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The packaging for Nestlé Pure Life’s new DC Collection offers four superhero-themed sleeve-labeled 330-mL bottles made from 100% rPET that are 100% recyclable including the sleeves and cap...and boast a special interactive ability. Who says bottled water can’t be a super beverage? Not Nestlé Waters North America (NWNA), Stamford, CT, which adds sleeve labels featuring four different superheroes from the DC Comics universe to 330mL bottles of Nestlé Pure Life water.The packaging for the new "DC Collection", which is available in stores now, is also super from a sustainability standpoint—it’s 100% recyclable including bottles made of 100% recycled PET (rPET) along with the special recyclable shrink sleeve labels and caps."We’re excited to team up with Warner Bros. and DC to make drinking water more fun for families with kids," says Yumi Clevenger-Lee, Chief Marketing Officer at Nestlé Waters North America. "By featuring characters kids look up to, along with a 100% recyclable bottle made with 100% recycled plastic, we're doing our part to help keep both families and the planet healthy.""DC Super Heroes are among the most popular in the world and this new line of bottles is a great way to appeal to families with kids while reinforcing healthy choices," adds Maryellen Zarakas, senior vice president, franchise management and marketing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. "We are also teaching kids that every positive action towards creating change is what being a super hero is all about."Wonder Woman, our first featured superhero bottle, is a founding member of the Justice League, according to Wikipedia. The character first appeared in All Star Comics #8 in October 1941. The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986.You’ll find an individual superhero with additional information featured on the following three pages, including the next iconic figure who sports a packaging-enabling “superpower” found on all of bottles in the series that kids will enjoy—and that works at the speed of light.Arguably the most iconic of all superheroes is Superman, who fights for “truth, justice and the American way.”  According to Wikipedia, Superman first appeared in Action Comics #1, a comic book published on April 18, 1938. While he wasn’t the first superhero, Superman remains the best-selling comic book superhero of all time.The packaging’s positive vibe includes a fun Super Hero symbol on the side of the bottle that encourages kids to finish drinking their water and displays a unique capability: Once finished, kids can shine a flashlight through the bottle from a clear circular window printed on the sleeve label on the opposite side, which projects the mirror-image printed symbol properly on a nearby wall.From a marketing view, the superhero series is intended to spark interest and generate sales. But there’s also a health benefit when that happens: Research shows that more than 50% of U.S. children between the ages of 6 and 19 are inadequately hydrated, which highlights the need for the consumption of more water.An NWNA spokesperson shared this with Packaging Digest: “The Nestlé Pure Life DC Collection is a fun choice for every on-the-go occasion, from school lunches to summer road trips. It's also a healthy alternative to sugary drinks with no calories and no sweeteners."DC Super Heroes are among the most popular in the world, and we hope these four characters, along with the Super Hero symbol on the side of the bottle, will help make drinking water more fun for families with kids.”It’s not the first time the brand has enlisted familiar characters, in the past it has featured Emojis on 11.15oz bottles and SpongeBob Square pants on 8oz bottles.Next: The bottles’ special recycling abilities Shazam—an acronym of six “immortal elders” Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury—is a superhero with roots stretching back to 1939. Wikipedia states that he is the alter ego of Billy Batson, a boy who, by speaking the magic word "SHAZAM!", can transform himself into a costumed adult with the powers of superhuman strength, speed, flight and other abilities.The packaging has a very special ability, too: Not only is it 100% recyclable, it’s the first time the brand owner is using this sleeve label technology.  An NWNA spokesperson discloses these additional details: “The shrink label is does not use an adhesive, instead uses various compatible polymers that work well in the recycling process. We invested in new equipment that applies these specific labels, further demonstrating the pride taken in carefully designing our bottles—down to the label—to be 100% recyclable so they can retain their quality and be turned back into new bottles. We are working with a number of strategic suppliers as we continue to explore alternative packaging options to virgin PET plastic.”Notably and unlike some other sleeve-wrapped products, this new sleeve label technology does not require consumers to remove the label before recycling; consumers can simply place the cap back on the bottle when finished and discard in the recycling bin.Packaging Digest speculates that the recyclable sleeve may be based on Eastman’s Embrace Encore copolyester due to the resin’s similar properties, but that could not be confirmed.Next: The World’s Greatest Detective iconic superhero and final details The fourth superhero for the launch is Batman, who debuted in 1939. Originally named the Bat-Man, the character is also referred to by such epithets as the Caped Crusader, the Dark Knight and the World's Greatest Detective, according to Wikipedia.That last moniker is quite a boast, though I suppose with Sherlock Holmes likely dead by this time...NWNA makes quite a claim of its own: That the launch of the DC Collection, along with the introduction of 900mL bottles of Poland Spring Origin in April and Nestlé Pure Life 700mL bottles, has three of the only major nationally distributed bottled water offerings on the market to be made using 100% recycled plastic. It was last year that it promised to achieve 25% recycled plastic across its U.S. domestic portfolio by 2021. The company plans to continue expanding its use of recycled materials in the coming years, further setting an ambition to reach 50% recycled plastic by 2025.The Nestlé Pure Life DC Collection is available nationwide through e-commerce sites Amazon.com, Boxed.com, and Walmart.com and. In addition, retail stores such as Albertsons, Fresh Direct, HEB, Meijer, Stop & Shop, and 7-Eleven will carry the bottles. The suggested retail price for a six-pack of 330mL/11.15oz rPET bottles is $3.29. […]

