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Application AutomotiveNews Chocomel to opt for innovative packaging of more than 80 % plant-based materials Sustainable production is high on the agenda at FrieslandCampina (Amersfoort. The Netherlands) as sustainable leader in the dairy sector. For the long-keeping variety of their brand Chocomel, the company is now the first food producer in the world to opt for a new, innovative cardboard liter pack. One that is for more than 80 % made of raw materials that come from plants, with wood and sugar cane as parent materials. The new packaging has been available in stores in the Netherlands since end of May 2018. The new packaging of the sustainable varieties of Chocomel is from more than 80 % made of plant-based materials. In addition to the cardboard, which is produced from wood that is 100 % sourced from FSC-certified forests, the plastic cap and the outer plastic layer of the iconic yellow-colored suit are now made from plants. It concerns the part of the plant that remains after the part that is suitable for food has been taken out. The exact plastic material was not disclosed, but presumably it is Braskem’s bio-PE. The processing of this material for the packaging of Chocomel is therefore not at the expense of food. On an annual basis, about 40 million packages are involved. By crossing the 80 % limit FrieslandCampina reaches the threshold for the highest possible, 4-star certificate, ‘Ok Biobased’. This is issued by the worldwide accredited inspection and certification organisation TÜV Austria (formerly Vinçotte). Compared with the previous packaging, the new Chocomel pack yields a CO 2 saving of 17 %, according to the independent Swedish environmental research institute IVL. The choice for this innovative packaging is completely in line with FrieslandCampina’s strategy, route2020, and purpose, Nourishing by nature, which stands for better nutrition for consumers in the world, good income for the farmers, now and in the future. To achieve climate-neutral growth, FrieslandCampina is working on an efficient and sustainable production chain. In line with Sustainable Development Goal 12 of the United Nations, Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12), the company aims to use only agricultural raw materials and paper packaging in 2020, from fully sustainably managed sources.” MT www.frieslandcampina.com WPC posts for electric fences Green Dot Bioplastics (Emporia, Kansas, USA) developed a wood-plastic composite for Kencove’s PasturePro Posts for electric fences that is stronger, lasts longer and is easier to use compared to conventional solutions. It’s organic certifed and ready for long-term use. Kencove Farm Fence Supplies is a US-nationwide manufacturer and distributor of electric fence supplies for animal containment and exclusion. They manufacture electric fencing materials such as posts, wire and energizers and serve large farming operations as well as personal backyard farms — anyone who needs animal containment and protection solutions. The company carries electric fencing supplies for chickens, horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and more. The material for the PasturePro Posts had to balance: Dielectric properties, tensile strength, memory capability, durability, aesthetics, flexibility, UV properties, and recyclability. Determining a formulation that met all these requirements as well as the cost target was challenging. As such, Green Forest Composites, the original manufacturer of PasturePro Posts, reached out to Green Dot Bioplastics. Green Dot Bioplastics worked to run multiple trial productions with various combinations of polypropylene (PP) grades and wood, as well as various processing conditions. Wood fiber was used to add strength and lighten the weight of the posts. There was a wide range of wood species to pick from, including oak, pine and maple that came in various particle sizes. Choosing the correct one was critical since its properties would affect the manufacturing process. There were several manufacturing challenges associated with the PasturePro Posts. In the early 2000s, the orientation of wood-plastic composites was a newly patented process and everything from speed, length of the line, heating, cooling and die sizes were constantly being adjusted. After carefully consulting with Green Forest Composites, Green Dot Bioplastics was able to pinpoint a consistent wood pellet that could function within the formulation. MT www.greendotbioplastics.com www.kencove.com 26 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/18] Vol. 13
