Packaging & Packing Materials, Containers

Inside Hochwald’s €200m ‘dairy plant of the future’

30-Jun-2022 By Katy Askew

German dairy Hochwald has opened what it says is the ‘most modern dairy plant in Europe’.

How Yili is targeting the ‘low-carbon consumption’ trend: From ‘no ink’ packaging to China’s first carbon neutral yogurt

14-Jun-2022 By Katy Askew

Earlier this year, Chinese dairy giant Yili set out its ambition for a carbon neutral future. The company is leveraging innovation to build more sustainable production processes and products. Here’s how.

No more PVC: Taiwan latest market to eliminate PVC as food packaging material

14-Jun-2022 By Pearly Neo

Taiwan has become the latest international market to start eliminating the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in food packaging, citing environmental and sustainability concerns over over-usage of the material.

Tetra Pak talks ‘industry first’ fibre-based barrier: ‘Our aim is to develop the world’s most sustainable food package’

09-Jun-2022 By Katy Askew

Tetra Pak is developing a fibre-based barrier to replace the aluminium layer currently needed in food and beverage packaging like juice boxes and milk cartons. We caught up with Tetra Pak’s Davide Braghiroli, Product Director Packaging Materials and Alternative...

‘We need to question the status quo’: Tetra Pak looks to accelerate innovation through collaboration

01-Jun-2022 By Katy Askew

Swiss packaging group Tetra Pak has unveiled a set of research collaborations that it hopes will help accelerate innovation to address the challenges facing the global food system.

California Milk Advisory Board seeking dairy innovators 'to create a meaningful difference’

24-May-2022 By Katy Askew

The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) is bringing back its annual dairy innovation competition for the fourth year running.

US FDA combatting infant formula shortage sparked by Abbott recall: 'We recognize that many consumers have been unable to access infant formula'

11-May-2022 By Katy Askew

The US Food and Drug Administration has detailed how it aims to increase the availability of infant and speciality formulas, as shortages on shelf are tied to higher demand and a recall of some Abbott Nutrition products.

DFA to purchase a portion of Dean Foods’ assets for $433m

02-Apr-2020 By Beth Newhart

After several months of back and forth following the Dean Foods bankruptcy, the Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) co-op is acquiring a majority of its assets for $433m. Prairie Farms Dairy will also get a portion for $75m.

US dairy reacts to CARES Act, pushes government to purchase products

31-Mar-2020 By Beth Newhart

With the US as the new epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic, dairy is among the many industries turning to its local, state and federal government for financial help.

Dairy donates time, money and food to the coronavirus pandemic

26-Mar-2020 By Beth Newhart

The coronavirus is upending businesses and economies around the world, and the dairy sector isn't immune. While some aspects of the industry need stability and assistance, others are able to share their wealth and give back.

NMPF beefs up coronavirus resource website for dairy

24-Mar-2020 By Beth Newhart

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) in the US has set up a designated website for those in the dairy industry to utilize during the health crisis. It’s updating regularly with general information, work permit templates and multimedia resources.

Elmhurst enters crowded RTD latte category and teases smoothie bases

17-Mar-2020 By Beth Newhart

Plant-based milk alternative brand Elmhurst 1925 had big plans for Natural Products Expo West before its postponement earlier this month. However, its oat-based single serves, lattes and creamers will still launch in the US on schedule.

Clover Sonoma debuts fully renewable plant-based milk carton

16-Mar-2020 By Beth Newhart

California-based dairy Clover Sonoma is making sustainability strides with the launch of a new milk carton made entirely from plant materials. It’s one of the first of its kind in the US and will hit shelves this summer.

Swedish pea drinks make North American debut

16-Mar-2020 By Beth Newhart

Following the worldwide success of oat drinks from Sweden, beverage company Sproud is looking to make peas the next big milk alternative protein source. After the postponement of Natural Products Expo West, it hits the North American market next month.

Muller Technology debuts flexible M-Line robot

10-Mar-2020 By Beth Newhart

A new automation line for thin-wall packaging is available now from Muller Technology. It accommodates multiple mold types and pitches and multiple cavitation for rigid containers.

Horizon Organic shoots for a carbon positive supply chain by 2025

09-Mar-2020 By Beth Newhart

Following the example of its parent company Danone North America, Horizon Organic has announced a commitment to making its full supply chain carbon positive in the next five years. It will start with a $15m farmer investment.

