Industry news
22 August | Acquisition – flexible packaging
Multinational packaging company Amcor has completed its acquisition of a flexible packaging plant in the Czech Republic. Commissioned as a greenfield in 2019, the plant is fitted with advanced, specialised equipment to allow it to serve various segments, including coffee and pet food. In addition, the purchased land and buildings offer the capacity to expand the facility’s operations and establish a production hub at the site.
22 August | Compostable packaging
Impress Communications develops Enviro+ recyclable paper board
US-based commercial printing company Impress Communications has introduced the compostable and sustainable Enviro+ Paper Board in North America. Claimed to be the first solution of its kind, the new Enviro+ Paper Board is made of 100% recycled fibres and environmentally friendly wood-free cellulose. The board contains 100% post-consumer waste (PCW) and is zero-waste, as well as double blade-coated on one side.
19 August | Refill packaging
Lifefactory Brand develops wide-neck glass bottles for babies
Lifefactory Brand, a subsidiary of US-based consumer product company Thermos, has launched a range of wide-neck glass baby bottles. The bottles offer the same set of interchangeable cap options as the brand’s Lifefactory Stainless Steel Baby Bottles line. They include wide neck silicone nipples for infants and ‘sippy’ and straw caps for older babies and toddlers. In addition, the bottles are made with thermal shock-resistant borosilicate glass and allow for freezing and warming.
12 August | Sustainability
KeepCool and Costco launch 100% ocean plastic reusable bags
US-based sustainable packaging company KeepCool has launched reusable bags made entirely from ocean plastic for retail firm Costco. The Out of the Ocean bags are available in three packs in all Costco stores in San Diego, California, as well as online at outoftheocean.com. Each Out of the Ocean reusable shopping bag is said to remove the equivalent of three plastic bottles from oceans and waterways. The move is in line with the company’s commitment to reducing, reusing and recycling to create a circular economy for ocean plastic.
In brief
Aldi pilots clear milk bottle caps to increase recyclability
The UK branch of supermarket chain Aldi is testing clear caps for its milk bottles to make its products more recyclable. The pilot is taking place across Aldi’s stores in Cheshire, Manchester and Liverpool. It is being carried out in partnership with milk supplier Müller. The easier-to-recycle clear caps will replace the green bottle tops on Aldi’s British Semi Skimmed Standard Milk products.
BASF and Nippon Paint develop sustainable industrial packaging
Germany-based chemical company BASF has partnered with Japanese coating manufacturer Nippon Paint to introduce sustainable industrial packaging in China. The packaging has been adopted for Nippon Paint’s dry-mixed mortar series products. It uses BASF’s water-based acrylic dispersion, Joncryl High-Performance Barrier (HPB),
as the barrier material, which is being
used for the first time in industrial packaging in China.
Tofutti to introduce new packaging for dairy-free products
US-based dairy-free food company Tofutti Brands launched new packaging for its products in August. The black packaging with bold letters is intended to give a retro appearance and reference the fact the company was founded in 1981. The new look aims to improve the company branding and put it in a better position to compete in the ‘ever-growing and competitive’ market.
ProAmpac facility in Virginia receives sustainability certification
US-based flexible packaging company ProAmpac has received the International Sustainability Carbon Certification Plus (ISCC Plus) for its facility in Rocky Mount, Virginia. With ‘extensive’ expertise in film extrusion, the Rocky Mount facility processes both conventional product formulas and chemically recycled or bio-based alternative materials.
The facility also offers sustainable optionality
for customers.
Fortis Solutions to expand facility in Virginia Beach, Virginia
US-based packaging manufacturing company Fortis Solutions Group is to invest US$3.1m to expand its manufacturing facility in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development announced the investment, which will add 25,000ft² to the facility’s current floorspace. Once the project is completed next year, the facility will have more than 62,000ft² of space in total.
GoodCook introduces EveryWare Lunch storage container range
US-based Kitchenware brand GoodCook has introduced EveryWare Lunch, a new range of bisphenol A (BPA) free food storage containers. Claimed to be cost-effective, the containers are currently available at Target stores in sets of three or four containers. GoodCook’s EveryWare Lunch containers are available in four different size configurations, namely the EveryWare Bento Box, EveryWare Lunch
Cube, EveryWare Lunch Box and EveryWare Snack Pack.
Dallas Plastics acquires PE-based film product maker Emballage MPP
Dallas Plastics, a portfolio company of private equity firm Sole Source Capital, has acquired Canadian packaging company Emballage MPP for an undisclosed sum. Based in Montreal, Emballage MPP develops and sells a broad range of polyethylene (PE) based blown film products. The company supplies its products to several markets, including food packaging, medical and logistics.
In brief
Aldi pilots clear milk bottle caps to increase recyclability
The UK branch of supermarket chain Aldi is testing clear caps for its milk bottles to make its products more recyclable. The pilot is taking place across Aldi’s stores in Cheshire, Manchester and Liverpool. It is being carried out in partnership with milk supplier Müller. The easier-to-recycle clear caps will replace the green bottle tops on Aldi’s British Semi Skimmed Standard Milk products.
BASF and Nippon Paint develop sustainable industrial packaging
Germany-based chemical company BASF has partnered with Japanese coating manufacturer Nippon Paint to introduce sustainable industrial packaging in China. The packaging has been adopted for Nippon Paint’s dry-mixed mortar series products. It uses BASF’s water-based acrylic dispersion, Joncryl High-Performance Barrier (HPB), as the barrier material, which is being used for the first time in industrial packaging in China.
Tofutti to introduce new packaging for dairy-free products
US-based dairy-free food company Tofutti Brands launched new packaging for its products in August. The black packaging with bold letters is intended to give a retro appearance and reference the fact the company was founded in 1981. The new look aims to improve the company branding and put it in a better position to compete in the ‘ever-growing and competitive’ market.
ProAmpac facility in Virginia receives sustainability certification
US-based flexible packaging company ProAmpac has received the International Sustainability Carbon Certification Plus (ISCC Plus) for its facility in Rocky Mount, Virginia. With ‘extensive’ expertise in film extrusion, the Rocky Mount facility processes both conventional product formulas and chemically recycled or bio-based alternative materials. The facility also offers sustainable optionality for customers.
Fortis Solutions to expand facility in Virginia Beach, Virginia
US-based packaging manufacturing company Fortis Solutions Group is to invest US$3.1m to expand its manufacturing facility in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development announced the investment, which will add 25,000ft² to the facility’s current floorspace. Once the project is next year, the facility will have more than 62,000ft² of space in total.
GoodCook introduces EveryWare Lunch storage container range
US-based Kitchenware brand GoodCook has introduced EveryWare Lunch, a new range of bisphenol A (BPA) free food storage containers. Claimed to be cost-effective, the containers are currently available at Target stores in sets of three or four containers. GoodCook’s EveryWare Lunch containers are available in four different size configurations, namely the EveryWare Bento Box, EveryWare Lunch Cube, EveryWare Lunch Box and EveryWare Snack Pack.
Dallas Plastics acquires PE-based film product maker Emballage MPP
Dallas Plastics, a portfolio company of private equity firm Sole Source Capital, has acquired Canadian packaging company Emballage MPP for an undisclosed sum. Based in Montreal, Emballage MPP develops and sells a broad range of polyethylene (PE) based blown film products. The company supplies its products to several markets, including food packaging, medical and logistics.
