Novolex purchases US paper bags maker B&H Bag Company

Packaging and food service products manufacturer Novolex has acquired US-based paper bags and other products maker B&H Bag Company.

Owned and managed by the Robson family, B&H Bag Company manufactures kraft and white bags, heavy-duty paper bags, paper rolls, and freezer paper for various markets including foodservice and grocery markets.

The acquisition will strengthen Novolex’s production capacity to meet the increasing demand for high-quality, paper solutions. The two companies did not disclose financial details of the transaction.

Following the acquisition, the B&H business will be integrated into the Novolex’s Duro Bag business.

DS Smith redesigns ecommerce packaging for L’Oréal’s luxury products

Sustainable packaging solution provider DS Smith has supported French personal care company L’Oréal to optimise its ecommerce packaging.

The beauty brand initially approached DS Smith few months ago to help redesign the ecommerce packaging for its luxury products.

The optimisation came few months after L’Oréal pledged to use recycled plastics or bio-based sources in all products’ packaging by 2030 as part of the company’s new sustainability programme, L’Oréal for the future.

With help from DS Smith, L’Oréal aims to make their packaging cost effective, minimising the environmental impact and at the same time offering enhanced customer experience.

Sonoco joins Holy Grail 2.0 initiative for better plastic waste sorting

Consumer packaging provider Sonoco has joined Holy Grail 2.0, a digital watermarks initiative, to deliver on sustainability goals.

Facilitated by the European Brands Initiative AIM, Holy Grail 2.0 seeks to investigate whether the use of digital technology can help achieve circular economy.

It is the next iteration of the broader pioneering project HolyGrail 1.0, which was facilitated by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and partners from the entire value chain.

Holy Grail 2.0 aims to prove the viability of digital watermarking technologies on packaging for accurate plastic waste sorting and increased recycling rates.

AMP, KDP partner to bring AI to sorting process at recycling plants

AMP Robotics has partnered with consumer beverage giant Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) to bring artificial intelligence (AI) to sorting process at recycling plants.

The partnership is part of AMP’s efforts to expand its AI capabilities to increase recycling rates.

As part of this, the company is collaborating with consumer-packaged goods (CPG) companies to increase the rate of recovering recyclable materials.

Under this initiative, AMP and KDP partnered to guide the former’s AI-powered robotics systems to correctly identify and sort K-Cup pods in recycling facilities.

Amcor to implement new design rules for easy recycling of packaging

Global company Amcor has announced that it will implement the first two of a series of “Golden Design Rules” for the design of plastic packaging.

The new design rules aim to make recycling of packaging easier, cheaper and more efficient.

The companies will remove colouring pigments and labelling that affects recycling rates with the aim of promoting the economic viability of PET bottle recycling.

Additionally, the coalition members will remove all forms of plastic packaging that are problematic for recyclers.

Conwy, Wales to pilot Deposit Return Scheme for plastic bottles

A consortium involving the Welsh Government is planning to pilot a new deposit return scheme (DRS) for plastic bottles in Colwyn Heights, Conwy.

The consortium, which includes Deeside, North Wales-based Polytag, Conwy County Borough Council and WRAP, will conduct the trial over four weeks.

During the scheme, which is set to start in the spring, households will be provided with a set of bottles tagged by Polytag.

The bottles can be scanned when placed in recycling containers and upon collection by Conwy County Borough Council’s household waste recycling team.