DS Smith opens first US recycling facility, as part of zero cardboard goal

05-Mar-2020 By Jenny Eagle

DS Smith has opened its first recycling facility in the US, as part of its North America business expansion plan.

Kezzler talks food safety at GFSI, from potatoes to baby formula

03-Mar-2020 By Beth Newhart

More than six billion global products use Kezzler’s secure, traceable codes to support authentication and transparency. It believes the food industry is responsible for utilizing technology to keep supply chains safe.

The Laughing Cow reformulates and rebrands cheese wedges

02-Mar-2020 By Beth Newhart

Bel Brands USA is boosting the calcium content in it Laughing Cow cheese, with new flavors, logos and branding to support the updated formula.

What's hitting the shelves? New dairy products in February

27-Feb-2020 By Beth Newhart

It's time for our monthly look at some of the dairy products launched in February.

Making baby formula transparent with Danone’s Track & Connect

21-Feb-2020 By Beth Newhart

Packaging with QR codes and a new digital platform make up Danone’s Track & Connect service for baby formula products. It is available in China, with launches in France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand soon.

NMPF calls for end to ‘red herring’ arguments in dairy alternatives debate

17-Feb-2020 By Beth Newhart

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) wants plant-based dairy alternatives in the US to be barred from using dairy terms in product labeling. But right now it’s not a fair fight, they say, because the focus is not on public health.

North Carolina digitizes environmental monitoring for dairy processors

10-Feb-2020 By Beth Newhart

A new online training course from North Carolina State University is designed for dairy processors. It helps improve their environmental monitoring programs (EMP) for better food safety and pathogen control.

AIPIA cancels China Summit amid concerns over Coronavirus

06-Feb-2020 By Jenny Eagle

AIPIA, the Active & Intelligent Packaging Industry Association has announced it is postponing its China Summit, due to be held in Shanghai in April, due to concerns about Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in China and many other regions.

US dairy groups press Congress on Dairy Pride Act

06-Feb-2020 By Beth Newhart

Three years after its first introduction to the Senate, the divisive Dairy Pride Act is still on the minds of US dairy. The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) made a case for stricter labeling guidelines while the FDA is stalled.

DS Smith opens Box Manufacturing Plant to produce more sustainable boxes

27-Jan-2020 By Jenny Eagle

DS Smith has opened a Box Manufacturing Plant in Lebanon, Indiana, creating 170 jobs, to meet a growing demand for more sustainable packaging and a reduction of shipping costs across the US.

What’s new from the Winter Fancy Food Show?

27-Jan-2020 By Beth Newhart

The Specialty Food Association’s (SFA) Winter Fancy Food Show (WFFS) commenced in San Francisco last week. Dairy and non-dairy alternative products from the specialty sector exhibited for the first time in 2020.

Sustainability

Nestlé to take ‘bold steps to create a wider market for food-grade recycled plastics’

20-Jan-2020 By Jenny Eagle

Nestlé will invest up to CHF 2bn to create a wider market for food-grade recycled plastics and will reduce its use of virgin plastics by one third as part of efforts to make 100% of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025.

Coveris to launch sustainable version of its CPP film to support Circular Economy

10-Jan-2020 By Jenny Eagle

Coveris is launching a sustainable and high-performance version of its CPP (Cast Polypropylene) film to support the Circular Economy.

DFA forms new Ingredient Solutions division

23-Dec-2019 By Beth Newhart

The Dairy Farmers of America is realigning its portfolio of dairy-based ingredients into a new group, DFA Ingredient Solutions. It says this will provide better support for food manufacturers and operators.

Hygiene zoning is key for pathogen control in dairy processing

12-Dec-2019 By Beth Newhart

The Innovation Center for US Dairy has released expanded guidance recommendations on controlling pathogens in dairy processing, including Salmonella and Cronobacter Sakazakii.

Stora Enso to build €9m pilot plant for bio-based plastic packaging

10-Dec-2019 By Jenny Eagle

Stora Enso will build a €9m pilot facility to produce bio-based plastics as a barrier in transparent packaging, with construction starting in the second half of 2020, with operations beginning in Q1 2021.

Avery Dennison: ‘We believe in a future where every physical item will have a unique digital identity’

05-Dec-2019 By Jenny Eagle

Avery Dennison Corporation is to acquire Smartrac’s Transponder (RFID Inlay) Division, for €225m, closing in the next few months.

