Battle of the sustainable packs: Germany Vs France

Winners in the food and beverage category included Optys: a 100 % decorated bottle manufactured on-site, using no label or sleeve developed by Coveris Rigid France and Serac; Sealed Air (France) Cryovac Sealappeal PSF zal peelable shrink film and Sealed Air (Germany) Cryovac oven ease barrier vacuum packaging.

ELIPSO and IK

The third PackTheFuture awards organized by ELIPSO and IK, trade organizations for plastic and flexible packaging manufacturers saw 37 entries from Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

The European competition promotes the creative, innovative potential of the plastic and flexible packaging sector. Under a sustainable development umbrella, these forms offer users packaging that is efficient, attractive and environmentally-friendly.

Almost half of all entries this year were in the Ecodesign category (recyclability, reduction at source, weight reduction). Social benefits were also a core concern as well as innovations on ease of opening.

The Optys decorated bottle is produced in a single stage by vertical thermoforming of a Coveris pre-printed PP sheet on Serac’s Agami machine. The plastic sheet can include a light or oxygen barrier, and show different colors on each side.

The artwork can cover the entire bottle, from the bottom up to the top of the neck and the Agami thermoforming process is more simple and requires less energy than extrusion or injection blow molding.

Peelable shrink film

Cryovac Sealappeal PSF zal is a peelable shrink film with a sealing layer designed for ready-to-eat products tray lidding or thermoforming applications. Sealed Air claims by making the opening the easiest thing, the film addresses the frustration of consumers facing their food package.

Designed with sustainability in mind, the wide low temperature sealing window (110 °C to 180 °C) delivers peelability, sealing strength and is tear free.

Additionally moving film structure from APET/PE to PET film decreases film weight versus market standards. The one-piece-peal features allow relidding on same trays if there is a production issue. Ideal for fresh-cut, prepared salads, desserts and diced cheeses.

Cryovac Oven Ease is designed for dual heat treatments for in-pack cooking, pasteurization and sterilization at the processor and cooking or reheating by the end user in a variety of ovens (conventional, steam or microwave).

The material can be used at wide temperature limits and is approved for cooking at up to 200°C and freezing up to -25°C, ideal for foods with oil marinades.

The hermetic, leak and abuse resistant seal protects the product at all stages of cooking and distribution. The current market trend is characterised by premium ready-to-eat food products to enjoy at home as an alternative to restaurants. The target sector is: Cook-from-raw or pre-cooked, chilled or frozen proteins (meat, fish, poultry) and convenience food for retail and food service.

This year PackTheFuture at Interpack, in Dusseldorf, Germany (May 4-10) has a Save Food category, which was a major subject at the show.

The fourth PackTheFuture competition will be held in autumn 2018.