the industry, and has access to an international network of specialists with over 11 plants in seven countries and three continents.

Plastic packaging is not completely banned

AmPrima™ PE Plus recycle ready solutions provide brand owners with innovative packaging that supports recyclability i

“We are thrilled to add Recycold and its Recycold Cool Packs products to our portfolio of sustainable Cold Chain pack

• Collaboration led to top prizes at prestigious French packaging awards
• Packaging producer Mondi developed the recyclable functional barrier paper allowing Les Crudettes to save 137 tonnes of plastic per year, the equivalent weight of one blue whale
• Machine supplier IMA Ilapak developed new solutions on their range of vertical baggers ''Vegatronic'' to handle paper-based materials at high speed
• French vegetable producer Les Crudettes uses the new paper packaging to replace plastic packaging for its ready to eat salads in France

Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper; IMA Ilapak, world leader in the design and manufacture of automatic machines for packaging and Les Crudettes, leading French company in the fresh vegetables market, have won three prizes at the prestigious French packaging award and the Trophées de l’innovation LSA for a new paper packaging.

Mondi developed a recyclable functional barrier paper, which is converted on VFFS machines of IMA Ilapak for a selection of Les Crudettes’ pre-washed, ready to eat salads.

Their solution won the environment and production categories at the prestigious French packaging awards as well as the Trophées de l’innovation LSA.

Les Crudettes decided to replace the plastic bags for its fresh salads with Mondi’s new packaging. The new solution is 95% paper and verified as recyclable in the waste paper stream in France while keeping the salad fresh for up to 10 days - the same amount of time as with the previous plastic packaging. Mondi used its EcoSolutions approach to work closely with Les Crudettes in order to help the company meet its sustainability goals of reducing the amount of plastic in its packaging. The new packaging also supports Mondi’s MAP2030 sustainability goal to make 100% of its products reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.

IMA Ilapak's R&D efforts have resulted in the first solution specifically designed to perform using paper while ensuring the same performance as plastic packaging materials. The Vegatronic 6000 bagging machines produced for Les Crudettes are part of the Corporate Sustainability Program IMA Zero and IMA NOP (No Plastic) which have the ultimate goal of minimising environmental impact in industrial manufacturing, embodying the Group’s dedication to change and aims to make a positive and eco-friendly impact.

Falk Paulsen, Sales & Business Development Director Functional Paper and Films, Mondi says: “The key to getting fit-for-purpose packaging solutions is to ask the right questions, and these awards recognise that. We worked closely with Les Crudettes and their machine manufacturer IMA Ilapak to ensure the transition to our functional barrier paper was smooth and effective, resulting in a truly ground-breaking packaging that can now be rolled out across other food groups.”

Géraldine Collet, Marketing and Innovation Director, Les Crudettes adds: “Making changes like this when existing solutions have worked for three decades is always a challenge for brands. When there is a strong desire to create better products and sustainable packaging, combined with collaborative effective ways of working, you often find success. These awards, given by packaging and retail experts, are a recognition of our ground-breaking innovation for the ready to eat salads market.”

Grégoire Duvot, Managing Director at IMA Ilapak France, says: ‘’These 2021 French packaging awards are the result of our IMA Ilapak R&D efforts to run quicker on vertical form fill seal machines when using paper-based material. In line with the IMA group's NOP ('NO Plastic') project, our ultimate goal, we are accompanying manufacturers towards recyclable packaging, with profound consultancy on machine compatibility of different materials.”

About Mondi

Mondi is a global leader in packaging and paper, contributing to a better world by making innovative packaging and paper solutions that are sustainable by design. Our business is integrated across the value chain – from managing forests and producing pulp, paper and plastic films, to developing and manufacturing effective industrial and consumer packaging solutions. Sustainability is at the centre of our strategy and intrinsic in the way we do business. We lead the industry with our customer-centric approach, EcoSolutions, where we ask the right questions to find the most sustainable solution. In 2020, Mondi had revenues of €6.66 billion and underlying EBITDA of €1.35 billion.

Mondi has a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange (MNDI), and a secondary listing on the JSE Limited (MNP). Mondi is a FTSE 100 constituent, and has been included in the FTSE4Good Index Series since 2008 and the FTSE/JSE Responsible Investment Index Series since 2007.

www.mondigroup.com

About Mondi Functional Paper and Films

Mondi Functional Paper and Films (FPF) is part of Mondi’s Business Unit Engineered Materials, providing paper and film-based solutions such as release liners, barrier coatings, and technical films following our motto paper where possible, and plastic when useful so we can provide customers with products that are sustainable by design. The industries served are graphic arts, labels, tapes, fibre composites, industrial, building insulation, hygiene, medical, envelopes, food & consumer goods, corrugated case linings, foam liners, automotive, and industrial packaging. Oriented towards a sustainable future and committed to quality, Mondi FPF is an agile and innovative partner with technically advanced expertise, global availability, and customised solutions. Well-connected within the Mondi Group, we are an integrated part of the value chain. Mondi FPF can imagine, design, and create innovations to meet the rapidly changing demands in the industry, and has access to an international network of specialists with over 11 plants in seven countries and three continents.

About LES CRUDETTES

Les Crudettes, a brand of the LSDH Group's Vegetable Division, has been producing a wide range of fresh, ready-to-use salads, raw vegetables, aromatic herbs and snack salads since 1984.

300 market gardeners, 650 employees, in 2 production workshops in Châteauneuf-sur-Loire (45) and Cabannes (13), share the same passion for ultra-fresh vegetable products to enable everyone to eat better thanks to fresh fruit and vegetables, available everywhere, produced by committed producers.