As the anti-plastics movement steamrolls across the globe, many consumer packaged goods companies (CPGs) are shying away from plastic packaging. Are they leading or following consumers? Exclusive research reveals that consumers expect brand owners to voluntarily replace single-use plastic packaging with non-plastic alternatives.But will consumers still want non-plastic packaging options once they learn more about packaging sustainability? That may be the burning question brand marketers need to answer as they set packaging sustainability goals.Download your free copy of the 2019 Packaging Digest Consumer Survey on Plastic Packaging Sustainability report below. Packaging Digest conducted the research in partnership with consumer insights leader Toluna.Key insights include:• American consumers are deeply concerned about the impact of single-use plastic packaging on the environment. Almost a third (31%) of respondents say their concern about the eco impact of plastic packaging is as high as it can possibly be. And, on the scale of 0 to 10, 61% of consumers checked 8, 9 or 10. This implies they are hyper aware of the current climate surrounding plastic packaging.• Two thirds of respondents say the situation with disposable plastic packaging is the worst it’s ever been, but consumers also don’t think it has peaked yet: 82% say it will continue to escalate.• A whopping 89% of survey respondents have faith that recycling can have a positive impact on marine debris.• Consumers are not as aware as industry professionals as to the struggling state of recycling in the U.S., ranking “Low recycling rates” second to last in a list of environmental concerns. Respondents to our industry study rank that second from the top. A slightly higher percentage of consumers say recycling in the U.S. is healthy than say it’s not: 45% chose “Vibrant and Strong” or “Moderately Healthy” versus 39% who say “Struggling” or “Poor.”• Demand driven? Brand owners might say they use plastic packaging because that’s what consumers buy/want (perhaps for convenience or on-the-go consumption). But consumers don’t see the plastic packaging waste problem as much their fault, perhaps because they aren’t given a choice to buy products in a different package.• 60% of consumer-respondents want non-plastic packaging options. But if brands do use plastic packaging, they should at least make sure it is recyclable, or made with post-consumer recycled (PCR) content or bioplastics.• Overall, less than a third say they support bans, but Millennials have more faith in government intervention as a solution than other age groups. And people in the U.S. West see regulations as more effective than their fellow citizens, especially those in the landlocked Midwest.• Despite how they might feel about bans personally, 85% of respondents say we might or will see more regulations against plastic packaging.• 83% of respondents believe non-plastic packaging is more eco-friendly.• The silver lining: Consumers are clearly willing to act in (mostly) positive ways. More than a third say they are learning more about plastic packaging sustainability.This sweeping 52-page consumer survey is companion research to Packaging Digest’s 2018 Sustainable Packaging Study—also free to download—that polled packaging professionals on many of the same questions about the sustainability of plastic packaging. An entire section of this consumer report analyzes the discrepancies between what consumers and packaging professionals think about this critical concern.Download your free copy of the 2019 Packaging Digest Consumer Survey on Plastic Packaging Sustainability report now!&nbs […]

