Why did you pick India as your first pitstop?

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to rid their homes and workplaces of single-use plastic by October 2,

CHENNAI: In the wake of acute shortage of tinplate/ tin free steel material which is largely used to manufacture cans

The polymer PVOH is not new, for example it’s already used in dishwasher tablets that dissolve in the dishwasher.

Although an ambitious and what some might even consider a welcome change to India’s snowballing plastic crisis, the a

Unilever, Henkel, L’Oreal, LVMH and Natura &Co invite the cosmetics sector to join the consortium
Henkel, L’Oréal, LVMH, Natura &Co, and Unilever announce a new global collaboration to co-develop an industry-wide environmental impact assessment and scoring system for cosmetics products. The aim is to co-design an approach that is brand-agnostic, and which provides consumers with clear, transparent and comparable environmental impact information, based on a common science-based methodology. They are inviting other cosmetics companies to join them in this pursuit.

Addressing the demand for greater transparency

The new assessment and scoring system will aim to meet growing consumer demand for greater transparency about the environmental impact of cosmetics products (formula, packaging and usage). The objective is to improve the information that is available to consumers and enable them to make more sustainable consumption choices.

To do this, a consortium will be created that is open to all cosmetics companies wishing to join and contribute to designing a system that allows consumers to compare cosmetics products within the same category. The ambition is for the overall score to inform consumers of the environmental impact of products, taking into account their whole product life cycle.

Co-building a scientific methodology and scoring system
It is proposed that the consortium works with sustainability consultancy Quantis to ensure a robust and scientific approach and that efforts to co-build the voluntary assessment methodology and scoring system are guided by and articulated around:

A common method for measuring environmental impacts throughout the life cycle of products, backed by the principles of the “Product Environmental Footprint” (the European Union’s PEF scientific method for quantifying the environmental footprint of products).
A common database of environmental impacts of standard ingredients and raw materials used in formulas and packaging, as well as during product usage.
A common tool that enables each brand to calculate the environmental impact of individual products, usable by non-experts.
A harmonized scoring system, for example using a score ranging from A to E, that enables the consumer to easily compare products. The methodology, data base, tool and scoring system will be verified by independent parties.
Engaging all players in the cosmetics sector
This global initiative is intended to be open to all cosmetics companies, regardless of their size or resources. Other stakeholders will be informed and consulted throughout the process. The convening five companies will pool their experience and knowledge in developing environmental impact assessment methodologies (as is the case for Henkel, LVMH, Natura &Co, and Unilever) and an environmental and social labelling system (as developed by L’Oréal). All companies will benefit from this pre-existing work and are invited to contribute their own experience. The consortium will also be consulting with external experts, including scientists, academics and NGOs to ensure the ongoing integrity of the approach. The work developed by the consortium will be published and made accessible on a strictly voluntary basis by both consortium participants and all other interested parties.

"It is possible for the cosmetics sector, as has happened in other sectors, to build a scientific environmental impact assessment of their products, based on a full life cycle assessment. It requires a cross-industry pooling of knowledge and expertise, particularly concerning the environmental impact data; this is exactly what the consortium founding members are embarking on." Philippe Osset, expert in the application of life cycle assessment to eco-design, consultant providing expertise for the European Commission and AFNOR (Association française de normalisation, French Standardization Association).

Cosmetics Europe has been actively following the process; other industry associations are being contacted to join the consortium.

Companies and trade associations wishing to know more are invited to contact: contact@ecobeautyscore-consortium.org.

About Henkel
Henkel operates globally with a well-balanced and diversified portfolio. The company holds leading positions with its three business units in both industrial and consumer businesses thanks to strong brands, innovations and technologies. Henkel Adhesive Technologies is the global leader in the adhesives market – across all industry segments worldwide. In its Laundry & Home Care and Beauty Care businesses, Henkel holds leading positions in many markets and categories around the world. Founded in 1876, Henkel looks back on more than 140 years of success. In 2020, Henkel reported sales of more than 19 billion euros and adjusted operating profit of about 2.6 billion euros. Henkel employs about 53,000 people globally – a passionate and highly diverse team, united by a strong company culture, a common purpose, and shared values. As a recognized leader in sustainability, Henkel holds top positions in many international indices and rankings. Henkel’s preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX.