About IMA and IMA ILAPAK

Established in 1961, IMA is world leader in the design and manufacture of automatic machines for the processing and packaging of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, tea and coffee.

IMA Ilapak, since 1970, with its vast range of flexible packaging solutions, can satisfy every form, fill and seal packaging requirement of food, pharma, medical devices and wet wipe industries.

Besides flow wrappers and vertical baggers, IMA Ilapak portfolio includes systems for modified atmosphere applications, product handling solutions, counting and weighing systems and complete, fully automated lines.

Support provided for two projects run by local associations. With Anteas, we’ve funded the purchase of a new van equipped to transport disabled persons. And with Aviat, we’ve backed a project in Togo that helps cure children’s eye disease.

This Christmas, SACMI has set out to support human dignity and basic rights: it has done so by working with inspiring charities who have, for years, been building projects and services for the local and international community.

For a long time now, SACMI has been at the forefront when it comes to supporting local organizations that provide services for those in need. These include Anteas, an Imola-based association that has been a key provider of disabled transport services for over twenty years.

“Demand had skyrocketed in recent years”, points out the association, “ and our vehicle pool was no longer large enough to meet all our commitments.” The resources donated by SACMI will allow Anteas to purchase a new fully-equipped van, bringing the association’s number of vehicles to 11.

More specifically, the vehicle is equipped with a wheelchair tailgate ramp that is well suited to urban transport. “We’re very grateful to SACMI for this donation, which rests on shared principles of solidarity with the vulnerable”, stated Anteas, whose volunteers have provided a steadily growing range of such services in and around Imola since 1988.

“Health and dignity are precious assets that we’ve learnt to see from a collective, global perspective. Such rights are either there for everyone, or are not there at all”, points out Paolo Mongardi, President of SACMI Imola. “That’s why, as in previous years, we’re standing by our associations to bring dignity where it’s most needed. For SACMI, this is the true meaning of the Festive Season”.

The second initiative is in keeping with the training and healthcare projects SACMI has supported in developing countries for many years. The beneficiary is Aviat Onlus, a local association that has been operating for several years in Togo. One of the world’s poorest countries, Togo is beset by numerous health problems, such as access to treatment for age-related and congenital cataracts.

SACMI started supporting Aviat’s humanitarian work back in 2005. The resources donated to this second project will help treat eye disease at the medical center run by the nuns of Our Lady of the Apostles in Kolowaré, a village just outside Sokodé, the country's second-largest city.

The goal is to perform at least a hundred cataract operations so patients, especially children, can look forward to enjoying a life with restored eyesight. This project is made all the more significant, explains Aviat, when one considers that four out of five cases of blindness could be treated by simple prevention or “routine” operations that are still unavailable to large swathes of the population in the Southern Hemisphere.

Tekni-Plex, a globally integrated company that provides innovative solutions through materials science and manufacturing technologies, has received ISO certification for the contract filling of personal care, skincare, cosmeceutical, and cosmetics products. The ISO 22716 designation certifies that Tekni-Plex operates according to the Good Manufacturing Practices guidelines for filling and packaging formulations in the beauty and skincare markets.

Tekni-Plex’s ISO certification covers many filling and packaging scenarios. For example, the company’s Holland, OH location is now accredited for filling single-dose plastic containers – as well as tubes with silicone applicator tips – from 0.3 to 10 ml in volume. Capabilities also include filling multiple products on the same multi-vial strip – a frequent need when producing skincare products.

“This ISO certification, which is an important designation in the beauty market, enables Tekni-Plex to continue to expand our materials science-based innovations as we serve the Consumer Products business,” said DeAnn Umland, Vice President of Market and Strategy Development for the Beauty and Home Markets.

As a materials science leader, Tekni-Plex offers the ability to customize products through a wide range of container colors, labeling designs, and printing techniques. Customers can choose from a wide selection of plastic resins to ensure formulation compatibility and product protection for a variety of liquid solutions – including moisturizers, exfoliators, eye contour, cleansers, face masks, face serums, anti-aging solutions, lotions, toners, and body and hair treatments. 
In addition, Tekni-Plex’s manufacturing capabilities extend from trial runs and small-size batches to large-scale filling with high-automation equipment. The company also performs sample filling of customers’ solutions for product and packaging testing and evaluation.

ABOUT TEKNI-PLEX
Tekni-Plex is a globally integrated company that provides innovative solutions through materials science and manufacturing technologies. A global leader in the Healthcare and Consumer Product markets, Tekni-Plex provides medical device components and a multitude of material science solutions that lead to a healthier and more sustainable world. Its solutions are found in some of the most well-known names in the Healthcare, Pharmaceutical, Personal Care, Household and Food & Beverage markets. Headquartered in Wayne, Pa., Tekni-Plex employs 7,000 people throughout its operations in Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Northern Ireland and the United States. For more information visit www.tekni-plex.com.
 

