Packaging materials

European Bioplastics forecasts annual growth of 20% in biopolymers, including PLA

Additives in packaging is a growing area of interest

By Paul Gander

Speciality chemicals supplier Perstorp is among those investing in the bioplastics sector, where interest is growing in additives which are able to improve the performance of polymers such as polylactide (PLA) for packaging.

The ageing population will provide an opportunity for packaging firms

Benchmarking ease-of-opening

By Paul Gander

A draft standard on packaging openability is allowing brand-owners and retailers, including Marks & Spencer (M&S), to compare and improve pack designs for less dextrous people.

The Sharpak Yate site makes packaging for poultry, mushrooms and fish

100 set to strike at Sharpak packaging site

By Rod Addy

Workers at a Sharpak food packaging site at Yate in Bristol are poised to take part in two 24-hour strikes this week over alleged changes to working hours.

Smooth operator: Robots offer the UK food industry clear benefits but update remains disappointingly low

Better hygiene compliance for food packing-line robots

By Paul Gander

Robotics suppliers have made a strong case for food industry acceptance with a new generation of hygiene and washdown-compliant pick-and-place systems, but the jury is still out as to whether this will translate into new sales.

Use in-pack absorbers carefully to ensure baked goods don't dry out

Oxygen absorbers to extend shelf-life

By Paul Gander

In-pack oxygen absorber labels are able to provide valuable additional days of shelf-life for baked goods, in particular, where manufacturers are keen to eliminate preservatives from their recipes, says a UK supplier of flow-wrap systems.

Flexible approach to meat packaging

Flexible approach to meat packaging

Three companies have joined forces to develop a trio of flexible packaging approaches for meat products, which help minimise the opportunities for cross contamination of pathogens and reduce food and packaging waste, both in-store and at home

Recloseable screw cap packs for soups and sauces

Recloseable screw cap packs for soups and sauces

A recloseable screw cap is now being used to provide greater convenience when opening carton packs, and when pouring and portioning out long-life foods such as soups, sauces, tomato products and desserts.

Hall: 'We need policies which focus on long-term value'

Report calls for supply chain industry to invest in R&D

By Rod Addy

The UK supply chain is threatened by under-investment in research and development (R&D) and firms must work more closely together to strengthen it, according to an industry report published today (October 20).

Many more businesses could raise the efficiency of their MAP operations

Make your modified atmosphere packaging more efficient

By Paul Gander

Many businesses using modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on their food lines could do much more to make this part of the operation more efficient, according to an international supplier of MAP quality control systems.

The injuries caused by the falling bourbon barrel could easily have proved fatal, warned a neurologist

Falling bourbon barrel sparks fractured skull trauma

By Michael Stones

A Scottish haulage firm has been fined £8,000, after a falling bourbon barrel fractured the skull of one its staff, in what a neurologist warned could easily have proved a fatal accident.

Bamboo is just one of the green packaging materials being explored

DHL highlights four core packaging trends

By Rod Addy

Green materials including mushrooms and bamboo are being explored as one of four core packaging trends, according to Paul Young, director and head of packaging services DHL Supply Chain.

Dairy Crest sources milk from dairy herds across the UK

Dairy Crest move puts 260 jobs at risk

By Rod Addy

Up to 260 jobs are threatened as Dairy Crest announces proposals to close two factories at Hanworth in West London and Chard in Somerset amid plans to ditch glass milk bottles.

Common purpose: Reuse's Jamie Brown with Ardagh's Sharon Crayton

Better recyclate quality demanded

By Paul Gander

Caught between brand owners demanding more recycled material in their packs and local authorities reluctant to invest in better collection and sorting, packaging businesses are looking to technology to improve recyclate quality and yields.

Hilton's volumes have grown in western Europe despite weakness in consumer spending

Hilton Food Group invests £21.3M to build capacity

By Rick Pendrous

Tesco meat packer Hilton Food Group is investing significantly in its facilities at Huntingdon to meet increased demand from the retailer, which it announced in its results today (September 9) for 28 weeks to July 13.

