IT training the grocer TruePDF 16 march 2019

16 MARCH 2019

GUIDE TO...

PACKAGING


THE GROCER GUIDE TO...
PACKAGING

ANALYSIS

PACKAGING
GETS CRACKING
This constantly evolving sector is pulling out all the stops to
ensure its solutions are not just good for the planet but also
for the brand, Johanna Thomson reports

2 l 16 March 2019 l www.thegrocer.co.uk

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There are very few areas of
grocery – or any other
industry for that matter –
that have to tick so many
diverse boxes in order to
survive. Not only does packaging have to
be attractive, it also has to be practical in
terms of supply chain, be sustainable and

help sell the product.
The use or overuse of plastics is still
high on the packaging agenda and even
after the horrific images of the sea of
plastic seen on Blue Planet, the use of
packaging is still growing. It is estimated
there are over 150 million tonnes of plastic in the world’s oceans and every year
one million birds and over 100,000 sea
mammals die from eating and getting
tangled in plastic waste. A recent report
estimates that plastic in the sea is set to
treble by 2025. Something has to change.
So, in December, the government
announced the launch of a £60m innovation fund to accelerate the development of sustainable plastic packaging.
The funding, to be bolstered by industry
support, and delivered by UK Research
and Innovation (UKRI) through the
Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund. Businesses will be able to access this funding
through UKRI managed competitions to
meet the challenge of developing smart
sustainable plastic packaging.
But how can retailers help in the battle
against plastic while still meeting health
and safety regs and consumers’ demand
for convenience?
“Retailers are finding themselves in a
perfect storm of media coverage, grassroot consumer and NGO campaigns and
governmental changes, all driving a
desire to reduce plastic and provide more
sustainable packaging options,” says Erik

Lindroth, sustainability director, Tetra
Pak North Europe.
“For supermarkets, packaging isn’t
something that can change overnight,
but they can start to consider the wider
picture when it comes to the food they
stock or package themselves. Solutions
that will help to keep products tasting
great and protect the goodness within,
but that are low-plastic, recyclable, and
still convenient for consumer use.”
This shift in mindset is already
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For supermarkets,
❝
packaging isn’t
something that
can be changed
over night

❞

happening and Tetra Pak cites a Budgens in North London that has become
the first supermarket in Britain to introduce a plastic-free zone. Waitrose is now
selling tomatoes in punnets made of
leaves and Iceland has an Indian microwave meal range packaged in plant-based
paper pots rather than plastic food trays.
“There is no simple answer,” adds
Lindroth. “Limiting plastic usage must

be complemented by actions to address
the overall environmental impact – like
ensuring it comes from sustainable
sources, and that once recycled, it can be
turned into new products.”

CONTENTS
Coveris: Driving sustainable change
across paper and plastic ........................................... 6
FSC: UK charity that advises on the use
of forest-based materials ........................................ 8
Tetra Pak: Committed to ‘protecting
what’s good’............................................................................. 9
Klöckner Pentaplast: The top user of
recyclable plastics........................................................... 10
Noluma: Proves that protected
packaging pays ................................................................... 12
Pro Carton: Explains why cartons offer
the solutions ...........................................................................14
Ulma: The driving force in packaging
advancements..................................................................... 18
This supplement to The Grocer was published by: William Reed Business Media
Ltd, Broadfield Park, Crawley, West Sussex RH11 9RT. Tel: 01293 613400. Editor:
Johanna Thomson. Designer: Amber Stoddart Printers: St Ives. © William Reed
Business Media Ltd.

For Pro Carton the important thing is
to reduce the amount of non-sustainable packaging and wasteful packaging.
“Every time I walk around a supermarket
I see plenty of examples of products that

