In this edition of the Packaging Innovation Dashboard, we explore sustainable food packaging innovations from Flora Food Group, Treetop Biopak, and Nucao x Koehler Paper.
Flora Food Group | Plastic-Free Butter Packaging
Photo from Flora Food Group
Did you know that you can package plant-based butter in 100% plastic-free packaging?
Flora Food Group (formerly Upfield), one of the world’s plant-based food leaders, has done just this! The group released a butter tub that is 100% paper-based, oil-resistant, and acceptable in local paper recycling systems in early 2024.
The move from plastic to paper tubs for butters and spreads is set to remove 25,000+ tons of plastic waste from Flora Food Group’s value chain each year.
Even better, the paper used for Flora Food Group’s new butter tubs will only be sourced from PEFC-certified suppliers—an NGO focused on third-party verification of sustainable forestry practices.
Karina Cerderia, Head of Packaging and Artwork for Flora Food Group, stated:
“We are proud to have created with Footprint an innovative paper-based tub that is durable, leak-proof and appealing, which many thought would be impossible with paper. But after years of dedicated focus from joint Upfield and Footprint R&D teams and dozens of prototypes, we made the impossible, possible.”
On November 12, 2024 this innovation was the overall winner of the Sustainability Awards 2024 at Packaging Europe’s Sustainable Packaging Summit in Amsterdam.
Read more on the groundbreaking innovation in this Packaging Europe article.
Story from Packaging Europe
Treetop Biopak | Home Compostable Bread Bags
Photo from Treetop Biopak
Did you know that bread can be packaged in home compostable bags?
UK-based Treetop Biopak has made this possible with Terra Bag—their new home compostable bag. The bag is BPI compostable and is said to work on existing production lines and machinery for baked goods.
The Terra Bag has been tested and proven to offer a 7–10 day shelf life for sliced sourdough bread, solving a challenge that is often associated with compostable food packaging.
Amir Gross, the founder of Treetop Biopak, was quoted in a Packaging World article from January this year, stating:
“We are committed to enabling clients to balance their quality and performance with consumer requirements for compostable solutions to reduce waste plastic. This allows a whole range of goods to maintain their freshness, ensure the required shelf life, while minimizing any impact on the environment.”
Read more on the innovation and Treetop Biopak here.
Story from Packaging World
Koehler Paper x Nucao | Paper Chocolate Bars
Photo from Koehler Paper
Germany-based Koehler Paper collaborated with Nucao (a Germany-based chocolate company) to create 100% recyclable paper packaging for Nucao’s chocolate bars.
The new paper-based packaging (Koehler NexPlus Advanced) contains strong barrier properties against oils, oxygen, grease, and more. According to a Packaging Gateway article, the production speeds with the new packaging is “600 bars per minute.”
Mathias Tholey, co-founder of Nucao, was quoted in a Packaging Gateway article stating:
“Projects of this kind rely on transparency and knowledge sharing, so we are delighted to have been able to confidently go through this process with Koehler Paper. We have come one step closer to our mission to generate a positive impact on the planet with chocolate thanks to our innovative paper packaging.”
Read more on the new paper-based packaging for chocolate here.
Story from Packaging Gateway
Learn more about Sustainable Food Packaging
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