The database is home to over 270 technologies that could help drive cost out of your business

Food firms should look online for cost savings

By Laurence Gibbons

Food and drink manufacturers should visit a free online database to find innovative packaging to save money and reduce their environmental impact, according to the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

New research throws spotlight on adhesives as cause of 'reprotoxicity'

Adhesives in the dock for causing reproductive failures

New research into the potential reprotoxic impact of chemicals migrating from multilayer plastics has thrown the spotlight on adhesives, guidance on ‘non-intentionally added substances’ (NIAS), and the synergistic effects of compounds originating in packaging...

Wright: 'As a business we want to be leading from the front'

Eco-friendly plan blooms at Tulip

By Rod Addy

Meat processor Tulip has launched a packaging overhaul in an effort to slash waste and greenhouse gas emissions, signalling its commitment to the Waste & Resources Action Programme’s (WRAP’s) Courtauld Commitment 3.

App to encourage sharing of packaging ideas

App lets designers share ideas

By Rick Pendrous

A development tool, which allows packaging designers to create artwork on three-dimensional (3D) digital models of their chosen container, is now also available on mobile devices.

From December 13, waiters will need to inform customers about allergens in the food

Caterers need individually wrapped free-from foods

By Rick Pendrous

Individually wrapped portions of free-from foods will be needed in restaurants and other catering outlets to meet increasing numbers of consumers with allergies and food intolerances, a leading expert has claimed.

Up to 50 new jobs will eventually be created at the depot

Morrisons announces 50 jobs at new facility

By Nicholas Robinson

Morrisons has announced it will invest a “sizeable” amount of money to open a new 8,825m² distribution centre alongside its existing Bridgwater manufacturing site.

FoodManufacture.co.uk believes the lizard was a Common lizard

Lizard found in Aldi cucumber

By Nicholas Robinson

A customer was shocked to find a dead lizard in the 39p vacuum packed cucumber she bought from Aldi’s Cowes store on the Isle of Wight.

SmartFare ovenable packaging can handle temperatures of up to 220°C

Diving into ovenable board for premium ready meals

By Paul Gander

The imminent start to UK production of MeadWestvaco’s (MWV’s) SmartFare ovenable and printable board packaging highlights the barriers to launching a new format in a high-volume category, even for a major international supplier.

Traffic light labelling infringes the internal market, claims Italy

Europeans challenge UK traffic light scheme

By Nicholas Robinson

The European Commission (EC) is investigating the UK's voluntary front-of-pack traffic light nutrition labelling scheme, following complaints from Member States (MS), which argued it influenced consumer choice and was an infringement of the internal...

Tim Moulsdale: It's all about getting product out of the scale quickly

Control speed and quality in bagging

By Paul Gander

Vertical form-fill-seal (VFFS) for light product, whether crisps or salad, is one of those areas where line speed, handling and quality control have to be balanced against each other. In particular, how do you integrate metal detection without reducing...

Four fifths of food firms are unprepared for changes they must make to their labels

Exclusive

Vast majority of food firms unprepared for FIR

By Laurence Gibbons

The vast majority (80%) of food manufacturers are not prepared for the labelling changes needed before the Food Information to Consumers Regulation (FIR) takes effect on December 13 2014, according to Campden BRI.

World Cup fever takes over food manufacturers

Food and drink brands catch World Cup fever

By Laurence Gibbons

A nationwide World Cup BBQ party beckons, with shoppers set to stock up on food and drink ahead of the England football team’s opening match with Italy on Saturday, Tesco has claimed.

The Fuel brand entered the breakfast category targeted at young men

Man packaging: not for girls?

By Paul Gander

From Yorkie bars to Coke Zero, the food industry has shown itself to be sceptical about the role of gender-orientated packaging – particularly where it targets men. But a new industry survey supports the idea that for some brand-owners this can be a critical...

