The 50 finalists for Packaging Europe’s 2024 Sustainability Awards are a complete package of sustainable innovations and initiatives covering machinery, packaging material, reusable packaging and recycling, smart packaging and artificial intelligence solutions and more as selected by a global panel of experts.
A diverse, international jury of experts picked a candidate from each of the categories, with no involvement from the organizers. Packaging South Asia editor Naresh Khanna was among the list of 58 judges who hand-picked the finalists.
Only one winner in each category will receive a sought-after crystal trophy at the end of the Sustainable Packaging Summit in Amsterdam, which is taking place on 12th – 13th November 2024.
Packaging Europe organizes the Sustainability Awards to shine a light on the ideas and developments that will make a tangible difference to sustainability in the packaging space. The competition is free to enter and open to manufacturers, start-ups, global brands, academic institutions, and more.
We take a look at some of the commercialized innovations among the finalists.
Color-to-Color recycling for Rorax (Best Practice)
In the Best Practice category is Red rHDPE – Color-to-Color Recycling for Rorax Pipe Unblocker Power Granulat bottles for the ALPLA Group and Werner & Mertz. Since September 2023, the bottles of Rorax pipe unblocker power-granulate have been made of 50% red post-consumer recyclate (PCR), the ALPLA mentions on its website. ALPLArecycling, ALPLA’s recycling brand, sorts used HDPE in its recycling facilities according to the ‘monocolors’ of natural, white, yellow, blue, green and red. The separation into individual color streams via an additional fine sorting step enables the recycling of colored plastic – for example red. By the end of 2025, all packaging in Werner & Mertz’s products is to be fully recyclable and made of 100% PCR material. ALPLA plays an important role as an in-house partner and material supplier.
Heinz EasySauce Dispenser from Kraft Heinz (Driving the Circular Economy)
European regulations are announcing drastic reductions of single-use plastic and Kraft Heinz says it has committed to move towards a sustainable world by reducing plastic waste. This dispenser from Heinz, a joint effort with npk design and the AMS Group, addresses this challenge and embraces sustainability. The solution includes a completely new pump that can be quickly disassembled, cleaned in the dishwasher, and easily reassembled into a sealed system. The cartridge of the dispenser contains a sauce pouch. By using large pouches instead of small sachets single-use plastic waste can be significantly reduced, npk design says in a post on its website.
Replacing plastic inner bag with barrier paper (Climate)
UPM Specialty Papers, Lantmännen Unibake Finland and Adara Pakkaus jointly developed a fiber-based packaging that aims to reduce the use of fossil-based packaging materials. As a result, frozen bread can now be packed directly into a cardboard box without a plastic inner bag. Frozen foods do not require as high barrier properties as some other products because freezing is a key factor in their shelf life. However, the UPM Asendo barrier paper used in the innovation also has properties that affect shelf life, such as grease and moisture barrier. The material is recyclable and compostable both industrially and in home composting.
Tape Back from DS Smith (eCommerce)
With 30% of all online orders returned on average, the Tape Back has been created for an easy returns experience. The product has an easy-to-peel return strip ensuring visibly less packaging and no additional materials required to send back items. The design is erected as standard on the pack bench; however, Tape Back enables a single line of adhesive sealing tape to also provide a returns option. No additional sealing material is required for returns. The use of nono material ensures there is no need to separate recyclables.
MFL decorated molded tub for spreads from Upfield B.V. (Renewable Materials)
Upfield is introducing its popular brands Flora, Rama and BlueBand in paper-based tubs. To make the new fiber molded packaging mono-material and 100% recyclable, the provider of plant-based foods turned to MCC’s Molded Fiber LabelingTM as a decoration technique. The oil-resistant paper tubs for plant-based spreads were developed with Upfield’s leading Research & Development team utilizing Footprint’s material sciences technology. They are made from compressed wet paper fiber and are waterproof (important for chilled products), oil-proof (a must for spreads and margarine), and recyclable in local paper waste streams. The tub has received Conventional Plastic Free Certification and uses paper from a PEFC-certified supplier.
GreenLabel BlockOut shrink sleeve for Brook + Whittle (Recyclable Packaging)
The patented recyclable shrink sleeve solution enables brands that need light-blocking packaging to move from problematic plastic packaging to clear PET without sacrificing aesthetics. The light-blocking coating is applied to a recyclable PET shrink material and the design is printed with the GreenLabel recycling-compatible inks. The solution is said to block up to 99% of light. The inks + coatings separate from shrink film, allowing for label recyclability. The makers say the solution has received recognition from the Association of Plastic Recyclers as meeting or exceeding the voluntary requirements for APR Design for Recyclability Recognition.
Automated packaging retrofit from Amazon (Machinery)
eCommerce giant Amazon is trying out new packaging machines in Europe and the US that build made-to-fit paper bags around individual items on demand, reducing the volume of packaging for thousands of everyday items. The new machines pack individual items – such as video games, sports equipment and office supplies – in made-to-measure paper bags which are durable and flexible. By packing items in 100% recyclable light paper packaging, which is made-to-fit without the need for padding, the machines help to avoid more than 26 grams of packaging per shipment, on average. Lightweight paper bags used by Amazon are up to 90% lighter than similar-sized cardboard boxes, Amazon says in a post.