Article by PRINTWEAR SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—The Sustainability Consortium (TSC), an organization dedicated to improving the sustainability of consumer products, launches a Wastewater 101 Toolbox to educate the textile industry on the causes, impact, and treatment of wastewater. Read more  » The post Free Online Toolbox Educates Textile Industry on Wastewater appeared first on The Sustainability Consortium. […]

Article from Apparel Resources Wastewater 101 is the new tool box that will help the textile industry players understand the cause, impact and treatment of wastewater and thus improve the wastewater footprint. Read more  » The post Here’s A New Tool To Tackle Textile Wastewater Issue! appeared first on The Sustainability Consortium. […]

DARTMOUTH, MA – Dennis Deziel, Regional Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) New England office, was in Dartmouth, Mass. today to promote waste reduction and celebrate America Recycles Week. […]

WASHINGTON (Nov. 13, 2019) — In honor of America Recycles Week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be hosting a myriad of events and activities throughout the week. […]

ATLANTA (Nov. 13, 2019) – Today, in celebration of America Recycles Week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 Administrator Mary S. Walker presented 2019 EPA Region 4 Sustainable Materials Management grants to Lifecycle Building Center and Food Well Alliance. […]

DALLAS – (Nov. 13, 2019) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently awarded $238,323 to the Oklahoma Office of the Secretary of Energy and Environment to support the state’s water pollution control program. […]

Fairfax, Va. (Nov. 13, 2019) — In honor of America Recycles Week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler and Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity toured two recycling facilities in Fairfax County, Va. […]

TORRANCE, Calif. – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is honoring Virco Manufacturing Corporation (Virco) in Torrance, California, for its sustainability accomplishments and leadership. […]

Environmental News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE […]

