Tom Collins, Insight & Innovation Analyst, Bord Bia – Irish Food Board

The predominant theme over the last year in these updates has been sustainability and we have seen some great pack innovations with natural material substitutions which we hope will continue in 2013.

“Self-talking package” wins “WorldStar Packaging Award 2013”

Wipak’s “self-talking package” has received the WorldStar Packaging Award 2013 having been decided by an International jury in late November. Wipak systems’ teach packages to “talk” and for this innovation they received an award in the Electronics category. The jury of 25 was convinced of the large range of possible applications, the added value for consumers, the simple handling  and last but not least of the originality of the concept. Music, sound or voice can be added almost invisibly on the package via a special code. A special, pen-shaped reader is used to retrieve the stored information and to replay it as audio files. No RFID or microchips are required instead the dot code is simply printed over images and texts by means of a special varnish and can be used with all printing technologies and package types. This system breaks absolutely new ground for manufacturers and retailers to address their customers, supporting the demographic change and the related challenges to retailers and food producers, said Adolf Ahrens, Director Pack Design at Wipak Walsrode.

Chocolate wrapped in compostable packaging film

Alce Nero, an Italian consortium, has chosen compostable NatureFlex to wrap its range of Fair Trade chocolate. We decided to move from standard plastic to a biodegradable and compostable alternative to wrap our chocolate bars. Metallized NatureFlex from Innovia Films was a perfect fit for us due not only to its environmental attributes but also its excellent barrier properties to keep our organic Fair Trade chocolate in premium condition, explained Nicoletta Maffini, Marketing Manager of Alce Nero.

Walki produces paper-based pods for French coffee producer

Laminates and protective packaging material firm Walki has linked up with Swedish paper manufacturer Korsnäs to produce new paper-based coffee pods for the Malongo coffee company. According to Walki, its brief was to deliver a barrier for the pod frame, and a paper-based packaging material for the individual pods, observing the need of recyclability and the sensitivity of coffee. Korsnäs provided the thermo – formable paper for the material, while Walki developed the special coating for it.

Cirio uses APPE PET bottle for passata brand

The suitability of PET for sauces and condiments has been underlined by the introduction of one of Italy’s leading Passata brands from Cirio, in a barrier PET bottle. The new bottle provides an ambient shelf life of 18 months, which is comparable with Cirio’s glass bottles, but also offers the better transparency and it’s a lighter weight. The bottle incorporates the company’s Bind-Ox technology to give it an extended shelf life. Bind-Ox is an active barrier that traps oxygen and binds it into the bottle wall, thus preventing it from reaching the product.

Vichy Catalán mineral water in cans

Vichy Catalán has introduced natural mineral water in cans and is the only Spanish producer to market its product in this packaging format. Their new product, Vichy Catalán Limón – mineral water with natural lemon flavour, is also to be made available in 33cl standard aluminum cans. Beverage cans keep their contents cool and fresh for a long time, they are unbreakable and they are very light, making them the ideal container for products designed to provide refreshment any place and any time said Myriam Galmés, sales manager at Ball Packaging Europe. They also have an image as a cool, lifestyle packaging choice, giving traditional brands and products a means of reaching young consumers.

FFP has fresh ideas for Morrisons fresh fish with Esterpeel Cook

Consumers often report that they see fresh fish to be difficult to handle and prepare. Shoppers at Morrisons’ fish counters have a new option, making it easy to store, cook and clean up after fresh fish. FFP Packaging Solutions are supplying new Esterpeel Cook direct-to-oven heat-sealable bags to add whole fish or fish portions along with a knob of flavoured butter which is then sealed in-store to create a neat cooking pack that also locks any fishy odors inside. Once home, the Esterpeel Cook pack is placed directly into the oven, with no need to touch or handle the raw fish. In the oven, the butter suffuses the fish with delicious flavors, while the polyester pack provides a self-contained cooking cell that keeps the fish moist and tender. The bags are manufactured from heat-seal polyester, printed with a two-colour design that carries the Morrisons branding along with cooking instructions.

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