Overall number of press stops for plate cleaning or quality adjustment significantly reduced

Asahi Photoproducts, a pioneer in flexographic photopolymer plate development, today reported that Nabe Process Co., Ltd., a major Japanese printing company, has tested Asahi’s AWP™ CleanPrint water-washable flexographic plates against conventional solvent-based plates to measure differences in quality and productivity between the two. The AWP™ plates, which were made with CrystalCleanConnect, demonstrated a significant improvement in print quality and productivity compared to the conventional solvent-developed flexographic plate. CrystalCleanConnect is a brand-new offering jointly developed by Asahi Photoproducts and ESKO that automates the platemaking process, reducing steps from 17 to 1 and dramatically reducing potential for error.
According to Nabe Process Co., the test was conducted using actual customer work, and all times and steps were carefully documented. It was notable that the Asahi AWP™ plates had excellent ink transfer, which contributed to the overall improved quality and fewer press stops for plate cleaning and other quality issues.
The design chosen by Nabe Process Co., Ltd. for this test contains fine highlights. To obtain the required quality with solvent-based plates, the press had to be stopped several times during the run to prevent such things as ink filling. This was not the case with the Asahi AWP™ water-washable plates which offer CleanPrint technology, originally developed by Asahi in order to improve the ink transfer from the plate surface to the printed material.
Mr. Yasuo Naka, General Manager of Flexography Division, Nabe Process Co., Ltd., commented “From this result, we were able to confirm that we can deliver more stable and higher quality printed products to our customers using Asahi's AWP™ water-washable plates. With the conventional solvent plate, we also had more difficulty in the printing process due to misregistration during printing. With the Asahi AWP™ plates, however, that problem is resolved and productivity is dramatically improved.We are very happy with the performance of the AWP™ plates as a result. In addition, in the spring of 2021, we installed CrystalCleanConnect, a fully automatic plate-making device jointly developed by Asahi and ESKO. That has added to our overall quality and productivity, geting plates to press much faster, with less operator engagement time and with less opportunity for error. Based on these results, we are converting all of our flexographic plates to Asahi AWP™ water-washable CleanPrint plates, and we know our customers will be even more delighted than ever with the quality they receive from us."

Mr. Yuzo Fujiki, Chief Technology Officer, Printing Solution Project, of Asahi Kasei Corporation, commented, “We were pleased to work with Nabe Process on this project to validate the excellent plate performance of our AWP™ water-washable plates in terms of both print quality and productivity. And we are thrilled that Nabe Process has chosen to create even more efficiency by installing the first CrystalCleanConnect system in the world, the industry's first fully automatic water-washable plate-making device, developed in collaboration with ESKO. As we continue to work with forward-thinking companies like Nabe Process, we will also be working toward continouos improvement of print quality as well as keeping sustainability top of mind.”

Asahi's CleanPrint flexographic printing plate has excellent ink transfer from the plate surface to the substrate, resulting in less ink remaining on the plate surface during and after printing compared with conventional solvent-based plates, dramatically reducing the number of press stops required for plate cleaning. In additon, the plate making process is water-based, using non-VOC based chemicals. And with the CrystalCleanConnect solution, which delivers ready-to-mount plates with the push of a button, platemaking time and labor is also dramatically reduced, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective flexographic printing operation.

For more information about Asahi AWP™ CleanPrint water-washable flexograhic plates, CrystalCleanConnect and other products and services from Asahi Photoproducts

About Asahi Photoproducts 
Asahi Photoproducts was founded in 1973 and is a subsidiary of the Asahi Kasei Corporation. Asahi Photoproducts is a leading pioneer in the development of photopolymer flexo printing plates. By creating high quality flexographic solutions and through continued innovation, the company aims at driving print forward in harmony with the environment.
 

Swiss trading group Meraxis and ROMCOLOR, one of the largest producers of masterbatches in Central and Eastern Europe, are expanding their cooperation with a further distribution agreement: Effective immediately, Meraxis is expanding its existing masterbatch portfolio for customers in the DACH and Benelux countries to include the wide range of ROMCOLOR products.

“ROMCOLOR is the largest masterbatch producer in Central and Eastern Europe, and we’ve been working successfully with them for several years in Hungary, Slovenia and Serbia,” says Elmar Schröter, Executive Director Recycling Materials, Compounds & New Business Development at Meraxis. “Now, our customers in Central and Western Europe can also benefit from our combined experience. By cooperating with a reliable, experienced supplier like ROMCOLOR, we offer them a secure source of material across all common masterbatch product groups. Together we can ensure high quality and fast availability.”

Masterbatches are additives in the form of granules. They are added to polymers in small quantities to specifically change certain material properties and, for example, to produce a very special color shade. ROMCOLOR produces a wide range of color, additive, white and black masterbatches for various applications. “The expansion of the partnership is a milestone that marks a step towards gaining a reputation as a reliable manufacturer with our products in Western Europe as well,” says Camelia Puscu, Commercial and Marketing Manager at ROMCOLOR. “What we appreciate about Meraxis, however, isn’t just its international distribution network, but also its comprehensive expertise in the procurement, logistics and warehousing of materials. In today’s environment, this is more important than ever.”

As a one-stop shop for the polymer processing industry, Meraxis offers its customers everything they need from a single source. In addition to primeware, recyclates and additives, this also includes purchased parts, tools and machinery as well as services relating to procurement, logistics, development and processing, depending on requirements. “We’re committed to continuously developing our range in our customers’ local markets so that we can be their local single point of contact,” emphasizes Dr. Stefan Girschik, CEO of Meraxis. “Recently, demand for customized masterbatches in particular has increased throughout Europe, so we wanted to position ourselves even more broadly in this area. So, we’re delighted to be expanding jointly with ROMCOLOR.”

About the Meraxis Group
With a sales of over EUR 2 billion, Meraxis is one of the leading international distributors of polymer-related solutions. The Swiss trading group offers their customers tailor-made solutions for each requirement in the polymer value chain thanks to their worldwide logistics network and access to global polymer markets. The full-service provider combines many years of experience in global trading and the development and processing of polymers as well as sound material and product knowledge of the polymer converting industry. Meraxis supplies companies from all industrial sectors – from the automotive and construction industries to packaging companies. 