Flow wrappers are evolving with the times. Driving the many improvements in this area of packaging automation are the marketplace demand for more sustainable flexible packaging materials, high operator turnover, and food processors’ emphasis on product quality and safety. On the horizon, too, is augmented reality (AR) technology for better training and faster troubleshooting.The upshot is an emerging generation of flow wrappers that are easier to use, faster to clean and generally more efficient. Flow-wrapper manufacturers are designing the systems to reduce film waste and to simplify sanitation and maintenance—in many cases with a smaller equipment footprint.Used to package baked goods, candy bars, medical products and a variety of consumer goods, newer flow wrappers are compatible with an expanding range of flexible materials, including recyclable and biodegradable films.For our exclusive Q&A on advancements in flow wrappers, Packaging Digest asked the following industry insiders to share their thoughts on recent developments, as well as what they expect to see in the future:• Graham Nice, regional sales manager at Campbell Wrapper Corp.;• Angela McDaniel, marketing coordinator at Formost Fuji Corp.;• Christian Ballabio, engineering department manager at Ilapak Intl. SA. What recent advancements have you seen in flow wrappers? McDaniel: They’re easier to operate, incorporating a human-machine interface (HMI) that has been designed to be easy to use. For example, operators can be quickly trained to use HMIs that are designed with icons, to be more like a smartphone or tablet. This is important with the high turnover rate and younger tech-savvy employees.Short film routing saves material, while the easier-to-thread film routing saves time.____________________________________________________________________________________________  WestPack 2020: Ideas. Education. New Partners. Feb. 11-13____________________________________________________________________________________________Reduction of changeover time is another advancement with today’s wrappers. Improvements that can be done to the wrapper to help reduce labor and material expenses, and still maintain package seal quality, is important.Improved sanitary design is critical. With sanitation being such a big part of the food industry, it has become imperative that manufacturers improve upon equipment design to make it easier to thoroughly sanitize and inspect.For example, some wrappers can be quickly disassembled, leaving the wrapper wide open for thorough sanitation, easy inspection and maintenance availability.The Formost Fuji Alpha 8 Flow Wrapper features a sanitary design, operator-friendly HMI and short film routing. Nice: Intelligent track infeeds and ultrasonic fin sealing are advanced technologies that are emerging for flow wrappers. Newer open-frame wrapper design is more sanitary than sealed-tube construction. The feeder and wrapper are cantilevered to allow crumbs and debris to fall through. Ballabio: Higher automation content, better performance, the capability to process new materials such as recyclable/biodegradable/mono-material, the evolution of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and the growth of hygienic design are all recent advancements. How do these advanced systems compare to the existing standard equipment?Nice: In ultrasonic fin sealing, there is no heat involved with sealing. And ultrasonic sealing provides feedback on the energy used to create the seal.Sometimes machine size is an issue. Intelligent track infeeds use less floor space by potentially shortening the wrapper’s overall length. And we’ve got a dual, back-to-back machine—two independent wrappers mounted on a common backplate—that takes up less floor space compared to two standard single-lane wrappers. Ballabio: Advanced systems have evolved in four areas: electronics and software, sealing technologies, materials and surface treatments, and gas management and oxygen control. McDaniel: It is important for equipment to evolve with today’s technology. Using the options that improve upon the efficiency of the flow wrapper can greatly reduce the cost of use. Purchasing equipment without the advanced features will end up costing more in the long run. What are the benefits of these advancements for packaging machinery buyers/users?Ballabio: Benefits include higher efficiency, extended shelf life for products, and easier cleaning and maintenance. McDaniel: Reduction in film waste and shortening the time spent operating and cleaning the wrapper are improvements that can provide savings in many ways to buyers, adding to their profit margin. As they say, “time is money” on the production floor, so having equipment that is simple to operate is important. Nice: Intelligent track infeeds can reduce the overall floor space/footprint and can handle more irregular product flow versus a conventional automatic product feeder. With no heat involved in ultrasonic fin sealing, it can be a plus for heat-sensitive products like those containing or being coated in chocolate, or temperature-sensitive medical devices and drugs. Ultrasonic sealing can potentially reduce the amount of film required for a typical flow-wrapped package and maintain the same quality of seal or better, versus conventional heat-sealing technology. It produces a hermetic seal even when there is contamination, like crumbs, in the fin-seal area.More sanitary designs allow for easier allergen cleaning, and there are fewer areas on the machine for harborage, leading to significantly reduced cleaning time.A Campbell flow wrapper configured with JLS Talon robotic loading system is suited to packaging fresh and frozen baked goods, including desserts and snacks. What areas in flow wrapping still need work and why?McDaniel: I believe we will continue to see improvement in the sealing capabilities with sustainable materials. As recyclable films improve, flow wrappers will need to be adapted to provide good seal quality for the different types of materials. Nice: Infeed chains. Most machines still have infeed chains that are hard to clean and present changeover challenges. I would expect to see more lugless infeeds in the future.Sealing-technology advancements will be a necessary development for recyclable and biodegradable film structures, as well as for lighter-gauge films that aim to reduce landfill for anything non-recyclable. Ballabio: Feeding systems are key for automatic apps. Quality-control features are key for requirements and efficiency.The modular Ilapak Delta X flow wrapper was designed for MAP bakery applications. What’s next, and when might we see further improvements in flow wrappers?Ballabio: Industry 4.0, connectivity and augmented reality. McDaniel: The use of AR and virtual reality (VR) technology for training and service purposes will be coming to the forefront over the next few years, saving time and money. Nice: Over the next five years, I think we will see more integration directly into robotic feeding and cartoning/case-packing solutions. Flow wrappers will be more of a packaging component rather than just a standalone packaging operation unit. Also, we’ll see higher speeds and reduced labor requirements, and machines with artificial intelligence (AI) that operate within the Internet of Things. [This type of smart machine] can self-optimize its operation and self-diagnose any maintenance or quality issues, as well as contact vendors for service and/or parts, as necessary, and reorder consumables such as film without human intervention.I also believe that within the next 10 years we will see individual package track-and-trace technology—like the kind the pharmaceutical industry is currently implementing—throughout the food industry, and that the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) will be expanded to include any food or product that has a shelf life, so it can be tracked back to the date, time and place that it was packaged.____________________________________________________________________________________________Find your success! Subscribe to free Packaging Digest enewsletters.&nbs […]