For more information, please visit www.henkel.com.

About L’Oréal Group
L’Oréal has devoted itself to beauty for over 100 years. With its unique international portfolio of 35 diverse and complementary brands, the Group generated sales amounting to 27.99 billion euros in 2020 and employs 85,400 people worldwide. As the world’s leading beauty company, L’Oréal Group is present across all distribution networks: mass market, department stores, pharmacies and drugstores, hair salons, travel retail, branded retail and e-commerce. Research and innovation, and a dedicated research team of 4,000 people, are at the core of L’Oréal’s strategy, working to meet beauty aspirations all over the world. L’Oréal sets out ambitious sustainable development goals across the Group for 2030 and aims to empower its ecosystem for a more inclusive and sustainable society.

For more information, please visit https://www.loreal.com/en/mediaroom/

About LVMH
LVMH is home to 75 iconic Maisons rooted in six different sectors (Wines and Spirits, Fashion and Leather Goods, Perfumes and Cosmetics, Watches and Jewelry, Selective Retailing & Other activities). Each of our brands builds on a unique legacy while keeping an unwavering focus on the high quality of its products. A major player in the perfumes, make-up and skincare markets, the Perfumes & Cosmetics division groups together major brands: Parfums Christian Dior, Guerlain, Parfums Givenchy, Kenzo Parfums, Perfumes Loewe, Benefit Cosmetics, Make Up For Ever, Acqua di Parma, Fresh, Fenty Beauty by Rihanna and Maison Francis Kurkdjian.

The protection of nature’s ecosystems has always been of utmost importance to LVMH, whose activity is significantly reliant on natural raw materials (flowers, grapes, cotton, leather, stones, etc.).

Established 27 years ago, LVMH’s environmental policy is now integrated in the LIFE 360 program (LVMH Initiatives For the Environment) unveiled early 2021. This new environmental performance roadmap sets precise targets and timeframes (2023, 2026 and 2030) designed to forge a new alliance between nature and creativity around four product-focused pillars: protection of biodiversity, fight against climate change, circular economy and transparency.

For more information, please visit https://www.lvmh.com/group/lvmh-commitments/social-environmental-respon…

About Natura &Co
Natura &Co is a global, purpose-driven, multi-channel and multi-brand cosmetics group which includes Avon, Natura, The Body Shop and Aesop. Natura &Co posted net revenues of R$36.9 billion in 2020. The four companies that form the group are committed to generating positive economic, social and environmental impact. For 135 years Avon has stood for women: providing innovative, quality beauty products which are primarily sold to women, through women. Founded in 1969, Natura is a Brazilian multinational in the cosmetics and personal care segment, leader in direct sales. Founded in 1976 in Brighton, England, by Anita Roddick, The Body Shop is a global beauty brand that seeks to make a positive difference in the world. The Australian beauty brand Aesop was established in 1987 with a quest to create a range of superlative products for skin, hair and the body.

Companies seeking to automate their operations typically have two choices: a workhorse industrial robot, intended to

Judges deemed the bottle ‘Beautiful, sustainable and perfectly on brand’
This year’s World Beverage Innovation Awards attracted 155 entries from 20 countries in 21 categories.
The special edition bottle, manufactured by Ardagh Glass Packaging, was the outright winner in the Best Bottle in Glass category, scoring top place by all nine judges, who also commented on its ‘Dynamic, stylish design, aiming to highlight important themes’.
Based on an original concept by Frankenstein Design, the frosted blue glass bottle features an upward spiral design of 16 swirls, which symbolise people coming together in the spirit of inclusivity and collective progression.
Fredrik Kallqvist, NPD & Quality Manager Nordic, Ardagh Glass Packaging Europe comments:
“The Absolut Movement bottle is the result of a close partnership with the customer and, most importantly, a true team effort involving multiple departments and functions from concept design all the way through to final production.”
 