could be packaged in more sustainable
materials,” says Tony Hitchin, general
manager. “Whilst many brand owners
and retailers are tackling the issue with
gusto there are still lots of opportunities
for change.
“According to our research, 89% of UK
consumers would choose to shop at a
supermarket or retailer that proactively
encouraged more environmentally
friendly packaging from its suppliers, so
it is in the interests of retailers to respond
to public opinion.”
It requires both an end-to-end
approach and the need to consider food
waste and the packaging/plastics postconsumer phase, believes Coveris. Adam
Robinson, Pack Positive centre manager,
explains: “Simplification of materials, package size reduction, component
reduction, pushing combined pack and
fixture design all offer significant opportunities to support packaging reduction
whilst still meeting the core roles that
packaging has always played.”
CHANGING MINDS
It is fair to say that it must work both
ways when it comes to reducing waste
and it is not just up to packaging producers and retailers – consumers have to
alter their expectations too.
The 5p charge on plastic bags has been
a phenomenal success and proves that,
whether we like it or not, money talks. It

is now quite normal to see shoppers pulling out old plastic bags or using a bag-forlife at the till. It is no longer seen as being
a cheapskate, it’s seen as responsible.
Pro Carton carried out a Packaging
Perceptions consumer research study
that suggested shoppers would pay a
small premium for more environmentally-friendly packaging.
“Over 5000 of the 7000 people we interviewed said they would be prepared
to pay more if the packaging was more
environmentally friendly,” says Hitchin.
“Clearly, attitude and behaviour may
differ, but it shows the strength 4 ❯❯❯
www.thegrocer.co.uk l 16 March 2019 l 3


THE GROCER GUIDE TO...
PACKAGING

ANALYSIS

❯❯❯

3 of feeling on the issue.”
To get past the initial intuitive,
emotional and embedded responses
consumers have to product and packaging, they need to take a more considered
view according to Coveris. Robinson
adds: “Providing consistent, correct
easily understood information about
packaging, the role it plays, its recyclability and broader sustainability factors
is critical to this.”

Tetra Pak is of the opinion that consumer behaviours are shifting in tandem
with packaging and retailer’s efforts.
“Consumers expect their food and drink
to be consistent in taste, colour, texture
and nutritional value,” Lindroth. “While
retailers’ priorities have been to provide
this in the most convenient and costefficient way possible, there is now more
pressure to ensure these packages are
sustainable, and for consumers to think
about the impact their waste has on the
environment. Consumer behaviours are
therefore shifting in tandem, as interest
in ‘doing their bit’ to help the environment becomes more front of mind.”

KEY TRENDS
Unsurprisingly, all packaging producers
agree that the main trend is towards sustainable packaging formats. Labelling on
pack to inform shoppers about the recycling credentials of a product are also
becoming increasingly important.
FSC Rosie Teasdale, executive director,
says: “The vast majority of consumers
are now saying they want information
on-pack and demand more information about the environmental status
and implications of their products and
packaging.
“However, there is also a perception
that companies don’t communicate
honestly about their environmental
and social responsibility. Therefore, independent certification adds credibility to
ethical and environmental claims. It’s

likely, therefore, that we’ll see an increase
in the number and prominence of certification labels on pack.
“Using FSC-certified packaging
ensure that you are not contributing to
global deforestation and trust in FSC
is high. A global survey found that 82%
4 l 16 March 2019 l www.thegrocer.co.uk

of FSC-certified companies agree that
FSC certification helps them to create a
positive corporate image. The FSC label
and associated marketing assets enable
businesses to communicate about their
responsible sourcing of paper, board and
other forest-based products and packaging in a way that is both meaningful and
attractive.”
Due the limited options for films that
are recyclable in the UK, Polyethylene
Film (PE Film) that is defined as recyclable with an On Pack Recycling Label,
is expected to grow. This is driven by
impending changes to UK Producer
Responsibility taxation and the UK Plastics Pact along with consumer pressure.
There is also an ongoing interest in
compostable materials. “But it remains
to be seen whether this becomes a trend
due to the lack of post-consumer collection and composting infrastructure,”
says Coveris’ Robinson. “We also see
increased interest in our paperboard
products as retailers look to reduce the
level of rigid plastic packaging across

their product range.”
Fast food is also moving into more
paper-based solutions and the grocery
trade is doing likewise. Pro Carton’s
Hitchin says: “We expect to see more
mono materials and also an increase in
the development and adoption of biobased barrier materials made from plants
rather than fossil-based polymers.”
For over 10 years leading plastics
manufacturer Klöckner Pentaplast (KP)
has been at the forefront of sustainable
packaging with solutions made from
100% post-consumer recycled PET, (rPET).
Dr. Helene Roberts, MD of UK and
Australia says: “Since 2009, our UK site
in Featherstone has been delivering rPET
solutions that can be further recycled, so
thereby supporting a circular economy.
All the PET used is now from post consumer sources. By investing in technology that cleans curbside collected PET
material and comply with all the food
regs, KP stands now as the top user of
recycled plastic within the packaging
industry in the UK. In 2018 KP used over
140.000 tonnes of PCR globally, supporting a plastic economy that creates value
and keeps plastic away from the oceans.”