Retailers fear they will miss the FIR deadline

Food firms likely to miss FIR labelling deadline

By Rick Pendrous

Supermarkets and manufacturers are struggling to make the labelling changes required on the tens of thousands of products they sell to comply with the new Food Information for Consumers Regulation (FIR), which will come into force on December 13.

Revolution in pizza boxes

Pizza box concept permits flexibility in use

A new pizza box concept has been introduced by plastic packaging specialist Faerch Plast, in which the base is produced from crystalline polyethylene terephthalate (CPET) for use in ovens - up to a maximum 220°C - or in microwaves, while the lid is made...

Pasta firm Ragu breaks barrier in packaging

Ragú first to use new barrier pack

The latest addition to the range of one of Britain’s oldest pasta sauces, Ragú, has become the first UK product to go on-shelf in a new type of oxygen barrier pack.

Yogurt firm offers chance to win VW campervan

Yeo Valley adopts unique lid coding system

Chadwicks has developed a lidding system for a range of Yeo Valley dairy products that applies a unique code. The code, which is only revealed when the polyester lid is peeled back, is the first of its type to be used in the UK dairy market. Chadwicks...

Chocolate manufacturers can benefit from new wrapper

Chocs and biscuits get wrapped

Chocolate, confectionery and biscuit makers in the UK are being targeted with new flowrapping equipment from Ulma Packaging.

Labels 'disengage' during washing

Recycle-friendly label stock makes a splash in Europe

By Paul Gander

In a boost for beverage brand owners wanting to increase the recyclability of their plastics and recyclers wanting to maximise their yields, new pressure-sensitive label materials which disengage at the washing stage could have a surprisingly significant...

Buyers of ovenable and microwaveable films should ask to see converters’ test certificates, said TCL Packaging

Concerns rise over inks on ovenable films

By Paul Gander

The fledgling market for printed ovenable and microwaveable food-contact films is at risk from companies choosing to use or specify inks which can indirectly form carcinogens in food at high temperatures, converter TCL Packaging has warned.

The role of packaging in preventing food waste is not widely understood

‘We need leadership on food waste’

By Paul Gander

Ambitions to build on the UK’s 21% reduction in avoidable domestic food waste recorded since 2007, and recognition of packaging’s role in facilitating such change, are being undercut by lack of central government commitment, specific targets and funding,...

Reaction to the EU's new food labelling rule captured in quotes. Don't miss the free advice on offer in our one-hour webinar at 11am on Thursday February 20

EU’s new food labelling rules – what they say in quotes

By Michael Stones

As the clock counts down to the EU’s mandatory food labelling rule changes – due to be enforced on December 13 2014  – we chart reaction to the legislation in quotes from people responsible for making sense of the new rules.

150 names were generated in each of 32 countries for the campaign

Coca-Cola changes face of digital print

By Paul Gander

Few can have failed to notice last summer’s Share a Coke campaign, with its apparently endless roster of first names staring out hopefully from chiller cabinets. And if it caught the consumer’s eye, it had a more profound impact on supply chain perceptions...

Soup firm invests following vending machine contract

On form to meet vending machine soup demand

Newly-established supplier to the vending industry, Gloucestershire-based Maxpax, is investing in a second TFS 400 Thermoformer from Ulma Packaging. The machine will vacuum wrap paper cups to meet the growing demand for its Incup range of drinks for Knorr...

Packaging firm launches skin-tight film for food industry

'Second skin' film has natural appeal

Film and foil packaging firm Clondalkin Wentus has introduced a new skin-tight film for the food processing industry. It has a long shelf-life and high barrier properties, which makes it suitable for a range of products including fresh, frozen and processed...

Ainsley Harriott brand expands Symington’s range

Ainsley Harriet’s soup in a tub

The Ainsley Harriott brand has expanded its product range, made by Symington’s, with what is claimed to be the first-ever soup stored at ambient temperature and packaged in a tub. This novel approach from Clondalkin Group company Chadwicks means the products...