FRANCE – Carton packaging suppliers Tetra Pak and Elvir have partnered to launch the HeliCap 23, a new cap made using certified recycled polymers.
The new innovation which is an industry first for the food industry is aimed at replacing the use of virgin, fossil-based resources with sustainably sourced alternatives.
The one-step resealable screwcap offers consumers ease of opening and features a clearly visible tamper evidence ring, providing reassurance that the product hasn’t been opened before.
According to Tetra Pak, the new caps using recycled polymers are manufactured under the RSB chain of custody attribution method.
“This [method] means the plastics are made of a mix of recycled and non-recycled materials, with the corresponding mass of recycled materials tracked throughout the Tetra Pak supply chain,” says Tetra Pak.
HeliCap23 is manufactured at Tetra Pak’s Châteaubriant plant in Loire-Atlantique, France – a site that has been awarded the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) Advanced Products certification.
Chakib Kara, managing director for France and Benelux at Tetra Pak, said: “We are extremely proud of the work being done alongside Elle & Vire. Both teams are inspired and motivated by a shared commitment to develop more sustainable food systems.
Together, we are contributing to making recycling more economically viable, while addressing increasing consumer preference for responsible companies.”
Premier Foods cuts 40 tonnes of packaging from Bisto line
Meanwhile, Premier Foods, one of UK’s largest food companies, has announced plans to remove 40 tonnes of packaging from its Bisto Gravy range.
The company which primarily operates in the ambient food sector aims to achieve this by reducing the height of the paperboard drum.
The new recyclable paperboard drums – produced by Sonoco – will be introduced along with a new sized Bisto Gravy product, which will come in caddies that are 8mm smaller than the previous edition, the company revealed.
Commenting on the change, Savan Sabharwal – marketing controller on the Bisto range – said: “Reducing the size of our drum is a great example of how small changes can ladder up to make a big difference.
We’re really pleased to have found a more sustainable solution while retaining the quality of Bisto that people love and expect.”
Premier Foods further revealed that it is in the process of applying the new height to all its gravy drums, which will include Chicken, Onion, Turkey, and Vegetable variants.
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