The product portfolio of the company, located in Muri bei Bern (CH), includes classic polymers (PE, PP, PET, PVC), engineered and high-temperature thermoplastics, masterbatches, additives plasticizers, coating and printing inks and recycled materials. Trade parts and components (e.g. metail, foils, electrical) as well as machines, systems, and tools for various plastic processing technologies, all accompanied by service and consulting related to the required product properties round up the portfolio. 

The polymer distributor is committed to driving the continued development of sustainable and innovative polymer-related solutions. With its unique one-stop-shop approach, Meraxis adds customer value by offering complete solutions for prime materials, recyclates, recycling compounds, and digital supply chain services.
 

About ROMCOLOR 2000 S.A.

ROMCOLOR 2000 S.A. was founded in 1995 and is one of the leading masterbatch suppliers in Central and Eastern Europe. The company produces a wide range of color and additive masterbatches. In 2011, ROMCOLOR moved into its new plant in the south of Bucharest and in 2015 installed a mega compounder, which significantly expanded production capacity. In 2018, a warehouse expansion was built to accommodate the new sales volume and raw materials ROMCOLOR is part of the GLOBAL COLORS GROUP.

Mondi rated as Triple A for the second time, one of only 14 companies worldwide in this year’s review
CDP’s annual disclosure and scoring process of nearly 12,000 companies is widely recognised as the gold standard of corporate transparency
Score acknowledges Mondi’s clear ambitions and best-practice approach to sustainability and transparent reporting

Global packaging and paper leader Mondi has been recognised by CDP with a prestigious Triple A score for the second year in a row. Of the nearly 12,000 organisations rated, Mondi is one of only 14 worldwide to achieve a Triple A score for its sustainability performance on climate, forests and water security.

Paul Simpson, CEO of CDP, said: “Many congratulations to all the companies on this year’s A List. Taking the lead on environmental transparency and action is one of the most important steps businesses can make, even more so in the year of COP26 and the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report. The scale of the risk to businesses from climate change, water insecurity and deforestation can no longer be ignored, and we know the opportunities of action far outweigh the risks of inaction. Leadership from the private sector is essential for securing global ambitions for a net-zero, nature positive and equitable world. Our A List celebrates those companies who are preparing themselves to excel in the economy of the future by taking action today.”

CDP is a global non-profit that runs the world’s leading environmental disclosure platform. Its annual disclosure and scoring process is widely recognised as the gold standard of corporate transparency. In 2021, over 13,000 companies worth over 64% of global market capitalisation disclosed their environmental data through CDP, an increase of 37% since 2020. More than 590 investors with US$110 trillion in assets and 200 purchasing organisations representing US$4 trillion spend have requested environmental data from companies through CDP.

The laboratory, certified by the International Safe Transit Association (ISTA), complements Mondi’s service offering for high-performance corrugated packaging
Its latest testing equipment allows simulations of typical impacts of packed goods
Customers can rely on Mondi for everything from innovative and sustainable packaging design through to testing and box production

Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, has opened a new ISTA-certified laboratory at Mondi Bupak in České Budějovice (CZ), which is one of its Central European corrugated solutions flagship plants and a hub for development and production of eCommerce packaging.

The laboratory offers various transport performance tests, including ISTA 6 certification testing for packaging. In addition, Mondi’s laboratory is an approved member of the Amazon Packaging Support and Supplier Network (APASS) and hence a partner of choice for testing Amazon’s Tier 1-3 compliant packaging (FFP, SIOC and PFP)(1), which is a market standard of the online retailer for reducing packaging volume in eCommerce logistics.

 Carriers, online retailers and marketplaces, such as Amazon or FedEx, increasingly require that packaging be proven for compliance with ISTA standards using such performance tests. As a result, there is growing demand from a wide variety of FMCG, consumer durables and industrial companies for proof that their packaging meets these requirements.

The new laboratory features the latest testing equipment that allows full simulation of the typical impacts – such as compression, drop, vibration and clamp – that a packed product could encounter in standard retail, global logistics or eCommerce supply chains.

Thorough and ISTA-standard testing eliminates the risk of product breakage and claims, and thus reduces costs and reputational damage for our customers. Performance tests also help us assess how existing packaging can be improved and processes sped up. Offering this service at our lab is another way we help our customers adapt to changing market requirements and remain agile, competitive and sustainable.

Working together with its customers, Mondi develops packaging solutions that are sustainable by design. Customers are able to minimise the overall use of materials, the need for filling materials, and transport volume through sized-to-fit, ready-to-ship and lightweight solutions. They gain a competitive advantage and reduce their overall CO2 footprint, as well as benefit from the certainty of packaging that meets their business partners’ and carriers’ requirements.

About Mondi

Mondi is a global leader in packaging and paper, contributing to a better world by making innovative packaging and paper solutions that are sustainable by design. Our business is integrated across the value chain – from managing forests and producing pulp, paper and plastic films, to developing and manufacturing effective industrial and consumer packaging solutions. Sustainability is at the centre of our strategy and intrinsic in the way we do business. We lead the industry with our customer-centric approach, EcoSolutions, where we ask the right questions to find the most sustainable solution. In 2020, Mondi had revenues of €6.66 billion and underlying EBITDA of €1.35 billion.

Mondi has a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange (MNDI), and a secondary listing on the JSE Limited (MNP). Mondi is a FTSE 100 constituent, and has been included in the FTSE4Good Index Series since 2008 and the FTSE/JSE Responsible Investment Index Series since 2007.

European Bioplastics presented today at the 16th EUBP Conference a very positive outlook for the global bioplastics industry. Production is set to more than triple over the next five years according to market data which was compiled in cooperation with the nova-Institute (Hürth, Germany).  

