Lightweighting can be a win-win strategy, reducing the impact of packaging on both the environment and profit margins but food and drink companies are learning that it is not always the best way forward.
Sustainable packaging is a buzzword on the lips of consumers and industry players alike. But what is sustainable packaging and how far has the sector come in developing a road map towards this most elusive of goals?
BoPP film producer Taghleef Industries (Ti) has announced plans to enter the bioplastics polylactic acid (BoPLA) packaging market by the end of this year.
A new nano-based coating that is claimed to reduce packaging waste is initially being targeted at the pharmaceutical sector but could be used in chocolate packaging as well, claims the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Consumers are attracted to innovative packaging designs but are put off if they prove difficult to open or close, according to studies from Helsinki University commissioned by M-real Consumer Packaging.
The gum, mints and breath fresheners market in the US has remained buoyant in the recession and has increased by over ten per cent since, according to new research from market analysts, which forecast that the category will continue to grow through to...
New active and intelligent packaging rules and guidelines introduced last year across Europe should bring much-needed clarity to the sector and pave the way for innovation, said one expert as he set out how the system could work in practice.
Misinterpretation of fundamental criteria for the hygienic design of equipment by designers is resulting in incorrect installation of parts such as valves and sensors at the initial design stage of new food processing equipment and leaves processors exposed...
New research from the UK shows that whole room disinfection techniques are more effective that traditional chemical fogging, and while take up by food processors is relatively low, suppliers claim demand will accelerate based on industry recognition of...
New plastic packaging recycling targets set by the UK Government are unachievable and potentially counterproductive, leading industry bodies have said.
A new white paper evaluates the causes, ramifications and remedies for clogging in cooling, cleaning, coating and other spray applications within the food and beverage manufacturing sectors.
Equipment that separates liquid chocolate from solid rework components by centrifugal force helps eliminate food waste by enabling the chocolate to be reused in product manufacturer, claims its German developer.
A new continuous chocolate tempering machine has a small footprint and reduces energy consumption by up to 30 per cent on standard tempering equipment, claims Spanish supplier Lloveras, who showcased a prototype at Pro Sweets this month.
A German research institute is seeking heat sealed packaging formats including confectionery wrapping from packaging producers or food manufactures for a round robin test to develop a standardized testing method to determine peel and opening forces.
Ongoing research work has resulted in a new high density polypropylene (HDPP) wrap for confectionery that is economical in terms of material weight and heat sealing temperature, claims Moneta.
Bachmann Aluminium Packaging has achieved HACCP accreditation and updated its IT systems in order to support business development in Germany, Scandinavia, and Eastern Europe.
Biomass materials such as cocoa shells can be used as new, cost effective sources of energy for chocolate processors aiming to reduce their carbon footprint, claims Buhler.
Increasing use of aluminium food and beverage packaging in developing countries will be one factor behind a possible surge in global demand for the material, said one industry leader.
New confectionery machinery launched at Pro Sweets include inspection equipment from Heuft which can rapidly track product residue in empty moulds used in the manufacture of chocolate and sweets and a hermetic design pump from Mouvex that eliminates the...
The second hand confectionery equipment market is buoyant, with strong demand noted in the past 12 months, reports used machinery supplier Ecomec, who added that lack of access to credit within the industry is a predominant factor for the sales hike.
Factors such as ease of opening and resealable closures rather than sustainability of materials are driving upcoming packaging developments, claims Mondi Consumer Flexibles.
Bemis said a gradual improvement in demand for flexible packaging, especially for shelf-life extension products, was a major factor in it posting better than expected Q4 and year end results.
Global leaders across the packaging, food manufacturing and retail sectors have approved a set of common definitions and principles for sustainable packaging.
Pro Sweets, the upcoming confectionery industry trade show, will see the release of an environmentally friendly aesthetically enhanced paperboard for the premium confectionery market, says the Finnish company behind the packaging component.
The European Organization for Packaging and the Environment (Europen) has rejected the charge that the packaging sector hasn’t done enough to reach a consensus over what constitutes sustainable packing.
Better fume and dust extraction coupled with ease of operation are two benefits claimed by manufacturer Flextraction for its new range of hood positioning devices (HPD) suitable for use in food processing plants.
Chocolate packaged with an oxygen absorber in a barrier packaging material will maintain its aroma, taste and nutritional quality substantially longer than other packaging methods, according to a new study.
Developing regions are seeing the greatest growth potential in the global confectionery market and this is driving equipment manufacture in the sector, according to Baker Perkins, which is introducing new technology at a Cologne trade show in the New...
Appealing to consumers’ five senses through innovative packaging techniques can result in increased brand loyalty and greater impact at point of sale, and it is a key driver in confectionery packaging, according to the organisers of the 2010 Pro Sweets...
Amcor’s takeover of Alcan has been cleared by the European Commission after the Australian company agreed to sell off two pharmaceutical and food packaging plants in Spain.
A Cartonbag format for loose or wrapped confectionery is a lighter weight replacement for the plastic bag in carton box, claims its design team, which is seeking out chocolate makers to trial products with the new packaging concept.
A new digital press can provide cost effective customised decoration of metal containers for eco-conscious confectionery makers involved in small volume applications, claims a US speciality packaging firm.
The levels of antioxidant activity and flavan-3-ol levels in chocolate products are stable over a controlled shelf life of one year, according to a new study.
USDA figures show that consumers bought near-record quantities of peanuts over the past year, despite a salmonella outbreak blamed for nine deaths and more than 700 illnesses.
The North American launch of a new range of mLLDPE resins will result in greater lightweighting, cost savings and sustainability for flexible packaging in the region, said manufacturers LyondellBasell.
Successful food packaging should be attractive, transparent, safe, functional and environmentally friendly, according to German engineering company Kautex Maschinenbau.
DuPont Qualicon has said the approval of a system to detect both E.coli and Salmonella will save food companies time, as well as cutting inventory and storage costs.
Packaging firms across Europe would be “dramatically affected” by Kraft Foods’ decision to slash supplier numbers, with the move causing potential casualties in the sector, according to Leatherhead Food International.
Mettler-Toledo Safeline has forged a metal detector with a gravity flow function, which also reduces downtime for processors such as bakers or confectionery manufacturers handling dry materials including powders and granular products.
Nestle UK is making its Christmas selection boxes entirely recyclable as part of a campaign to improve the green credentials of seasonal confectionery.
A new French law threatens supply chain efficiencies in the packaged goods sector and could create new trade barriers in the EU internal market, warns the European Organisation for Packaging and the Environment (Europen).
