PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY
Overcoming the challenges of eco-friendlypackaging
Kennedy’s Confection finds out how packaging machines are being developed to allow them to work more efficiently with the new breed of eco-friendly packaging materials.
T
he trend towards greater sustainability continues unabated, growing from being a niche topic just a few years ago into a global movement. For example, according to
the ‘Sustainable Product Packaging’ study, published in June 2023 by Simon-Kucher & Partners, as many as 62% of consumers in Germany are now prepared to pay more for sustainably packaging products, up to an additional 7%. So, while consumers and governments attach value to more environmentally friendly packaging, the processing of these new materials does pose certain challenges for packaging machinery.
Theegarten-Pactec is driving innovation in this space by refining its packaging machinery to enable confectionery producers and brand manufacturers to process sustainable packaging materials at industrial scale.
Conventional packaging often involves laminating different materials such as plastics, metals and papers together to achieve an optimal combination of strength, flexibility and a barrier function to protect the product. When it comes to sustainability, however, these laminated materials present a problem – they can be difficult to separate and so cannot be recycled. Today, mono-materials and paper- based packaging materials are among the most commonly used alternatives and are said to offer better recyclability. However, these materials can pose greater challenges during the packaging process. They can tear more easily, are more difficult to seal, and sometimes have inferior folding properties. Focussing on these challenges,
34 Kennedy’s Confection March 2024
The EK4 double twist wrapping machine can work at high speeds with eco-friendly packaging materials.
Theegarten-Pactec has re-engineered its high-speed packaging machine for chocolate bars to such an extent that it is now able to process paper-based flow packs in the conventional cold-sealing process as well as in the more complex heat-sealing process. The machine is now able to produce flow pack packaging with integrated heat-seal capability and a pure paper content of at least 95%. By pre-heating the seal area during the wrapping material unwinding process, the paper has a higher starting temperature, which reduces the required duration of heat application by the sealing tools to the packaging in the sealing process itself. This avoids damaging the packaging and
the product itself, allowing them to pass gently through the machine. In addition, the reduced sealing time makes it possible to achieve processing speeds of up to 100 m/ min for paper-based packaging. Theegarten-Pactec has also modified the forming shoulder for flow packs processing on the packaging machine to support the production of paper-based flow packs. Due to the materials used and the adaptations to the component’s geometry to accommodate the packaging, there is no risk of the paper crinkling or tearing during production of the flow pack. Sustainability issues have also been addressed on Theegarten-Pactec’s double twist wrap packaging machine. Capable of
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