Store in the Box™ includes several of the company’s sustainable paper-based packaging solutions, allows stores to bypass traditional fulfilment centers and ship orders from local stores.

Bristol, CT – HexcelPack, a developer of eco-friendly, paper-based protective cushioning solutions to replace bubble packaging and other plastic or foam-based materials, has introduced Store in the Box™, an innovative e-commerce packaging kit featuring three of HexcelPack’s sustainable paper-based packaging solutions, MiniPack™, Hexcel’ope™, and Fil in a Box™. The kit provides retailers on-demand packaging supplies to quickly ship orders to local consumers from store locations during peak ordering times, allowing stores to bypass their logistics centers.

Particularly helpful to retailers during the holiday season when logistics hubs are bogged down by massive amounts of orders, HexcelPack’s Store in the Box™ can be ordered by both smaller, single-store retailers as well as larger, multiple-location stores with quick turnarounds, avoiding long lead times. 

HexcelPack products included in the Store in the Box™ kit are:

MiniPack™: Conveniently dispensed in a compact, fully-recyclable box, MiniPack™ utilizes the company’s signature product, HexcelWrap™, which converts extensible paper into a three-dimensional, internationally patented cushioning product by making precise cuts at specific angles. This method makes the paper “flex,” expanding its volume while maximizing the strength and stiffness of its fibers, creating a superior cushioning product proven to outperform environmentally-harmful product protection alternatives – including plastic-based bubble packaging and pillows.

Hexcel’ope™: The Hexcel’ope™ is HexcelPack’s answer to the bubble envelope, which is every bit as destructive to the environment as bubble itself. The Hexcel’ope™ mailer is made using the same patented, slit paper technology used in HexcelWrap™. All HexcelPack products are “curbside recyclable” which means that they are ready, as is, to go to the recycling plant with no pre-recycling steps necessary.

Fil in a Box™: HexcelPack’s innovative design that dispenses HexaFil™ void fill in a recyclable corrugated box. With the same hexagon design and slit paper technology as HexcelWrap™, when HexaFil™ comes off the roll, it spirals just like a helix creating the bulk required for efficient void fill. When used in combination with HexcelWrap™, both materials naturally interlock ensuring that items packed will be nestled together in a stable position, less likely to shift during delivery.

Benefits of HexcelPack’s Store in the Box™ include:

•    Unsurpassed Product Protection: HexcelPack products deliver superior cushioning and product protection. Users simply stretch, wrap, and tear the lightweight, interlocking material to custom lengths without the need for tape or scissors. Store in the Box™ is ideal for shipping fragile items and reducing product damage.

•    Sustainability: Completely paper-based, HexcelPack cushioning paper and void fill is made of 100% Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) Canadian Paper for exemplary sustainability and little to no impact on the environment – all while delivering protection proven to outperform plastic bubble packaging and pillows. Unlike single-use plastic bubble, the paper used to produce HexcelPack products are fully curbside recyclable and biodegradable. 

•    Ease of Use: The Store in the Box™ kit is simple to use and extremely user-friendly. Once retailers unpack the contents of the kit, they have immediately upgraded their shipping efforts. The kit was specifically designed to meet retail e-commerce shipping needs. 

•    All-In-One Packaging Solution: Combining HexcelPack’s packaging solutions into one seamless kit ensures the retail e-commerce industry has access to sustainable shipping materials, regardless of peak seasonal demands. 

“HexcelPack is committed to developing innovative packaging solutions that assist our e-commerce partners in getting orders to customers faster during their busiest seasons, contributing to a better overall consumer experience,” said Lorne Herszkowicz, Partner at HexcelPack. “Our Store in the Box™ is a practical, all-in-one kit combining our most-loved e-commerce packaging products, which will help companies increase packing efficiencies, without compromising cost or sustainability.”
 

About HexcelPack
HexcelPack is the developer of eco-friendly, paper-based cushioning solutions designed to replace bubble packaging and other plastic or foam-based protective materials. The company's internationally-patented HexcelPack™ portfolio provides sustainable, superior product protection for retail packages, corrugated shippers, envelopes and other containers. Notably, its curbside recyclable HexcelWrap™ cushioning wrap is used by the top three retailers in the United States, as well as several of the world's 10 largest consumer goods companies.

