Preview Barrier Version
Preview Barrier Version of Foamed Trays Coopbox Europe began its history more than 30 years ago, reaching a strong leadership in fresh food packaging market. Nowadays around 3.000 Coopbox trays are used every minute all over Europe by food industry and retail leaders. Coopbox Europe began in 2002 to develop new packaging solutions based on bioplastics: it was the logical conclusion of its path toward environment respect and protection together with lightweight, energy saving and closed-loop production cycles. Coopbox Europe was the first company in the world able to manufacture a foamed PLA trays. NATURALbox ® comes from 100% renewable resources, it is 100% oil-free, completely biodegradable and compostable and it works on standard wrapping and lidding MAP equipments. The new barrier version of NATURALbox offers a full biodegradable solutions for MAP applications, widely and successfully used fro fresh meat, fish and produces MAP packaging. NATURALbox, the greenest side of Coopbox Europe, your packaging partner. www.coopbox.it E09 Bioplastics in Packaging The Interpack 2008 group Exhibition Programme During „Bioplastics in Packaging“ at interpack 2008 there will be a number of activities on the stage in hall 7a. 24. April, Thursday, 12:30 - 13:15 Panel: Bioplastics – Future Monomers and Polymers Welcome and Introduction by EuBP; BASF, Roquette 24. April, Thursday, 15:30 - 16:15 Panel: Biodegradable, biobased plastics, how to determine and how to label them European Bioplastics, natura, Innovia 26. April, Saturday, 11:00 - 11:45 Panel Presentations: The Market Potential of Bioplastics European Bioplastics, University Utrecht 26. April, Saturday, 11:45 - 12:30 Panel Presentations: Environmental Performance of Bioplastics University Utrecht, NatureWorks 28. April, Monday, 11:00 - 11:45 Podium Discussion: How Responsible Innovation Contributes to Everyday Life Guests: Food Industry 29. April, Tuesday, 16:15 - 17:00 Panel Presentations: Materials for Packaging Mirel, DuPont, Novamont 30. April, Wednesday, 14:00 - 14:45 Our Covergirl Julia is Student Officer at European Bioplastics in Berlin. Julia says: “I was already at the ‘Innovationparc Packaging‘ at interpack 2005. I‘m excited about the development of bioplastics. and I‘m looking forward to being in Düsseldorf this year again.“ Podium Discussion: Creating a Positive (Legal) Framework for the Market Introduction of Bioplastics in Germany Federal Ministries for Economy and Agriculture, Rheinland-Pfalz Ministry of Environment For last minute changes see www.bioplastics-in-packaging.com bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/08] Vol. 3 23
Special Rigid Packaging Made From PLA (Photo: ILIP) An important field of applications for bioplastics is rigid packaging. This includes trays and punnets for fruit and vegetables, or for mince, fresh and cured meat. Clamshell or hinged containers are being used for deli-food products. Another interesting field of application is disposable tableware. “In addition there are more and more customers asking for bioplastic trays for other applications”, says Jhon Bollen from Nedupack. “Although most of the products we sell are for food applications.” Nedupack Thermoforming B.V. is a packaging producer in The Netherlands. The trays, cups, plates, lids, clamshells etc. offered by companies such as Nedupack, I.L.P.A. Srl from Italy, Huhtamaki from Finland and many more, are almost exclusively made from PLA film. “The PLA in our products substitutes traditional plastics such as PET, OPS, PS or PP,” says Michele Bertoli of ILPA. With their first sales in PLA packaging back in 2002 ILPA is one of the pioneers in this field. Good reasons Even if rigid packaging made from PLA is still more expensive, and thus prohibitive for certain applications, there are a number of good reasons to offer and to use such kinds of packaging material. In a conversation with bioplastics MAGAZINE, Michele Bertoli enumerated his four main reasons as follows: • first of all there is a strong belief that ‘biopackaging’ represents the future and that it is going to be widely adopted by retailers and industry within a short time due to the growing focus of public opinion on our habitat. • secondly, the belief that a specific know-how in this field could, if acquired soon, provide a competitive advantage and open up important new business opportunities. 24 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/08] Vol. 3