Stora Enso to create Packaging Materials division to develop renewable packaging

05-Dec-2019 By Jenny Eagle

Stora Enso is merging its container board business in the Packaging Solutions division with the Consumer Board division to create a Packaging Materials division, effective January 2020.

AIPIA World Congress

FrieslandCampina to expand Kezzler’s TrackEasy across a further 25 countries

29-Nov-2019 By Jenny Eagle

Bakery innovation

Constantia Flexibles opens first plant dedicated to producing sustainable packaging

28-Nov-2019 By Jenny Eagle

Constantia Flexibles has opened Constantia Ecoflex Ahmedabad, the world’s first plant designed to produce more sustainable and recyclable flexible packaging in India, focusing on its environmentally-friendly packaging EcoLam.

Tetra Pak secures third-party certification and product labelling of its sugarcane-derived packaging

19-Nov-2019 By Jenny Eagle

Tetra Pak, and its supplier Braskem, has become the first company in the food and beverage industry to responsibly source plant-based polymers using the Bonsucro standards for sustainable sugar cane.

AIPIA Congress

NanoPack’s Active Food Packaging extends yellow cheese shelf life by up to 50%

18-Nov-2019 By Jenny Eagle

NanoPack has revealed the results of its EU-funded project on Active Food Packaging to extend the shelf life of yellow cheese, bread, and cherries.

Uflex launches 3D effect ‘Asepto Eye’ aseptic packaging for beverages

05-Nov-2019 By Jenny Eagle

Uflex Ltd has launched ‘Asepto Eye’ for beverages, to give aseptic packaging a 'stylish revival’.

USP expands raw material and high-volume customer accounts in Mexico, US, & Asia

04-Nov-2019 By Jenny Eagle

United Soft Plastics (USP) has opened a production facility in Houston in response to demand for its thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) products

Revised packaging standard to come into force February 2020

30-Oct-2019 By Jenny Eagle

With a rising scrutiny on the safety and quality of packaging, Bureau Veritas is encouraging packaging organisations to look at the latest requirements in the recently published BRCGS Packaging Standard.

Smithers top sustainable technologies defining future foodservice packaging

30-Oct-2019 By Jenny Eagle

Single-use foodservice packaging is increasingly being defined by the sustainability agenda, creating opportunities for innovative materials and formats that can match the performance of existing pack designs with a lower carbon footprint.

AIPIA Congress 2019

Kezzler expands serialization and traceability operations in Asia

25-Oct-2019 By Jenny Eagle

Kezzler has expanded its serialization and traceability operations by opening an office in Singapore, appointing Pengfei Zhang as director of pre-sales and delivery.

Somic reduces footprint with slower, more precise ReadyPack

25-Oct-2019 By Beth Newhart

At this year’s Pack Expo show, Somic revealed an entry-level, end-of-line case packing system that slows down the process with a capacity for 160 products per minute.

ECMA Congress 2019

There is a rise in the acquisition of plastic packaging firms despite the ‘war against plastic’

23-Oct-2019 By Jenny Eagle

‘There is a trend for plastic packaging acquisitions despite all the bad rap for plastic, and that’s despite companies such as DS Smith turning towards Amazon,’ claims Nick Mockett, head of packaging M&A, Moorgate Capital.

Grupo Lala reveals cheese inventory shortage in Mexico

23-Oct-2019 By Beth Newhart

In the company’s third quarter report, Grupo Lala discussed an ‘operational issue’ at one of its Mexican cheese plants, resulting in an inventory shortage and 8.8% volume loss.

Tetra Pak to explore graphene as a ‘breakthrough’ application in the F&B industry

17-Oct-2019 By Jenny Eagle

Tetra Pak has joined the European Commission Graphene Flagship project to explore future applications of graphene in food and beverage (F&B) manufacturing.

Packaging cheese for c-store needs

10-Oct-2019 By Beth Newhart

Dairy companies at this year’s National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) show highlighted protein products, though cheese snacks at the US convenience store haven’t changed much in the last decade, with sticks and bars still ruling the aisles.

ECMA Congress 2019

Confusion remains over compostability of cartons and SUP directive on coated cartonboard

02-Oct-2019 By Jenny Eagle

Manufacturers in the carton industry are concerned that confusion remains over the compostability of cartons, MOSH (Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons) and MOAH (Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons) and the SUP (Single-Use Plastics) directive on coated...