Industry news
Starbucks Coffee Korea to discontinue single-use cups by 2025
6 April | Sustainability
Starbucks Coffee Korea has committed to eliminating single-use cups from all its stores across the country by 2025. The pledge is in line with Starbucks’ global aspiration to lower its environmental impact in the Asia Pacific region.
It is also part of the coffee chain’s targets to cut its carbon, water, and waste footprints by 50% worldwide by 2030.
This year, Starbucks will launch a ‘cup circularity’ programme in stages in South Korea to promote reusability. Under the scheme, the chain will serve beverages in reusable cups at selected stores in the Jeju province.
Customers will be charged a small deposit for the cups, which can be scanned for a refund at contactless kiosks. The programme will be expanded to more locations over the next four years.
20 April | Paper and board
ProAmpac buys multi-wall solutions producer El Dorado
US-based flexible packaging firm ProAmpac has acquired consumer and industrial multi-wall packaging solutions producer El Dorado Packaging.
El Dorado specialises in manufacturing customised paper-based packaging and printing solutions for the retail and industrial sectors.
The company operates facilities in Arkansas, Minnesota, and Nebraska, which produce paper self-opening sacks, consumer packaging rollstock, and industrial multi-wall bags for various sectors.
El Dorado will operate from its existing facilities under the ProAmpac brand.
The addition of El Dorado will allow ProAmpac to expand its multi-wall bag product offering into the flour and food ingredients markets, as well as strengthening its paper packaging capabilities in industrial markets.
Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
19 april | labelling
BOBST updates Mouvent digital label printer
Swiss packaging industry machinery and services supplier BOBST has made design changes to its digital label press, Mouvent LB701-UV, to enhance efficiency.
Enhancements include an easily accessible ink cabinet and the capacity to fit rolls of up to 600mm to make substrates more versatile.
The company has also made the screen flexible and movable in order to manage and control the machine more conveniently.
The Mouvent LB701-UV produces digital labelling for ultra-short and medium-run label jobs.
It can print labels of a 1,200 dots per inch (DPI) quality at a speed of up to 70m/min with up to six colours, as well as an optional white with 70% opacity, at 45m/min.
The company said that the machine provides the best total cost of ownership in its category.
16 april | investment
Pregis invests in Texas manufacturing facilities
US-based protective solutions company Pregis has added to its manufacturing capacity with two facilities in Texas.
The plants in the Dallas area, in Garland and Arlington respectively, will help the company meet increasing demand in the southern region of North America.
The Garland facility produces protective packaging materials and acts as a distribution centre. The facility will also feature an onsite customer demo and training centre.
Production has already started at the 128,000ft² plant and is expected to increase later this year. It currently employs 44 people and will employ another 40 by the end of the year.
The Arlington facility is due to begin operations later this year. Once operational, it will produce Pregis’ recently rebranded Pregis EverTec mailer.
The company is currently recruiting 80 new manufacturing positions for the 265,000ft² site.
Both facilities can be expanded subject to future requirements and are expected to generate jobs in the region.
16 april | food
Lamb Weston launches plant-based packaging for Alexia products
North American food processing company Lamb Weston has created plant-based packaging made from corn and potato biomaterial.
The sustainable packaging is partially made of potato starches, a by-product of producing french fries.
From this month, the company will use the packaging for its Alexia Organic Sweet Potato Fries and Alexia Organic Yukon Select Puffs.
The packaging will feature a label seal on the front to let customers know it is plant-based.
Lamb Weston’s packaging team spent more than two years developing the packaging alternative.
15 april | paper and board
Molson Coors launches cardboard multipack sleeve
US-based beverage company Molson Coors has launched a fully recyclable cardboard sleeve for its can multipacks.
Developed by Graphic Packaging International, the one-piece cartonboard wrap will be used for all the beverage company’s brands, including Carling and Coors Light cans.
Last year, Molson Coors released recyclable cardboard for large-format multipacks.
The wrap features a locking mechanism that removes the need for adhesive to close and securely hold the cans.
It is made from renewable wood fibres from certified sources and contains up to 17% recycled cartonboard blended with virgin fibre.
In brief
Marico joins Dow and Lucro’s sustainable packaging initiative
Indian consumer goods company Marico has joined a sustainable packaging partnership led by Dow and Lucro Plastecycle.
Packaging Matters and Origin Materials announce partnership
US-based carbon-negative materials company Origin Materials has partnered with packaging company Packaging Matters to develop advanced packaging materials.
StarPak to expand Houston facility with W&H machinery
US-based flexible packaging products manufacturer StarPak has announced plans to expand its facility in Houston, Texas, to support future growth. The company will add 150,000ft² of manufacturing space for installing W&H machinery to expand the facility’s capacity.
DS Smith expands and upgrades Germany plant
UK-based packaging solutions provider DS Smith has invested €16.7m ($19.8m) to expand and upgrade its Arnstadt facility in Thuringia, Germany.
9 april | plastics
Morrisons to remove plastic carrier bags from stores
UK-based supermarket chain Morrisons has pledged to remove plastic ‘bags for life’ from its stores next year.
The company will start removing plastic bags from its stores in Scotland this month, and in England and Wales over the next year.
Plastic bags will be replaced with paper carrier bags that are reusable, recyclable, water-resistant, and tear-resistant.
Capable of holding up to 16kg of shopping, the paper bags will cost 30p each and be available alongside other reusable options.
The decision will eliminate 3,200 tonnes of plastic a year.
Morrisons is currently offering string, jute, cotton, and reusable woven bags, which cost between 75p and £2.50 each.
8 april | recycling
Versalis launches post-consumer PS tray for food
Chemical company Versalis, owned by Italy-based oil and gas firm Eni, is set to launch a new tray for food packaging under its Revive portfolio.
The Versalis Revive PS Air F-Series Forever tray is made from 75% domestic post-consumer polystyrene (PS) content developed by Pro Food members companies.
The product is the result of the company’s existing partnership with Italian post-consumer products recycling company Forever Plast, as well as a collaborative project with other companies involved in the PS industry value chain.
The tray’s inner layer consists of Versalis Revive PS Air F-Series Forever, while its two outer layers are made from virgin PS.
The product’s A-B-A functional barrier design and testing were carried out in partnership with the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging, a Germany-based packaging company.
The packaging is suitable for meat and fish and will be added to the market in the coming weeks.
In brief
Nature Valley introduces first recyclable plastic film wrapper
American food brand Nature Valley has enhanced its sustainability commitments with the introduction of the first store drop-off recyclable snack bar wrapper.
Mondi launches two paper-based EverLiner products
Global packaging and paper group Mondi has launched two paper-based EverLiner release liners. They have been created using recycled and lightweight materials.
Berlin Packaging snaps up two packaging firm in France
Hybrid packaging supplier Berlin Packaging has expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of two packaging firms in France.
The companies are Sodis-Uhart and its subsidiary Audoubert, both specialise in offering glass and metal packaging.
ProMach strengthens portfolio with acquisition of Serpa Packaging
Packaging machinery solutions provider ProMach has strengthened its portfolio with the acquisition of Serpa Packaging Solutions. The acquisition will expand ProMach’s specialised secondary packaging machinery and line integration capabilities for the pharmaceutical industry.