HexcelWrap's UltraStretch™ technology comprises unique paper with inherent characteristics that enhance the company’s slit paper technique, which maximizes paper's volume and strength through precision, angled cuts. The result is a three-dimensional product whose substantial cushion outperforms plastic and other paper-based competitors.

Together with the recently introduced Hex-a-Fil™ void filler, HexcelWrap™ can meet the packaging and shipping protection needs of a wide variety of consumer products. Each is handily dispensed through the company's compact, standalone and completely recyclable tabletop Mini Pack™ stations. For more information, visit www.hexcelpack.com. 
 

The new Vatika face wash will be available in a 150-ml SKU.

The FPA said it has given the CMA its full support and has made observance of the Green Claims Code part of the FPA C

An innovative development from Greiner Packaging is revolutionizing the recyclability of cardboard-plastic combinations. Making sure that waste was sorted correctly used to be fully reliant on consumers playing their part. But now with K3® r100, the cardboard wrap and the plastic cup separate all by themselves on the way to the recycling facility. This makes the packaging solution ideal for recycling.

Kremsmünster, Austria (September, 2021) – Cardboard-plastic combinations have a number of positive attributes when it comes to sustainability. The cardboard wrap, which can be made from recycled material, lends sturdiness to the plastic cup so that it can be produced with particularly thin walls. This wrap is especially easy to detach from the cup thanks to an innovative tear-off system, with the two components then disposed of separately and recycled. Since the white or transparent plastic cup is unprinted, it can be recycled very effectively. In addition, the carbon footprint of K3® cups is significantly smaller than that of alternative packaging solutions. “Cardboard-plastic combinations are a fully sustainable solution,” emphasizes Jens Krause, sales director and K3® product category manager at Greiner Packaging. “But there is one challenge – separating the cardboard wrap from the plastic cup currently requires action by consumers. If they separate the cardboard wrap from the plastic cup when discarding the used packaging, the cup will perform very well in the recycling process. But if they don’t do that – which is still the case for most consumers – the components will not always be correctly identified in the sorting system, making it difficult to correctly recycle the K3® packaging. As a result, the cups are currently quite difficult to recycle properly in some countries.”

Innovative solution for maximum recyclability: K3® r100 Greiner Packaging wants to address this state of affairs – and is now introducing a packaging product like no other. In developing K3® r100, the packaging specialists have created a solution in which the cardboard wrap separates itself from the plastic cup during the waste collection process – i.e., before the packaging arrives at the NIR (near infrared) detection in the sorting unit. This innovative development makes K3® cups substantially easier to recycle, with the cardboard and plastic assigned to the correct material streams during the initial sorting process before being recycled.

Top scores

Cyclos-HTP has given K3® r100 (with a standard aluminum lid) a recyclability rating of higher than 90 percent.* RecyClass has also issued K3® r100 its best rating (Class A) – the K3® cup was evaluated and certified in accordance with RecyClass recyclability standards and the Design for Recycling guidelines and received a Class A rating, indicating the top level of recyclability for a packaging item.**

Major breakthrough

“In developing K3® r100, we have made a major breakthrough. That being said, of course, the best-case scenario is still for the consumer to separate the cardboard wrap from the plastic cup before disposing of the parts properly,” Krause stresses. For this reason, the K3® r100 still features the innovative tearoff solution, which makes separating the plastic and cardboard easier and more intuitive. This means that environmentally conscious consumers can play it safe when it comes to recycling – it was with good reason that the tear tab was praised by the jury for the Swiss Packaging Awards for being “easy to see and use” and “self-explanatory.” Plus, the rear side of the cardboard wrap is the perfect place to provide more information and engage with consumers.

K3® r100 will come onto the market this fall. Greiner Packaging will be exhibiting the innovative solution at FachPack.