Jar opening is now as easy as pushing a button, which reduces the required torque by 40%—the new Eeasy Lid debuts with Darci's brand pasta sauce. Ever have a problem opening a jar because a lid’s on so tight that it requires a tool, rubber glove or another person just to get the darn thing off?That frustration may be a thing of the past: Consumer Convenience Technologies unveiled today the launch of its new Eeasy Lid, which makes opening a vacuum-sealed jar up to 40% easier with just the push of a button. CCT claims that the breakthrough is the first significant innovation in the metal jar lid industry in 75 years.The patented Eeasy Lid allows consumers to vent a jar by simply pressing a button on the lid, which opens a tiny slit that breaks the seal and releases the vacuum. After use, the lid is reclosed by pressing the button from the inside of the lid to help keep the product fresh and prevent spills.“I’ve worked closely with CCT to thoroughly test Eeasy Lid for its suitability to ensure safety and stability of food products hot-filled into glass containers,” says Bruno Xavier, PhD., a processing authority at Cornell University. “Through our studies, we’ve found that these lids provide a stable hermetic seal. By pressing the center of the Eeasy Lid, users simply release the vacuumed air, making it easy to open—ultimately providing a better experience to consumers, as indicated by the data provided by the manufacturer.”Consumers can tell whether their product has been tampered with by looking at the button on the Eeasy Lid, which will be inverted if it has been previously opened. The Eeasy Lid was invented by Pete Stodd, managing partner at CCT and president of Container Development Ltd., which developed the CDL end, used in 75% of beverage cans manufactured worldwide. Stodd was approached by a friend who couldn’t open a jar due to breast cancer, so he spent the next eight years developing the Eeasy Lid. “About a third of consumers can’t open a jar, so the Eeasy Lid expands the market for manufacturers and retailers by making the product useable to everyone,” adds James Bach, CCT managing partner.CCT can produce Eeasy Lids, which are intended for use on vacuum-sealed glass jars, in sizes from 58mm-82mm.The lids are a seamless drop-in for current capping/packaging lines, according to president Brandon Bach, who tells Packaging Digest, “the Eeasy button is below the chime, enabling the lid to be applied by cappers.” Production and launchCCT will begin producing CT versions of the Eeasy Lid in December before they appear in stores in January when Pennsylvania-based Boyer’s markets will use the CT Eeasy Lids on its Darci’s brand pasta sauce in all 18 stores. The product will be produced and packaged by Stello Foods and distributed by Cavallaro Foods.“After working in the food packaging industry for more than 30 years, it is nice to see an advancement in packaging design as simple and effective as the Eeasy Lid,” says Nickki Stello, owner of Stello Foods. “I could easily see this lid becoming the preferred jar lid packaging solution for the industry, accepted and appreciated by all consumers.”Packaging Digest learned that Darci’s will use 70G (standard mouth 70mm) CT lids on 26-ounce jars of pasta sauce. The lids are made of aluminum and use the same coatings as common tinplate lids.CCT has performed a battery of tests on the Eeasy Lid including shipping test products by air and ground domestically and to Canada and France. The company has also filled and shipped products at different elevations.“Once people experience the Eeasy Lid, they’re hooked,” says James Bach. “We’ve developed a simple solution to an issue that everyone can identify with. Opening a jar equipped with the Eeasy Lid is a completely different experience.”When asked about the costs, Brandon Bach responds, “Eeasy Lid pricing will be based on market conditions. Switching to the Eeasy Lid expands the market by making the product available to the 30% of consumers who are not able to open a standard jar lid—that’s people who are aging, lack grip strength or are dealing with health issues like arthritis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel or recovering from a surgical procedure. We also see the Eeasy Lid as a means of premiumization for many brands because it is an all-inclusive product.”CCT is expanding the Eeasy Lid platform by developing the world’s first aluminum lug, which will begin production in January. Testing on the lug version of the Eeasy Lid showed a 58% reduction in the amount of torque needed to open a jar compared to a traditional steel lug.That will allow the Eeasy Lid to be available for use on products that utilize lug lids, which is about 80% of the market, according to CCT.Further plans look to push the lids’ market beyond Darci’s launch.“We hired Daymon Worldwide to assist in the go-to-market strategy for both manufactures and retailers, Brandon Bach points out. “We are planning to begin to approach both classes of trade after the first of the year. We are going to Grow-NY and the PLMA trade shows to begin to talk with potential clients about the New Eeasy lid.”The Push Button Closure on the Eeasy Lids is patented and is covered by multiple patents, according to CCT.For more information, visit Consumer Convenience Technologies&nbs […]

