Recycling initiatives continue to be one of the most active sustainability areas driven by challenging Plastic Pacts around the world that are part of a three-pronged objective to deliver 100% recyclable packaging by 2025. The UK packaging tax that requires 30% recycled content is influencing change as well as the focus on stretching recycling targets. We are seeing more chemical recycling initiatives as well as recycled PS and PP developments coming to our attention.
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Nestlé's Purina mono-material pet food pouchesThePackHub
Purina is an American subsidiary of Swiss multinational food and drink conglomerate Nestlé, and is one of the biggest pet food providers in the world. Recently, they trialled a pilot study in the Netherlands, testing the level of success with recyclable packaging under their Felix brand. In response to the trial’s performance, they have recently launched mono-material recyclable pouches made of polypropylene for two of their major brands across Europe: Gourmet Mon Petit and Felix Soup. The recyclable pouches are to be sold in batches of six in recyclable cardboard boxes. This initiative is congruent with the company’s objective of delivering entirely recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025.
P&G's plastic reducing shampoo barsThePackHub
The world’s largest consumer packaged goods company Procter & Gamble (P&G) has announced that its shampoo and conditioner portfolio will now be available in a bar format. Head & Shoulders, Pantene, Herbal Essences and Aussie brands will be in this configuration as an alternative to the conventional liquid in plastic squeeze bottles. The bars have a volume equivalent to two 250ml liquid bottles and are packed in recyclable FSC-certified paper boxes. This activity will help to contribute to the company’s ambition to reduce the amount of virgin plastic they use by 10,000 metric tons per year. This would equate to approximately 300 million bottles being wiped out every year. The new bars come in an easy-to-hold shape and have been created to meet consumer preferences and compare with the performance of their liquid equivalent. P&G has made a commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHS) emissions across its supply chain by 2040.
Kraft's Heinz Beanz Snap Pots with 39% recycled soft plasticThePackHub
In a five-way collaboration, Kraft Heinz has been able to trial Heinz Beanz Snap Pots that contain 39% recycled soft plastic which was collected at in-store collection points at UK’s biggest supermarket Tesco. Heinz and Tesco were aided with this achievement by Plastic Energy, Sabic (Saudi Basic Industries Corporation), and Berry Global. Following collection at Tesco Stores, the material is delivered to London-based Plastic Energy, who converts the plastic into an optimal oil feedstock. SABIC then takes the recycled oil and uses it as alternative feedstock in the production process to manufacture virgin, food-contact approved polymer pellets. Berry Global thermoforms these pellets into new, post-consumer recyclable Snap Pots. The pots are made with 39% recycled plastics based on a mass-balance approach. Finally, the pots are sent to Heinz to be filled with beans and delivered back to Tesco stores. Once used, the pots can be recycled as part of conventional UK curbside collections.
Learn more about ThePackHub's Innovation Zone here.