“The importance of a more than 200 percent growth rate within the next five years cannot be overstated. Before 2026, the share of bioplastics in the total global production of plastics will pass the two percent mark for the first time. Our formular of success is a strong belief in the abilities of our industry, the aspiration for continuous innovation, and the courage to make the necessary financial investments”, explains François de Bie, Chairman of European Bioplastics. 

The global bioplastics production capacity is set to increase significantly from around 2.4 million tonnes in 2021 to 7.5 million tonnes in 2026. Biodegradable PBAT (polybutylene adipate terephthalate), the production of which will almost quadruple, but also PBS (polybutylene succinate) and bio-based PAs (polyamides) are the main drivers of this impressive growth. The production of polylactic acid (PLA) will also continue to grow due to further investments in PLA production sites in Asia, the US, and in Europe. Production capacities of bio-based polyolefins, such as PE (polyethylene) and PP (polypropylene), increased as well. 

Biodegradable plastics, including PBAT, PLA, and polybutylene succinate (PBS) currently account for slightly over 64 percent (1.5 million tonnes) of the global bioplastics production capacities. Bio-based, non-biodegradable plastics, including the drop-in solutions bio-based PE and bio-based PET (polyethylene terephthalate), as well as bio-based PA (polyamides), make up for almost 36 percent (0.8 million tonnes).  

Packaging remains the largest field of application for bioplastics with almost 48 percent (1.2 million tonnes) of the total bioplastics market in 2021. The data also confirms that bioplastics materials are already being used in many other sectors, and the portfolio of application continues to diversify. Segments, such as consumer goods, fibre or agriculture and horticulture products, continue to increase moderately in their relative share. 

With a view to regional capacity development, Asia further strengthened its position as major production hub with almost 50 percent of bioplastics currently being produced in the region. Presently, almost a fourth of the production capacity is still located in Europe. However, Europe’s share and the share of other world regions will significantly decrease within the next five years. In contrast, Asia is predicted to have passed the 70 percent by 2026. “We will see an impressive increase in bioplastics production over the next years. This also requires the expansion of production facilities. This way, our industry will be able to respond to the growing demand for bioplastics. As last year, also this year we have seen the announcement of additional production sites”, says Hasso von Pogrell, Managing Director of European Bioplastics.  

The land used to grow the renewable feedstock for the production of bioplastics is estimated to be 0.7 million hectares in 2021 and continues to account for only just over 0.01 percent of the global agricultural area of 5 billion hectares. Along the estimated growth of global bioplastics production in the next five years, the land use share for bioplastics will increase to still below 0.06 percent. “In relation to the available agricultural area, this share is still minimal. Thus, there is no competition between the renewable feedstock for food and feed and the production of bioplastics” says von Pogrell, “Over 90 percent of the global agricultural area is used for pasture, feed and food.”

European Bioplastics represents the interests of the European bioplastics industry. Its members include companies from the entire value chain. The members produce, process and distribute plastics that are made from renewable raw materials, are biodegradable or combine both properties. Further information can be found at: www.european-bioplastics.org.

Utilizing its HQ Series counting & dispensing machines, Cremer’s fully-customizable systems are suitable for apportioning various wrapped food assortments – such as mixed chocolates, candies and coffee pods.

Towaco, New Jersey – Cremer, a leading supplier of product counting machines in the U.S. for a wide array of applications, has broadened its offerings of multi-counter machine systems for food & beverage product assortments and variety packs. The fully-customizable systems utilize several of the company’s HQ Series counters – a line of compact counting and packaging machines – to provide fast, reliable and cost-efficient counting ideal for the efficient production of assortments such as mixed chocolates, candies and coffee pods. 

The multi-counter machine systems exemplify the types of hyper-customized and fully integrated configurations Cremer can provide, opening the door for a broad variety of product assortments. For a manufacturer’s mix or variety line, Cremer provides a dedicated HQ counter for each flavor/type. The desired count for each is dispensed into a bucket conveyor under the counter. When the preset quantity of each flavor is reached, the bucket conveyor dispenses the total amount of product into an integrated packaging machine – typically a cartoner and/or bagger.  

Product can be dispensed into infeed hoppers manually by operators or automatically from the upstream primary packaging system. The system is fully customizable per assorted product ranges; for example, four flavors would utilize four counters, and likewise for six, eight or more. 

Additionally, depending on required line speed, more than one counter can be dedicated per flavor/type. For instance, if a chocolate assortment requires more milk chocolate than other flavors, Cremer’s system would dedicate two counters to milk chocolate, one for dark chocolate and one for caramel.

“For manufacturers of food industry product assortments, packaging can be a complex task to ensure mix composition is 100 percent accurate and consistent for necessary quality control,” said Brian Pomponio, Business Development Manager of Cremer North America. “Our fully customizable and integrated multi-counter systems offer tailored, turnkey solutions to meet the most demanding requirements, ensuring maximum quality, efficiency and reliability.”  

The HQ Series of counters are scalable for varying production levels depending on product type and output. Typical output is up to 5,500 individual pieces or 175 units(discharges)/minute. The machines can work over an indexing conveyor for filling boxes, cartons, tubs, bottles, jars or tins. 

Compatible with all industrial packaging and cartoning machines, the HQ Series features a compact footprint, FDA-compliant product parts for processing both food and non-food products and streamlined tool-free disassembly for easy operation and cleaning. Other features include silent operation with no compressed air required and a product detection unit with 100 percent accuracy. Vibratory plates for product transport and separation and a timing hopper for discharging product counts are also built in.

