“Improvements in co-extrusion technology have now enabled
BOPP flexible films to be produced with high barrier EVOH, while still maintaining their recyclability”
Let’s wrap it up
Due to innovative advancements, the flexible packaging sector embraces these new sustainability challenges and has provided solutions to enable a greener future. However, it’s been made clear that recyclable materials alone isn’t a simple quick fix, but packaging manufacturers need to look at the overall operation and carbon footprint to ensure they are meeting eco-conscious demands. Stephen says: “Innovia Films believes PP confectionery packaging has a strong future, as it can be recycled with other polyolefin films for which there is already a route to recycling in many countries. Ultimately recycling of flexible films will increase, which will provide the needed polymer for a truly circular economy. “Options already exist for BOPP films that contain a percentage of sustainable raw materials, or post-consumer (via chemical recycling), or post-industrial raw materials. All contribute to the reduction of fossil-based PP. Any of these options, will in turn, ensure that the carbon footprint of packaged products will reduce, especially as flexible packaging maintains product quality for longer, reducing waste. In summary, there is definitely a place in the confectionery market for polyolefin products such as BOPP.” Eric simply states: “Innovation including flexible packaging in confectionery products is trending because of the higher consumer demand for the development of innovative, healthy and more sustainable products. Consumers no longer settle for any chocolate confectionery product; instead, they do look for products that are better for them and the planet.”
BREAKING NEWS:
How Russia and Ukraine conflict impacts packaging sector
European packaging institutes call for joint action to defend shared values in packaging science, education and cooperation. Kennedy’s Confection speaks with NVC Managing Director, Michael Nieuwesteeg MSc MEng:
What exactly are you standing against? EPIC and its constituent member associations like NVC are founded on mutual respect and freedom of information exchange. We stand in defence of these values, so very fundamental to our institutes but also to the society we are living in. The Russian packaging organisation is not an EPIC member, despite several invitations over the past two decades.
What does packaging have to do with it? Packaging is the activity of temporarily integrating an external function and a product to enable the use of the product. The world ‘does it’ (packaging, filling, ….) more than 300,000 times each second. A sustainable future of this activity and the world where it plays an important role in, is only possible through cooperation, mutual respect and free business and personal/ individual information exchange.
How has the packaging industry been coming together? More than 500 companies worldwide have meanwhile joined NVC since its foundation in 1953. EPIC was founded in 2022, with NVC amongst the founding member institutes. We have been meeting regularly, mostly two times a year, since that moment. NVC as association and EPIC as ‘group’ are also members of the World Packaging Organisation WPO. Personally as NVC director, I am also a Board Member of the WPO.
How will the military actions of Russia in the Ukraine impact the packaging industry? If these actions are not resisted, intolerance between the packaging institutes will grow and the information exchange between the institutes will dry up. Worst case, any search for truth and/or reliable insights in the packaging industry and business as a whole will disappear. Adequate education and training will follow. We will be unboxing a terrifying situation.
What more can be done? This does not only affect the packaging institutes, but also the publishers of packaging related information, the organisers of exhibitions and conferences and the education and training institutes. All should speak out and support disseminate the EPIC Call for Action, possibly augmenting these activities with their own Call for Action.
KennedysConfection.com Kennedy’s Confection April 2022 35
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