About Greiner Packaging

Greiner Packaging is a leading European manufacturer of plastic packaging in the food and nonfood sectors. The company has enjoyed a reputation for outstanding solutions expertise in the fields of development, design, production, and decoration for more than 60 years. Greiner Packaging responds to the challenges of the market with two business units: Packaging and Assistec. While the Packaging unit focuses on innovative packaging solutions, the Assistec unit is dedicated to producing custom-made technical parts. Greiner Packaging employs a workforce of nearly 4,900 at more than 30 locations in 19 countries around the world. In 2020, the company generated annual sales revenues of EUR 692 million (including joint ventures), which represents approximately 35 percent of Greiner’s total sales.

• New desiccant stopper with spiral carries dual benefit for tube packaging - easy opening and protection from moisture
• It is part of Airnov's expanding range of products made from renewable materials, helping to reduce emissions and work towards sustainability targets
• The stopper will be unveiled at Pharmapack 2021 and available worldwide in a range of colors from Q4 2021
• Meet us at Pharmapack, Booth F50

September 23, 2021 – Airnov Healthcare Packaging, a global leader in controlled atmosphere packaging will unveil a new 27mm desiccant stopper at Pharmapack 2021.

Furthermore, the stopper uses fewer raw materials and is therefore lightweight. The new used polymers are sourced from renewable-focused suppliers, helping to reduce the carbon footprints of those that use them.

This represents a key step for Airnov as it seeks to bring more sustainable solutions to the market

Stéphane Rault, Global Product Manager, Airnov, commented: “This new stopper gives advantages to improve the easy opening of packaging by patients and shows how Airnov continues to engage more in the development of sustainable solutions, which is helping to reduce our impact on the planet.

“Most importantly, this product represents an answer to our customers’ needs and has been developed based on feedback we have received from them.”

The new lightweight, sustainable and practical features do not compromise the core function of the stopper, which is to protect the moisture sensitive nutraceutical, probiotic and pharmaceutical products (among others) inside tube-style packaging.

Available globally from Q4 2021, the new stopper range will be produced in a variety of formats and colors to suit clients’ specific needs.

Stop by Booth F50 to meet the Airnov team.

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 International Organization of Aluminum Aerosol Container Manufacturers (AEROBAL) reports that the global shipments of its members fell by 3.9 percent to around 2.9 billion units in the first half of 2021. The year-on-year decline was rather moderate, as global demand was still very lively in the first quarter of 2020. The corona pandemic only unfolded its full impact on the market in the course of the second quarter of 2020.

Sales of deodorants and hairsprays - like the entire cosmetics sector - suffered in the first half of 2021 because consumers went out less due to the pandemic. That is why the deliveries to the deodorant market, which is dominant in terms of volume and which accounts for around 60 percent of all deliveries in the industry, fell by almost 2 percent. Deliveries to the hairspray segment were hit much harder and fell by a clear double-digit rate.

The development in the food sector was very positive, as consumers spent more time at home and cooked the meals themselves. Worldwide deliveries to this market, which currently still has to be described as a niche market, increased by almost 50 percent. The pandemic-related special boom in disinfectants in 2020 did not continue in 2021 because these products are more likely to be packed in plastic bottles.

Exploding raw material prices are a cause for concern

“The AEROBAL members are very concerned about the skyrocketing aluminum price. The manufacturers who now have to stock up on metal are in a mess. Other relevant cost drivers are paints, printing inks, cardboard packaging, energy, wages and transport services. The pressure comes from all sides at the same time,” says AEROBAL President Leopold Werdich.

While supply bottlenecks have already been reported in other industries due to the tense situation on the raw material markets, the supply chains in the aluminum aerosol can industry have so far been stable. However, nervousness also increases here.

Bottleneck scrap availability

The topic of sustainability and decarbonization is still at the top of the agenda in the aluminum aerosol can industry. In particular, customers’ requests to use recycled material in aluminum aerosol cans represents a major challenge for manufacturers due to the limited availability of scrap which meets with a high demand at the same time.

The general mood in the industry is subdued due to the extreme cost burden, even if the current demand is quite satisfactory. A sustainable upturn is not expected until 2022.
 