About Cremer
Since 1949, Cremer is the leading global supplier of counting machines and packaging solutions for the pharmaceutical, food, consumer goods and agricultural industries. As part of the Uhlmann Group, the Netherlands-based company is known worldwide for its dedicated focus on quality control. 
Cremer’s highly technical and innovative machinery provides unsurpassed speed and precision, ensuring companies can count and package their products in a guaranteed accurate, fast, and profitable way. Cremer’s commitment to customized equipment solutions has led to a customer base ranging from small family-operated businesses to multinational corporations. For more information, visit www.cremer.com. 
 

Overall number of press stops for plate cleaning or quality adjustment significantly reduced

Tokyo, Japan & Brussels, Belgium, December 06, 2021. Asahi Photoproducts, a pioneer in flexographic photopolymer plate development, today reported that Nabe Process Co., Ltd., a major Japanese printing company, has tested Asahi’s AWP™ CleanPrint water-washable flexographic plates against conventional solvent-based plates to measure differences in quality and productivity between the two. The AWP™ plates, which were made with CrystalCleanConnect, demonstrated a significant improvement in print quality and productivity compared to the conventional solvent-developed flexographic plate. CrystalCleanConnect is a brand-new offering jointly developed by Asahi Photoproducts and ESKO that automates the platemaking process, reducing steps from 17 to 1 and dramatically reducing potential for error.

According to Nabe Process Co., the test was conducted using actual customer work, and all times and steps were carefully documented. It was notable that the Asahi AWP™ plates had excellent ink transfer, which contributed to the overall improved quality and fewer press stops for plate cleaning and other quality issues.

The design chosen by Nabe Process Co., Ltd. for this test contains fine highlights. To obtain the required quality with solvent-based plates, the press had to be stopped several times during the run to prevent such things as ink filling. This was not the case with the Asahi AWP™ water-washable plates which offer CleanPrint technology, originally developed by Asahi in order to improve the ink transfer from the plate surface to the printed material.

Mr. Yasuo Naka, General Manager of Flexography Division, Nabe Process Co., Ltd., commented “From this result, we were able to confirm that we can deliver more stable and higher quality printed products to our customers using Asahi's AWP™ water-washable plates. With the conventional solvent plate, we also had more difficulty in the printing process due to misregistration during printing. With the Asahi AWP™ plates, however, that problem is resolved and productivity is dramatically improved.We are very happy with the performance of the AWP™ plates as a result. In addition, in the spring of 2021, we installed CrystalCleanConnect, a fully automatic plate-making device jointly developed by Asahi and ESKO. That has added to our overall quality and productivity, geting plates to press much faster, with less operator engagement time and with less opportunity for error. Based on these results, we are converting all of our flexographic plates to Asahi AWP™ water-washable CleanPrint plates, and we know our customers will be even more delighted than ever with the quality they receive from us."

Caption: CrystalCleanConnect, a world-first fully automated flexographic platemaking solution jointly developed by Asahi Photoproducts and ESKO

Mr. Yuzo Fujiki, Chief Technology Officer, Printing Solution Project, of Asahi Kasei Corporation, commented, “We were pleased to work with Nabe Process on this project to validate the excellent plate performance of our AWP™ water-washable plates in terms of both print quality and productivity. And we are thrilled that Nabe Process has chosen to create even more efficiency by installing the first CrystalCleanConnect system in the world, the industry's first fully automatic water-washable plate-making device, developed in collaboration with ESKO. As we continue to work with forward-thinking companies like Nabe Process, we will also be working toward continouos improvement of print quality as well as keeping sustainability top of mind.”

Asahi's CleanPrint flexographic printing plate has excellent ink transfer from the plate surface to the substrate, resulting in less ink remaining on the plate surface during and after printing compared with conventional solvent-based plates, dramatically reducing the number of press stops required for plate cleaning. In additon, the plate making process is water-based, using non-VOC based chemicals. And with the CrystalCleanConnect solution, which delivers ready-to-mount plates with the push of a button, platemaking time and labor is also dramatically reduced, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective flexographic printing operation.

For more information about Asahi AWP™ CleanPrint water-washable flexograhic plates, CrystalCleanConnect and other products and services from Asahi Photoproducts, visit www.asahi-photoproducts.com.

—ENDS—

About Asahi Photoproducts

Asahi Photoproducts was founded in 1973 and is a subsidiary of the Asahi Kasei Corporation. Asahi Photoproducts is a leading pioneer in the development of photopolymer flexo printing plates. By creating high quality flexographic solutions and through continued innovation, the company aims at driving print forward in harmony with the environment.

More information is available at www.asahi-photoproducts.com and at:
 

CONCORD TOWNSHIP, Ohio and Venlo, Netherlands – December 8, 2021 – Ranpak Holdings Corp. (“Ranpak”) (NYSE: PACK), a global leader of environmentally sustainable, paper-based packaging solutions for e-commerce and industrial supply chains, announced today the acquisition of Recycold Cool Solutions BV (“Recycold”), a manufacturer of sustainable cool packs. Unlike typical cool packs, Recycold Cool Packs are made from a drain safe, plant-based gel and their addition expands the diversity of Ranpak’s Cold Chain packaging solutions.  

“We are thrilled to add Recycold and its Recycold Cool Packs products to our portfolio of sustainable Cold Chain packaging solutions at Ranpak. Recycold will immediately bolster our position as a highly effective thermal solution provider in the marketplace.” said Omar Asali, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Ranpak. “This acquisition reflects our focus on growth-oriented new products and our shared vision on eco-friendly solutions that express the values with which we operate Ranpak’s business worldwide.”