Application Automotive News New generation of coffee capsules Flo, a major European food packaging producer from Parma, Italy, recently introduced Gea, the first coffee capsule in the world that combines compostability, oxygen barrier, and an improved taste and aroma experience for the consumer. The capsule was created in partnership with NatureWorks and is the result of a two-year joint development process that created a compostable capsule aimed to deliver on the high-performance requirements of the most demanding roasters. “Gea represents a new generation of capsules, designed to meet the needs of coffee roasters and coffee lovers, but also to address environmental issues related to the management of waste,” says Erika Simonazzi, marketing director of Flo. “As food packaging producers, we are very careful to study the right materials for their use, based on environmental requirements and the dictates of the new rules of the circular economy.” Gea is entirely composed of Ingeo PLA, which is certified for industrial composting systems according to global standards such as EN-13432 (EU) and ASTM D6400-04 (USA). The new capsule technology platform is fully approved for food contact and is now in final testing by TÜV Austria and the Italian Composting and Biogas Association (CIC) for compostability certification. “A fully compostable capsule provides an elegant and simple system for delivering the valuable used coffee grounds to industrial compost,” said Steve Davies, commercial director, NatureWorks Performance Packaging. “Thanks to the collaboration with Flo and their unique capability and dedication to developing improved packaging technologies, we are proud to support the commercialization of the first compostable coffee capsule made from 100 % Ingeo. The results demonstrate that delivering a superior taste and brewing experience to the consumer does not have to sacrifice sustainability.” Compared to compostable capsules currently on the market, the new Gea capsules address market requests for material ageing stability in an industrially compostable format. “Being able to count on a capsule that does not show signs of ageing in a few months, but is shelf stable for years, is a huge value for coffee roasters,” explains Erika Simonazzi. “Roasters should be focused on their coffee, not the packaging it is packed in. NatureWorks’ unique analytical and engineering capabilities together with Flo’s know-how in thermoforming technology, were critical to developing this solution.” Gea capsules also are an excellent barrier to oxygen, which protects the organoleptic qualities of the packaged coffee. The taste and aroma of the coffee are preserved, satisfying the needs of coffee roasters while ensuring an enhanced brewing experience for consumers. Initially targeting the demanding requirements of high pressure, single serve coffee systems, the Gea capsules have successfully passed the industrialization and filling tests at Flo’s major partner coffee roasters and will be available on the market starting in October 2018.” MT www.flo.eu | www.natureworksllc.com (Photo: The Guardian / Shutterstock) Arla introduce mass-balance based bio-packaging Arla Foods Germany (Düsseldorf) is the first company to opt for the innovative SIGNATURE PACK from SIG Combibloc (Neuhausen, Switzerland) – the world’s first aseptic carton pack that is 100% linked to plant-based renewable material. Signature pack cartons are made from 77% paper board from wood and 23% plant-based polymers through mass balancing. This means that for the polymers used in the packaging, an equivalent amount of biobased feedstock went into the manufacturing of (other) polymers ofthe supplier. To ensure the integrity of this process, the mass balancing is certified through recognised and audited certification schemes (ISCC PLUS and TÜV SÜD CMS71). Arla now offers its 1 litre 1.5% and 3.8% organic milk (Arla ® BIO Weidemilch) in the Signature pack. By choosing the innovative Signature pack, Arla is demonstrating its commitment to sustainability as it strives to increase the market share of its organic dairy products. Arla’s organic milk cartons now carry a clear message to consumers: buying this pack promotes the use of renewable raw materials to protect fossil resources while making a positive impact in reducing the CO 2 level compared with a standard carton pack. Elise Bijkerk, Marketing Director at Arla Foods Germany said: “The Signature pack is a great match for our BIO Weidemilch. Consumers that choose for our pure Arla BIO Weidemilch also have an increasingly strong interest in sustainable packaging. With the value-added pack from SIG, we can demonstrate our commitment to transparency and our holistic approach to sustainability across the value chain. We are happy to be the first company to use Signature pack and to be able to offer consumers in Germany this solution.” www.signature-pack.com bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/18] Vol. 13 27