ATLANTA (Nov. 12, 2019) – Today, in celebration of America Recycles Week, the U.S. […]

WASHINGTON — Today, during America Recycles Week, the U.S. […]

ATLANTA (Nov. 12, 2019) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will recognize Lifecycle Building Center and Food Well Alliance in Atlanta on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019 as recipients of 2019 EPA Region 4 Sustainable Materials Management Grants totaling $100,000. […]

The Coca-Cola Co., as part of its sustainable packaging focus, recently proved that plastic fished from waterways and plucked from beaches can be recycled into bottles suitable for soft drinks.The company last month announced production of a sample quantity of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles containing 25% recycled marine plastic—purportedly the first food-grade bottles produced using this kind of post-consumer recycled material.The 300 sample marine bottles exemplify a closed-loop system for transforming previously unrecyclable PET back into food/beverage packaging, and the Coca-Cola project provides proof of concept for the approach.To retrieve marine plastic and recycle it into resin for the sample bottles, Coca-Cola partnered with Ioniqa Technologies, based in the Netherlands; Indorama Ventures, in Thailand; and Spain’s Mares Circulares (Circular Seas) marine-debris collection/recycling collaboration.Mares Circulares, which is partially funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation, collected post-consumer plastic for the project from the Mediterranean Sea and beaches. Volunteers helped clean up 84 beaches in Spain and Portugal, and fisherman from 12 ports removed marine waste from the water.Ioniqa used its proprietary “enhanced recycling” method to break down the marine plastic into its molecular building blocks. With Ioniqa’s technology, waste plastic is physically shredded, and the pieces are placed in a chemical solution that purifies and depolymerizes the plastic.The resulting liquid is dried, and resin manufactures can use the powder to make transparent, high-quality PET resin. In the case of the marine bottles, Indorama was the resin manufacturer.During the summer of 2019, Ioniqa commenced operation of an enhanced recycling plant in the Netherlands. The plant processes otherwise non-recyclable (non-marine) PET and has an output capacity of 10,000 metric tons per year. Coca-Cola has announced that it plans to use this type of recycled content in some bottles in the near future.Bruno Van Gompel, technical and supply chain director, Coca-Cola Western Europe, answers Packaging Digest’s questions about the sample bottles. Please describe the enhanced recycling technology used to make the sample marine bottles.Van Gompel: Enhanced recycling is a chemical process, also known as depolymerization, where the PET plastic is converted back into its original building blocks, otherwise known as monomers. This effectively pushes a reset button. The process also restores the molecular strength to the monomers and removes any potential contamination.The monomers can then be rebuilt via polymerization to create food-grade PET plastic. This means that lower-grade plastics—like marine plastic—can be recovered and upcycled back into food-grade packaging materials, with their value returned, not just once but again and again. How is Ioniqa's recycling technology different from, or better than, other chemical-recycling methods? Van Gompel: The benefit of enhanced recycling is that, like similar depolymerization technologies, it is capable of handling complex waste—such as colored bottles, non-food containers or polyester-based fibers, much of which would currently end up in incinerators or landfill—and converting it into monomers. But it doesn’t have to to go back to basic petrochemicals to create these monomers, hence requiring less energy than chemical processes based on pyrolysis or gasification.____________________________________________________________________________________________  WestPack 2020: Ideas. Education. New Partners. Feb. 11-13____________________________________________________________________________________________Through Ioniqa’s process, which uses smart fluids and a unique separation process to split the PET chains back into their two basic molecules and then reconstitutes them, low-end feedstock is upcycled into “virgin” raw material that can be used to create new, high-end PET through polymerization, suitable for any and all uses, including food-grade plastics. What is the protocol for ensuring that the plastic created via this recycling method is food-safe?Van Gompel: Our first concern is always to ensure consumer safety for our products. We will not put anything in the market that is not safe. So, from an industrial-chemistry perspective, the technology has to prove itself to be industrially sound through rigorous testing. Does Coca-Cola have a timeline for commercial use of marine bottles? Van Gompel: Our sample marine-litter bottles have been developed as a proof of concept for what the technology may achieve in time. While we now know this can be done, there is a great deal more work needed before marine litter can be collected and recycled at the scale needed for commercialization.The enhanced recycling technology is still in its very early stages, and in the immediate term we will work with Ioniqa and Indorama to introduce at a commercial scale by using waste streams from existing recyclers, including previously unrecyclable plastics and lower-quality recyclables. From 2020, we plan to include this enhanced recycled content in some of our bottles.____________________________________________________________________________________________Find your success! Subscribe to free Packaging Digest enewsletters. &nbs […]

