BARCODING, LABeLLING & PACkAGING
MINCeD MeAT PACkAGING: FIT FOR A SUSTAINABLe FUTURe
Meat processing factories are facing more pressure to improve the sustainability of their operations and reduce plastic use. With this in mind, Dave Berriman, technical sales support manager at ULMA Packaging UK, discusses how innovations in trayless minced meat packaging can help reduce plastic in packaging.
waste, and this can be keenly felt in packaging. Indeed, over a third of europeans regard plastic waste as more concerning than even climate change , and closer to home, 82 per cent of British shoppers feel plastic use in food and drink packaging should be reduced. Such findings are having an impact on processors who want to be seen to be minimising plastic packaging. Furthermore, the legislative landscape
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surrounding packaging continues to shift in favour of increased sustainability, with the introduction of a packaging tax from April 2022 announced in the 2020 budget and formally proposed in March 2021. The tax, which would charge companies £200 per tonne of plastic packaging they use if it does not contain 30 per cent recycled content or more, represents a substantial change for the food industry. Given these changes, it is clear the sector requires innovation if it is to meet the challenge of producing packaging fit for the future.
ScrUtiniSing ‘eco-frienDLy’ Though the move toward sustainable packaging continues to gather pace, it is vital that food manufacturers scrutinise the eco-friendly credentials of any alternative material options before making changes. The need for cautiousness can be seen in a report published by the Green Alliance sustainability thinktank in 2020, which highlighted how packaging materials perceived to be ‘greener’ may actually be more harmful for the environment. This phenomenon can mainly be
seen with newer packaging
mproving sustainability credentials continues to dominate the processing and manufacturing landscape as more businesses strive to reduce
materials, whose recyclability and overall carbon footprint impact may not yet have been fully assessed. One such example is coated cartons, with the Green Alliance report mentioning that although more packaging using this material is being produced, there is not currently sufficient recycling infrastructure to process it in large volumes. Concerns also stretch to materials like glass, which can contribute more carbon emissions on account of it being heavier and therefore more polluting to transport. Consequently, it is key that processors early on in the supply chain consider the larger picture when attempting to improve overall sustainability.
trAyLeSS AnD SUStAinABLe As far as minced meat is concerned, trayless packaging machinery can offer a potential solution. Specifically, by implementing modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on horizontal flow wrap packaging lines, this can eliminate the need for a tray, thereby significantly reducing plastic and packaging waste. Crucially, product integrity and shelf life is not affected, and products packaged trayless do not experience leakage or discolouration. As such, it represents a highly practical packaging option for factory meat processing facilities. The fact that thermoforming has
traditionally been used to package minced meat, further emphasises plastic savings that can be made via trayless packaging machinery. This is because thermoforming involves using large quantities of material, including covers, trays and additional labels. By contrast, a flow wrapper using MAP allows
for a single, efficient, in-line process from extrusion through to packing and crating of products. As a result, the rigid plastic tray can be removed, resulting in an optimised packaging line and reduced material use in line with consumer expectations. On top of this, no extra labels are needed as the product information and overprint (date/batch code) can be printed directly onto the film.
MULtiPLe BenefitS
Depending on the size of the mince packaged, ULMA’s trayless minced meat
26 MAY 2021 | FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS
packaging solution can achieve material reductions of up to 60 per cent, while also reducing waste previously earmarked for landfill. Using recycled, thinner films applicable for shrink packaging can also enable further pack volume reductions without the meat volumes being made smaller in turn. The environmental benefit of this is clear, as
minced meat packaged on flow wrappers requires 80 per cent less space to transport compared to the films and trays used with traditional traysealer and thermoformer technologies. Flow-wrapping with shrink packaging offers further benefits, specifically concerning crate fill, as 30 per cent less space is needed to move products packaged this way. Consequently, more units can be transported per crate and pallet to supermarkets and retailers, resulting in logistical cost and carbon emission savings.
ADDitionAL BenefitS Further cost savings can be realised by manufacturers using trayless flow-wrapping solutions, alongside sustainability gains. By selecting rollstock film (reels) over premade trays, which can be costly and have a larger, more obstructive footprint, minced meat processors can cut their packaging materials storage requirements by around 80 per cent. Benefits can also be felt in terms of operational
efficiency, as flow wrappers traditionally enjoy a lower cost of maintenance and ownership. These machines are also simpler to operate than their thermoforming counterparts, and because less tooling is required to change between pack sizes, switching between product lines is also quicker, with less downtime. ULMA’s own MAP innovation is also compatible with existing portioning equipment, further enabling seamless integration. It is clear that by opting for innovations like
trayless minced meat packaging, it is possible to improve the sustainability of packs while also realising further operational, cost and efficiency benefits. Those who embrace this technology will reap the benefits and stay ahead of the legislative curve, in addition to better meeting consumer expectations who want to purchase products with less plastic packaging present.
ULMA Packaging UK
www.ulmapackaging.co.uk
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