The company says that the new laboratory will showcase Kite’s packaging solutions to both existing and prospective cu

The company says its new flexible packaging solutions were developed in collaboration with Innotech’s R+D+I Centre, a

TQS-SP Serialization Unit & TQS-CP Aggregation Unit provide efficient, exacting pharma-mandated carton traceability, and can be integrated with company’s signature Electro-Magnetic Force Restoration (EMFR) weigh cells.

Roswell, GA – Lawrenceville, GA – WIPOTEC-OCS, a leading manufacturer and supplier of precision in-motion weighing, track and trace/anti-counterfeiting solutions and X-Ray scanning equipment, will offer live demonstrations of two checkweigher-compatible traceability modules at INTERPHEX NYC, Booth #2261, October 19-21. The units offer pharma-mandated trace & trace capabilities that can be integrated with the company’s signature Electro-Magnetic Force Restoration (EMFR) weigh cells, combining end-of-line quality assurance with supply chain transparency.

Used worldwide in major pharma applications, WIPOTEC's TQS-SP Serialization Unit is a user-friendly solution for applying track & trace data to individual cartons. Offering tool-free format changes, the TQS-SP can handle up to 600 cartons per minute, with folding boxes conveyed by a specially designed, double-guided top band system that ensures stable positioning upon exiting cartoning equipment. 

At just 801mm in width, the TQS-SP takes up very little floor space, and its intuitive operator interface touchscreen helps maximize efficiency. The machine features a precision product transport design that is highly adaptable to different packaging types, and its flexible print head and camera mounting easily adapt to various boxes. It also can apply tamper-evident seals to individual cartons. 

Meanwhile, WIPOTEC’s TQS-CP Aggregation Unit provides exacting yet expedient semi-automatic aggregation of manually repacked folding boxes. The unit allows pharma manufacturers to conveniently assign units from a lower level – such as a folding box or bundle – to a higher one like a shipment carton. In doing so, it provides a reliable parent-child relationship that will soon be mandated by pending DSCSA regulations. 

With the TQS-CP, the operator places packaged units layer by layer into the shipment carton. Each completed layer is photographed from above by a fully integrated camera, which automatically moves to a preset packing height for proper focus. Once the defined number of layers and units has been reached, the aggregation level is completed and a label is generated. The TQS-CP also can manage the next designated packaging hierarchy level (for example, shipment cartons on pallets). Pallet aggregation can be managed in parallel by an optional extension called the TQS-MP-EXT, whose readings are integrated onto a mobile scanner.

Both the TQS-SP and TQS-CP feature expedient setup and changeover through a software solution called ConfigureFast, which can control all system components including camera, printer and transport system. Remote maintenance and troubleshooting also is available. 
 

About WIPOTEC-OCS, Inc.
WIPOTEC-OCS, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and supplier of precision in-motion product weighing, X-Ray scanning, product inspection, parcel dimensioning, package marking, and serialization and aggregation equipment. The company's weighing, inspection, and track and trace solutions serve applications in a broad array of industries, including pharmaceutical, food, chemical, cosmetics, healthcare, e-commerce and logistics. 
Located in the Atlanta, GA suburb of Lawrenceville, WIPOTEC-OCS headquarters includes a demonstration showroom, customer application engineering labs, a spare parts warehouse, and state-of-the-art meeting and training rooms. The company is part of Germany-based WIPOTEC group, which employs more than 1,000 people worldwide and has been pioneering dynamic weighing solutions for more than three decades. For more information, call (678) 344-8300 or visit http://www.wipotec-ocs.com/us/. 
 

Convenience food has been a trend topic in the food industry for many years now. But after COVID-19 restrictions industry experts are of the opinion the pace of life will get busy or even busier as it was before and requires more convenience options. Consumers will expect timesaving, hygienic and adventurous convenience food, drink, and foodservice. In the next few years, brands will also be challenged to respond to new definitions of quality and sustainability of their products. Can food manufacturers do anything to reduce the impact on the environment from their production processes, whilst still maintaining the product quality we all expect?