Asali continued, “We have received great feedback from customers about Recycold Cool Packs. Ranpak will be scaling up Recycold’s business. Recycold products are already sold in 14 European countries and we look forward to leading further worldwide expansions in the future. Ranpak will also be integrating Recycold’s innovative manufacturing operations into the new Ranpak Netherlands facility, expected to open by the end of 2022.”

“Recycold and Ranpak have been collaborating for several years now and I am so pleased that, under Omar’s leadership, Ranpak can take our business to greater levels,” said
Ruud Titulaer, co-founder and Managing Director, Recycold. “Our companies share common values for a more sustainable world, and the combination of Recycold and Ranpak products will provide an unmatched unboxing experience. We are so pleased to be part of the Ranpak family, with the ability to further integrate our offerings for a more streamlined thermal protection solution for our customers, and to collaborate even more closely on future product developments.”

An Integrated Cold Chain Solution

Ranpak has been active in the Cold Chain field for several years with its WrapPak® Protector thermal liner. The paper pads trap air and prevent heat conduction, creating an exceptional insulator for Cold Chain applications. Cooling is needed to keep products cold up to 48 hours, and Ranpak recommends the use of Recycold Cool Packs as the most sustainable option in the market to meet this requirement. Ranpak and Recycold customers will now be able to order the entire solution from a single source and benefit from:

• Easy integration: Packers position WrapPak paper pads easily in the box before adding the Recycold cool packs, a complete process that is easy to optimize into almost any existing packing operation.”
• Unmatched unboxing experience: Ranpak Cold Chain thermal liners with Recycold Cool Packs offer a superior unboxing experience, minimizing or eliminating the need for plastic packaging for a more sustainable approach.
• Cost and sustainability gains: No costly return shipment and handling of conventional cooling systems with the use of these sustainable products.

About Ranpak

Founded in 1972, Ranpak's goal was to create the first environmentally responsible system to protect products during shipment. Ranpak’s mission is to deliver sustainable packaging solutions that help improve supply chain performance and costs, reduce environmental impact, and support a variety of growing business needs globally. The development and improvement of materials, systems and total solution concepts have earned Ranpak a reputation as an innovative leader in e-commerce and industrial supply chain solutions. Ranpak is headquartered in Concord Township, Ohio and has approximately 850 employees. Additional information about Ranpak can be found on its website: https://www.ranpak.com.

About Recycold Cool Solutions BV
RECYCOLD Cool Solutions develops innovative packaging products that contribute to safe and eco conscious distribution of food, fresh ingredients and pharma. Recycold’s aim is to make sure every manufacturer, supplier or store can reach their customers with fresh and cooled products with a promise to focus on using materials that are eco-friendly, recyclable and suitable for passive cooling in the last mile of distribution.

###

Contacts:

Investor Inquiries:
Bill Drew
Ranpak
ir@ranpak.com

Media Inquiries US:

Eric Becker                                                                 

ICR for Ranpak                                                           
(303) 638-3469                                                          
eric.becker@icrinc.com                                             

Media Inquiries EMEA & APAC:

duomedia PR for Ranpak

Monika Dürr

+49(0)6104 944895
monika.d@duomedia.com

Consultation paper release by LawWiser urges Ministries and relevant stakeholders

to re-consider the Amendments to Plastics Waste Management Rules, 2016

New Delhi, 30 November 2021: LawWiser, India’s first video-only knowledge-sharing platform for the legal community, today released a Consultation Paper on “The Dilemma of Recycling Plastics in India”. The objective of this Consultation paper is to address and highlight the seriousness of the dual issue of the safe and sustainable disposal methods of waste plastics and the adverse impacts, if any on the health and safety of humans from the use of recycled plastics.

The recommendations from the Consultation Paper are shared with the concerned Ministries and FSSAI for re-consideration of the Plastic Waste Management (Second Amendment) Rules, 2021, (Second Amendment) introduced on 17 September 2021.

Experts from various fields participated in the Virtual Open Forum - Atin Biswas, Programme Director, Municipal Solid Waste, Centre for Science and Environment, Siddharth Ghanshyam Singh, Deputy Programme Director, Centre for Science and Environment; Sudipto Sircar, Advocate, Supreme Court, Delhi High Court; Ashish Agarwal, Secretary, Recycle India Foundation; Dr Vijay G. Habbu, Polymer Scientist and Adjunct Professor, Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai,

There have been a series of legislations to address waste management in India. The Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011, was introduced to set up a regulatory framework for manufacture, usage, and recycling of plastic bags to ensure efficient management of plastic waste. In March 2016, The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate change (MoEFCC) to tackle the menace of plastics waste further notified, the Plastics Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016. The rules make source segregation of various types of waste mandatory and introduce Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) as an environment policy instrument, and assign physical, financial, and environmental responsibilities to producers, brand owners, and importers of plastics.

The Virtual Open Forum conducted by LawWiser focused on the impact and concerns raised by the introduction of the second amendment to the Plastics Waste Management Rules, 2016 . The  PWM (Second Amendment) Rules, 2021 states that carry bags or products made of recycled plastic" can be used for storing, carrying, dispensing or packaging ready to eat or drink food stuff". This is subject to appropriate standards and regulation under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (34 of 2006), by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. 

The experts in the Open Forum deliberated that there is a need to first address the set of challenges and issues before it is implemented. In this paper, we understand and explore different aspects, of the new notification which includes

• Understanding the issue of recycling plastics in India
• Need for regulation of informal sector
• The Second Amendment (2021) is not in harmony with the earlier provisions
• The critical role of the bodies like FSSAI in the implementation of such amendment.

