Discover your next big idea at PACK EXPO Las Vegas this September
Experience a breakthrough in packaging & processing and transform your business with solutions from 2,300 suppliers spanning all industries.
REGISTER NOW & SAVE

Foil-free pouch scores sustainable packaging points

Mars Africa finds a better way to package its line of instant dry soup mixes by replacing foil in its laminated structure with a coextruded barrier polymer.

The new laminated structure runs smoothly on the hf/f/s machines used at the Mars plant.
The new laminated structure runs smoothly on the hf/f/s machines used at the Mars plant.

By replacing a paper/foil lamination with a non-foil lamination that includes a special coextrusion of polyethylene polymers with high-barrier additives, Mars Africa has brought about a 25% carbon footprint reduction in the packaging of its Royco brand instant dry soup powder.


“The carbon footprint calculation is based on the energy used to produce an equivalent material using foil as a barrier compared to the energy used to make this new material,” says Lisa Ronquest-Ross, R&D director at Mars Africa in Capetown, South Africa. She also notes that this project is consistent with the Mars Global objective of “Better Food Today. A Better World Tomorrow.”


Supplied by packaging partners Afripack and Mondi Extrusion Coatings, the new packaging material is an extrusion lamination of a 60 gsm clay-coated paper and the special coextrusion of polyethylene polymers. It was specifically designed for Mars Africa.

Annual Outlook Report: Workforce
Hiring remains a major challenge in packaging, with 78% struggling to fill unskilled roles and 84% lacking experienced workers. As automation grows, companies must rethink hiring and training. Download the full report for key insights.
Download Now
Annual Outlook Report: Workforce
Coding, Marking, and Labeling Innovations Report
Explore our editor-curated report featuring cutting-edge coding, labeling, and RFID innovations from PACK EXPO 2024. Discover high-speed digital printing, sustainable label materials, automated labeling systems, and advanced traceability solutions that are transforming packaging operations across industries.
Access Report
Coding, Marking, and Labeling Innovations Report