Producing large quantities of popular fast-food items such as chicken nuggets with consistent, repeatable results, every time is a highly sensitive process. As leading global brands place increased emphasis on demanding specifications for product quality, this has become a fine art. Any marginal deviation on a production line can affect the quality, and it already starts at the basis of the product - the viscosity of the meat mixture. Not having that under full control will ultimately affect the finished product at the end of the process. Technology experts from GEA have designed a unique solution on the market, called Batch2Flow, that secures the production process, saves energy and water and significantly reduces the use of cleaning chemicals.

Automate demanding processes

Maintaining a safe temperature of the ingredients is especially crucial in the process. Not only does this help to prevent spoilage, it also helps to ensure that the optimum viscosity of the meat mixture is maintained throughout the initial forming process, leading to successful, perfectly created nuggets. But that takes a lot of energy use, specialized chilled rooms to store meat between the mixing and forming stages of the process. In addition, the process is relatively complicated and susceptible to human mistakes.To move the mixed product from the mixer to the former, most producers use standard 200L trollies. It’s hard physical work, and inevitably, there’s a time delay between the meat leaving the mixer and entering the former. At this point, it depends on the operator to ensure that no contamination enters the mix.

Industrial mixers work quickly, so before the first trolley can be loaded into the former, the next batch is filling up another trolley. So, one person has to quickly move the trolleys into a cold store while another moves them one by one from the cold store to the former. In the meantime, the optimum temperature and viscosity of the mix is starting to deteriorate as it moves towards the ambient temperature. And, if a trolley gets forgotten, it results in costly wastage as the contents will have to be disposed of. In the worst-case scenario, a forgotten trolley could be mistakenly loaded into the former, seriously risking the food safety of the product. Even when all goes to plan there is wastage, as residue remains within the trolleys, so these have to be cleaned repeatedly with hot water and chemicals.

Batch2Flow – automated link between mixing and forming

Batch2Flow eliminates these difficulties by moving the mix seamlessly and rapidly along a conveyor system from the mixers straight into the former, and the mixers have special unloading steps to allow controlled portion delivery onto the conveyor. As a result, it will be at precisely the right temperature and viscosity when it reaches the former. No energy-consuming cold stores are needed, food waste is avoided, cleaning costs are significantly reduced, and there is full traceability as nothing is removed from the line.

With Batch2Flow GEA experts have designed the missing link between mixing and forming, that comes with additional benefits for food safety too. GEA noticed that the cold metal trolleys in a forming line had a tendency to attract moisture – condensation which has the potential to drip off and contaminate the mix when the trolley is tipped upside down and emptied into the former. And in tipping the trolleys upside down, the four wheels which have been on the floor are exposed above the product, time and time again. Batch2Flow completely removes these risks, whilst minimizing waste and reducing energy consumption.

The solution from GEA features customized discharge gates, as well as specialized machine and line software and allows a fully seamless process. In addition, processors using Batch2Flow technology be confident that they are not only using an efficient, energy-saving, and hygienic process, but also achieving bottom-line savings. Energy savings reduce overall plant expenses and minimized food waste results in higher yields. It’s a simple but smart solution with far-reaching benefits for plant managers.

About GEA
GEA is one of the world’s largest systems suppliers for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical sectors. The international industrial technology group specializes in machinery and plants as well as advanced process technology, components and comprehensive services. With more than 18,000 employees, the group generated revenue of more than EUR 4.6 billion in fiscal year 2020. A major focus is on continuously enhancing the sustainability and efficiency of customers’ production processes. GEA plants, processes and components help achieve significant reductions in carbon emissions, plastic use and food waste in production worldwide. In this way, GEA makes a decisive contribution toward a sustainable future, fully in line with its corporate philosophy of “engineering for a better world.”

GEA is listed in the German MDAX and the STOXX® Europe 600 Index, and is also among the companies comprising the DAX 50 ESG and MSCI Global Sustainability Indices.

More information can be found online at gea.com.

Wayne, PA (September 21, 2021) – Tekni-Plex has completed its acquisition of rigid packaging solutions leader Grupo Phoenix, putting the company in a stronger position to broaden its market-focused, customer-driven innovations, especially in food and beverage markets.