The experts have unanimously voiced the concern that “with lack of proper facilities and standards for recycling there is only growing concern how these rules will be effectively implemented. And, ideally this amendment should have incorporated specific recommendations from FSSAI.”

The concern of the experts is that:

• It is alleged that in India the majority of the recycling industry deploys very inferior quality recycling machines which can potentially make plastic more toxic in nature. Moreover, standards for the recycling of plastic have not been specified in India, making it all the more difficult to understand the chemical conformity of recycled plastic.
• Such permission for use in food and medicine packaging could pose a serious threat to human life and the environment. It is a huge concern that continuous recycling of plastic not only degrades the quality but also brings in life-threatening toxic impurities in them apart from issues of collection and sorting of such plastic. 

Elsewhere, in countries like the United States of America, manufacturers are responsible for ensuring that the recycled product is of suitable purity. The Food and Drug Administration in the US is very well aware of the contaminants from post-consumer plastic that may appear in the final product. Therefore, each proposal of using recycled plastic is evaluated before issuing a no-objection letter. 

 Also, The European Commission back in 2018 was preparing to fast-track approval of 140 recycling processes for use in food and drink packaging. The proposal to approve the said recycling processes has also involved the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). However, the final approval of each process rests with the European Commission.

 About LawWiser:

LawWiser is India’s first video-only knowledge-sharing platform for the legal community, connecting practising lawyers, GCs, policy-makers, and CXOs. LawWiser helps to navigate complex legal and regulatory changes and their overall impact on businesses/ industries and communities at large.

Smurfit Kappa, a leading company in the production of paper-based packaging, has completed a two-phase upgrade of its facilities at the Barranquilla Paper Mill in Colombia. The 7.5 million USD investment saw the implementation of a Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) with state-of-the-art anaerobic technology, which reduces water intake from the nearby Magdalena River and improves the quality of water returned to it.

The investment is a further example of Smurfit Kappa’s ongoing commitment to good water stewardship through using water sustainably and supporting natural water ecosystems.

The upgraded facilities allow the Barranquilla site, which produces containerboard from 100% recycled materials, to contribute towards Smurfit Kappa’s ambitious sustainability targets that were expanded in January 2021. These include water quality targets to further reduce water intake and improve water intensity and usage. Specifically, this includes targets to reduce the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) of the water by 60% by 2025 and to reduce water intensity by 1% annually. It is estimated that the COD at the plant will reduce by 80% as a direct result of this investment. 

The WWTP uses advanced technology that includes a circular self-sustaining anaerobic reactor. The facility will also generate biogas which will help to improve energy efficiency and reduce the need for external power sources. Barranquilla is the most recent example and part of a wider investment programme taking place across Smurfit Kappa paper mills in Colombia. Other investments include upgrades to facilities at the Barbosa and Cali paper plants. 

Commenting on this new WWTP, Alvaro Jose Henao Ramos, CEO of Smurfit Kappa Colombia, said: "For many years, our operations have been based on a circular economy model in which we seek to maximise resource efficiency and minimise waste. This investment takes us to a higher level of efficiency and excellence in how we process water and is consistent with our goal of being a strategic ally to businesses in the Caribbean region, through our sustainable packaging solutions and environmentally friendly processes."  

Juan G. Castaneda, CEO of Smurfit Kappa the Americas, added: "Without a doubt, these projects are one more step in the right direction in our environmental commitment to water and energy efficiency. For Smurfit Kappa, water is a fundamental resource that must be preserved, and we focus our efforts on improving the quality of the water we discharge and reducing our use of the resource, going beyond what is required by law. 

“Currently, more than 90% of the water we use is returned to nature in good condition, and the remaining water is transformed into steam or linked to the product during the production process."

Since 2018, Smurfit Kappa has been a signatory to the UN Global Compact CEO Water Mandate which implements strategies and policies to address the growing crisis in water and sanitation in many parts of the world.

A metalized bi-axially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film for packaging applications

New Delhi, 23, 2021: Cosmo Films Ltd., a global leader in specialty films for flexible packaging, labeling and lamination applications as well as synthetic paper, has launched Enhanced Barrier Metalized BOPP Film specially designed for packaging applications with very high moisture and good oxygen barrier properties and high metal bond. 

A film specially innovated for applications like flexible packaging for lamination, packaging of biscuits, snacks, bakery products, chocolates and personal care products like shampoo sachets; the film can be used as a sandwich layer in multilayer laminate structures. The end pack can be used for all food and personal care applications where moisture barrier is of utmost importance.

With a thickness range of 15& 18 μm, the film is suitable for adhesive lamination, which provides a good heat seal strength and facilitates cold seal adhesive reception on the non-metallic side. 

Talking about the product launch, Mr. Pankaj Poddar, Group CEO, Cosmo Films Ltd. said, “We carefully evaluate the expectations of our customers, and engineer products which are best suited for them. The Enhanced Metalized BOPP Film is an apt addition to our range of barrier films which not only improve the shelf life of the packaged product, but also help in creating mono material eco-friendly structures.”

About Cosmo Films Limited

Established in 1981 and founded by Mr. Ashok Jaipuria, Cosmo Films today is a global leader in specialty films for packaging, lamination, labeling and synthetic paper. With engineering of innovative products and sustainability solutions, Cosmo Films over the years has been partnering with worlds’ leading F&B and personal care brands and packaging & printing converters to enhance the end consumer experience. Its customer base is spread in more than 100 countries with sales & manufacturing units in India and Korea and additionally sales & distribution base in Japan, USA, Canada and Europe.

The Company is strategically expanding beyond Films into Specialty Chemicals & Polymers as well as Pet care business.