Plastic

What are the new trends in food and drink packaging? Credit: Getty/Edwin Tan

Long read

Packaging trends and innovations: The Interpack 2023 roundup

By Bethan Grylls

Sustainable packaging solutions ruled this year’s Interpack, with exhibitors showcasing a range of innovations that addressed key challenges such as greenhouse gas, cost and efficiency. Here’s our roundup of launches…

Is plastic a villain or just misunderstood? Credit: Getty/ smartboy10

Long read

Do we need plastic packaging?

By Bethan Grylls

With Global Recycling Day having just passed, Food Manufacture looks at the impact of plastic packaging, the key areas for improvement and the challenge of ditching virgin plastics.

Credit: Getty/Dzmitry Dzemidovich

Opinion

Greenwashing: The shape of things to come

By Bill Dunkerley

As Danone is taken court over alleged plastic “megapollution”, regulatory lawyer Bill Dunkerley discusses the impacts this case may have on the food and drink sector.

Research has looked at substituting expanded polystyrene with biomaterials

Why it pays to keep circular economy options open

By Paul Gander

As the EU’s Circular Economy Plan progresses towards full scrutiny by the European Parliament, and food and drink manufacturers ask what precisely the implications will be for their choice of packaging, innovation specialists warn against taking too narrow...

Seafood packing trays that extend product shelf-life

Seafood packing trays that extend product shelf-life

A new seafood packing system that gives logistical and sustainability benefits compared with more traditional packs, has been introduced by RPC Bebo Kristiansand Food Packaging Systems (formally Promens Kristiansand).

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.

The Heinz fridge pack is a prime example of how firms are reducing the weight of packaging while extending shelf-life

‘Light-weight’ food packaging key to sustainability targets

By Gary Scattergood

Industry targets and government policies are driving significant investment in innovation for more lightweight plastic packaging that extends shelf-life, as food manufacturers continually seek to drive down volumes of waste and cut carbon emissions.

An RPC pack for Saurin in the French market

Pouches and plastics set to hog new retort growth

By Paul Gander

Pouches and rigid plastics will account for over 90% of incremental demand for retortable packaging up to 2017, a report has predicted, but with metal and glass holding on to the bulk of their existing - and very substantial - business.

Plastics sector is still  'fragmented'

Plastics sector is still 'fragmented'

By Paul Gander

The rigid plastics packaging sector remains relatively fragmented, with significant potential for further consolidation, RPC group chief executive Ron Marsh has told Food Manufacture.

In-mould sets sights on new label markets

In-mould sets sights on new label markets

By Paul Gander


From 3D differentiation to metallised finishes, thermoforming and – potentially – oxygen barrier, in-mould labelling (IML) for plastics is opening up new options for food manufacturers.

Beanz keepz 
in the fridge

Beanz keepz 
in the fridge

Heinz appears eager to play down expectations, but the arrival of the Heinz Beans kilo-containing plastics Fridge Pack has fuelled speculation around metal’s future share of the ambient foods category – and around possible imitations. 


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