Grupo Phoenix provides both plastic and paper products to global brands in over 20 vertical markets, such as dairy, desserts, coffee, beverages, ice cream, soups, spreads, cosmetics and household cleaning.

Acquiring the Aventura, Florida-based company strengthens Tekni-Plex’s ability to provide solutions for packaging, food service and disposable consumer products. It also bolsters its ability to help brands create game-changing product design.

“Grupo Phoenix is an established player in the consumer products business that adds a broad suite of capabilities to our company,” said Brenda Chamulak, Tekni-Plex president and CEO. “More importantly, we are adding capabilities that enhance our ability to help keep food fresher longer with sustainable packaging solutions.”

“This company has a great eye for how consumers shop the perimeter of the store,” said Eldon Schaffer, CEO of Tekni-Plex Consumer Products Division.  “This is an area of special focus for us, as we move forward in serving the food and beverage industry.”

The deal creates synergies with Tekni-Plex’s existing business units, especially Dolco, Tri-Seal and Action Technologies. 

“We now have a broader range of materials that assist us as we work to become more material agnostic,” Schaffer said. “Another important aspect is we add so many talented and intelligent people to our team. They have great energy. They are highly competitive and they are very driven to bringing market-focused ideas with a customer orientation to the table.”

“This is an exciting moment for the employees of Grupo Phoenix,” said Jaime Lederman, COO of Grupo Phoenix.  “As part of the global Tekni-Plex family, we are joining a world-class organization. Together we will be able to provide even more innovative and sustainable solutions to our customers around the world.” 

ABOUT TEKNI-PLEX
Tekni-Plex is a globally integrated company that provides innovative solutions through material 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.

About Grupo Phoenix:
Grupo Phoenix is one of the fastest growing, most innovative sustainable rigid packaging companies in the Americas. Its products target the commercial food packaging, food service and disposable consumer products industries. Grupo Phoenix follows and supplies customers through a distributed network of five manufacturing plants: two in Colombia, one in Mexico, and two in the United States. Visit Grupo Phoenix at www.GrupoPhoenix.com.
 

Proven to meet e-Commerce robustness standards and preferred by consumers, SeaWell™ systems maintain seafood quality, freshness and aesthetics during direct-to-consumer delivery.

Atlanta, GA – Aptar Food + Beverage – Food Protection, part of AptarGroup, Inc. and a leader in a broad range of food protection and active material science solutions for seafood and fresh-cut produce, passed ASTM (American Society for Testing & Materials) and ISTA (International Safe Transit Association) 3A testing procedures for its SeaWell™ active packaging system, confirming its robustness for e-Commerce seafood delivery. The series of internationally recognized test procedures established by the ISTA and ASTM is the standard for defining how packages should perform to ensure their contents are protected during transit.

SeaWell™ active pouches were filled with seafood and tested in multiple parcel configurations under small and standard packaging size parameters. These tests included drop testing, loose load vibration, low air pressure, and vehicle vibration. After undergoing all analyses, the SeaWell™ active packaging system showed no damage, rips, or tears.

In addition to passing the ISTA and ASTM protocols, the SeaWell™ system was also tested for consumer preference. In a study executed by marketing research firm Kaplan MRD, participants examined seafood packaged using SeaWell™ technology alongside the same seafood packaged in a traditional polybag. Results from the study indicated that home delivery seafood buyers prefer seafood using the SeaWell™ technology over the alternative traditional plain polybag.

“With the ISTA and ASTM standards met and the positive consumer feedback received, Aptar is well-positioned to serve the e-commerce market,” said Neal Watson, VP and General Manager of Aptar Food + Beverage – Food Protection. “We are confident these results will broaden access to seafood home delivery, helping this market deliver fresh, high-quality seafood to customers, leading to a better consumer experience.”

Already used in thousands of store locations, the novel active packaging solution utilizes integrated technology that traps and prevents accumulation of excess liquids inside the package, reducing microbial growth and chemical degradation, as well as aiding in odor control. The proprietary technology enables e-commerce businesses to distribute frozen product and allow it to thaw in transit, delivering fresh, mess-free, ready-to-cook seafood for consumers to enjoy in their home.