News First Commercial
News First Commercial Launch of Amcor NaturePlus heat-seal Materbi film for Fresh Produce Major UK retailer Sainsburys and its potato packer Greenvale are the first to commercially launch Amcor NaturePlus’ heat-seal Materbi VFFS film within the fresh produce sector on their JS SO Organic Baby Salad Potatoes, 750g. This launch is part of the environmental plan set out by Sainsbury’s in September 2006, where it vowed to change traditional packaging across its SO organic food lines to use more environmentally friendly compostable packaging. The Amcor NaturePlus heat-seal Materbi VFFS film is manufactured from renewable materials and is fully compostable. The 40 micron co-extruded material is produced at Amcor’s extrusion site in Ilkeston in the UK and is then printed and converted at AF Ledbury – the centre of excellence for Fresh Produce packaging. This novel new extrusion offers a differential heatseal film suitable for VFFS packing of fresh produce. Conventional grades of MaterBi require impulse seals so are not suitable for the majority of VFFS vegetable pacing lines currently used by UK retail packers. This compliments the growing range of environmental films supplied by Amcor Flexibles under the Amcor NaturePlus umbrella and enhances Amcor’s position as a leading supplier in this growing market. www.amcor.com No mandatory deposit for bottles made from bioplastics German Cabinet Decision to Modify Packaging Ordinance The European Bioplastics industry association appreciates the German Cabinet Decision of Sept. 19, 2007. Within the framework of the 5th amendment to the German Packaging Ordinance beverage bottles made of a minimum of 75% of bioplastics shall be exempted from the mandatory deposit. Another prerequisite is the participation of the packaging producers in an appropriate waste disposal system. The association values this as a clear commitment by the German Government towards the support of innovation leading to a sustainable development. By this exemption, which is limited until 2010, the necessary and cost-intensive buildup of a sorting- and recycling-system for bioplastic bottles, normally obligatory within the mandatory deposit, can be delayed until a later date. Until that time the collection and recycling can be done via the so-called “dual systems”, such as the yellow sacks or yellow bins. “It absolutely makes sense to invest in the development of technology and marketing of bioplastic bottles first, and then later to create the best end of life solution”; says Harald Kaeb, chairman of European Bioplastics. bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/07] Vol. 2
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