Converting Case Study
Similarly, charitable efforts are on the rise, with the foundation of organisations such as CannedWater4Kids (CW4K), a US charity committed to delivering clean, safe, and sustainable drinking water projects to communities around the world. CW4K funds its initiatives with donations as well as sales of its ‘Drinking water – with a purpose’, which is packaged in 100 per cent recyclable, sustainable aluminium bottles and cans.
“Not only are aluminium cans the single-
most recycled beverage package in the United States, but they are also infinitely recyclable. Few containers can say that,” says Peter Gorman, CW4K board member and CMO.
TO CAN IS TO PROTECT Product packaging provides a very valuable service to brands, to ensure compliance with legislation by displaying regulatory information, as well as batch, product, and supply codes which allow products to progress safely through supply chains. It is also the advertising space on a shelf which protects a brand’s image, and makes a product stand out against its competitors. Indeed, major international can manufacturer Crown advertises its canned solutions as providing a “360-degree billboard” for brand promotion. Too often, though, debates surrounding sustainable packaging ignore another key role of product packaging – to protect its contents. The Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment estimates that of all the energy used in producing the food contents of one person’s weekly shop, only 6.5 per cent can be attributed to primary packaging and 51 per cent to food supply.
As an insurance product, aluminium and
steel packaging are very effective. Both materials are robust and hardwearing enough to protect contents during transport, while providing an impenetrable barrier against light and oxygen. This allows canned products to be stored for years with little loss of quality. Though there has been some
misperception surrounding the quality of canned foodstuffs in the past, leading can manufacturers and food writers have begun speaking out about the benefits of canned food. Included in the mix is Jack Monroe, British food blogger and author of the newly released Tin Can Cook: 75 simple store-cupboard recipes – the first tinned food recipe book since 1939.
EXPLORING PLASTIC PACKAGING ALTERNATIVE Today, both aluminium and steel are widely and easily recycled on a global level, so much so that a metal can purchased and recycled today could be back on the shelf within 60 days. In fact, it is suggested that as much as 75 per cent of all aluminium ever produced is still in circulation today. The result of these high recycling rates is less pollution and a steady supply of resources for the future – the very definition of sustainability. By comparison, products made from
plastic, including PET water bottles, are generally recycled a finite amount of times before they are destined for the municipal waste stream due to the limitations of current recycling practices. In their report on plastic recycling Geyer et al estimated that of all plastic recycled to date only 10
per cent has been recycled more than once, due to material degradation, and contamination issues. Contamination and degradation are not an issue when it comes to aluminium and steel, as recycling methods essentially restore the materials to their virgin state. When a can goes through a recycling process everything, including the label and any inks or coatings on the original can, is burned away prior to melting with no effect on the overall recyclability. This ease of recycling can present an
opportunity for manufacturers when it comes to thinking about a coding solution – particularly when coding with inks. While some new sustainable packaging materials in the form of recycled plastics, paper and compostables can prove challenging from a coding perspective, recycled food and beverage cans have been part of the equation for years. Coding a metal surface is not the same as
printing onto a plastic bottle, however, and does present a number of challenges that need to be considered, including metal finishes and curved surfaces. Traditionally, continuous inkjet has been
the technology of choice for coding onto aluminium and steel cans – it’s fast, flexible, and gets the job done, and is still a favoured solution among many manufacturers. More recently, fibre laser solutions have emerged as a coding solution for non-ferrous aluminium cans that is energy efficient and removes the use of solvents, inks, and other consumables which carry storage safety requirements from production sites. As global attitudes towards sustainability
change, many organisations are already seeking to innovate beyond plastic packaging, setting ambitious targets to reduce virgin plastic use, and embracing the alternatives. Unilever, the multinational consumer goods company behind Dove and Surf, has made commitments to halve the use of new plastic within the next five years, and has also unveiled several reusable packaging innovations including a refillable deodorant stick made from stainless steel.
CONCLUSION For some, a switch to recycled aluminium or steel could demonstrate a viable commitment to more environmentally friendly packaging, but it is important to understand the available options and determine the right solution to an organisation’s individual needs. As part of this, organisations must consider the other effects this could have on their production line. Considering coding and marking requirements early on will retain competitiveness without compromising on quality or value, allowing packaging to become part of the solution, rather than a challenge to sustainability.
domino-printing.com
convertermag.com May 2020 35
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