Free resource aims to help the textile industry reduce wastewater issues in textile manufacturing. Read more  » The post Wastewater Toolbox Launched to Help Textile Industry Improve Wastewater Footprint appeared first on The Sustainability Consortium. […]

Article from Confectionery News   The newly-formed Retailer Cocoa Collaboration strongly supports CFI and the Frameworks for Action as a landmark multi-stakeholder initiative for protecting and restoring forests in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Colombia and other areas. Read more  » The post Can Retailers Play a Role in Ending Cocoa-Related Deforestation? appeared first on The Sustainability Consortium. […]

Healthy demand for unit-dose pharmaceutical packaging, particularly for aseptically filled liquid medications, is creating an opportunity for blow-fill-seal (BFS) technology suppliers and their customers.Used for the aseptic packaging of ophthalmic products, respiratory (inhaled) medications, biologics and vaccines and other injectable drugs, BFS technology enables continuous, automated forming, filling and sealing of unit-dose liquid packs.Package formats include ampoules, vials and bottles, and product sterility can be assured throughout the process. Benefits of BFS, versus glass packaging, include reduced waste and breakage and the elimination of product preservatives, which patients may be allergic to.____________________________________________________________________________________________  WestPack 2020: Ideas. Education. New Partners. Feb. 11-13____________________________________________________________________________________________BFS technology is expected to reach a market value of US$2 billion in 2019 and experience a compound annual growth rate of about 8% between 2019 and 2029, with North America and Western Europe representing the largest markets for BFS pharmaceutical products, according to a recent technology report from Future Market Insights (FMI).FMI identifies Catalent Inc., The Ritedose Corp., Unipharma LLC and Unither Pharmaceuticals as the “tier 1 players” in BFS technology globally. Of these, Catalent, Ritedose and Unipharma are headquartered in the United States.Unither, which is based in France, runs two high-speed unit-dose BFS lines in France plus one in Rochester, NY. The company operates a commercial office and laboratory in China, as well. Also in Asia Pacific, UK-based GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) fills BFS vaccines at GSK Australia’s Boronia facility, near Melbourne.Pharmaceutical companies in other regions are also making strides in the global BFS market. For example, India-based Sentiss, a provider of BFS ophthalmic and inhaled medications, says it is the first Indian company to commercialize BFS eye drops in the Russian market. Sentiss uses the technology to create unit-dose and multidose packaging. ____________________________________________________________________________________________Find your success! Subscribe to free Packaging Digest enewsletters. &nbs […]