It’s likely that
❝
we’ll see an increase in
the number of

certification labels
on pack

❞

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FINDING SOLUTIONS
So instead of talking about the problems... what are the solutions? Packaging is vital and can make or break
a product. The laminated paperboard
sandwich pack is a prime example of
packaging driving forward supply-chain
performance and efficiency alongside
consumer preference.
Coveris’ Robinson explains: “The pack
helped reposition and premiumise the
food-to-go sandwich market, fuelling
its ongoing growth, this was achieved
in parallel by delivering P+3 shelf life,
supporting supply-chain efficiencies and
reduced food waste. This pack format is
currently designated as widely recyclable
and will go through further innovation
to meet revised requirements from the
UK paper recycling sector between now
and 2022.”
Protecting the produce is the primary
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purpose of packaging and without finding solutions to provide protection can
directly effect the success of a product.
Noluma’s work with Jersey Girls Dairy,
a dairy farm based in Vermont USA, is a
great example of how introducing lightprotected packaging not only improves
quality for consumers, but can also
provide a real boost to sales.
Chris Pickles, MD at Ulma Packaging
UK, says: “Jersey Girls was concerned
when they found out that the packaging transporting the milk from farm
to customer was not protecting it from
the damage caused by light – both real
and artificial. Unless light is blocked by
purpose-made light-protected packaging,
it can have a significant negative impact
on the taste and nutritional content of
milk. So the Jersey Girls partnered with
Noluma to measure the light-protection
of its packaging and advise on the devel-

opment of a container that would fully
protect its farm-fresh milk.
“Through this partnership, Jersey
Girls launched a new light-protected
bottle, certified with a Noluma logo. The
campaign resulted in Jersey Girls’ sales
tripling in just two weeks.”
Black plastic is one of the most problematic forms of plastic to recycle. The
reason for this is that the method used
to colour the plastic means it can’t be recognised by the sorting systems used in

most recycling plants.
So why is it so difficult to cut down
on the use of black plastic? Coveris
explains this is simply due to it being
the most efficient, consistent, resilient
and cost-effective way to universally
frame a product. “It requires a broader,
more considered, more bespoke, and
typically more expensive approach to
product and packaging design to deliver
equivalent performance,” says Robinson. “It is more important than ever
that packaging design is considered at a
parallel, concurrent stage in the product
development process to enable the level
of consideration required to address the
complex issues we face, the use of black
plastic being but one.”
Greenpeace are calling on a ban black
plastic and other “problem plastics” by
the end of 2019. So there are still more
challenges on the horizon but this resilient and creative sector is more than
well-equipped to rise to it. The government’s £60m innovation fund hopes to
help develop new forms of packaging
and plastic made from farming, food and
industrial waste, like sugar beet, wood
chippings and food waste – moving
away from oil-based plastics. There are
plans for smart packaging labels – which
could tell consumers the right bin to put
recycling into and revolutionise the way

recycling is sorted in waste plants.
Live sell-by-date patches are also being
discussed – a living sell-by-date which
deteriorates at the same rate as produce
to show consumers when their food is
going off therefore cutting down on food
waste. So watch this space as packaging
continues to problem solve there will be
■
some fascinating innovations.
www.thegrocer.co.uk l 16 March 2019 l 5


THE GROCER GUIDE TO...
PACKAGING

COVERIS

PLASTIC AND
PAPER SOLUTIONS
DETAILS

Coveris
UK HQ:
Holland Place
Spalding
Lincolnshire PE11 3ZN

www.coveris.co.uk
KEY CONTACTS

Gary Rehwinkel
UK President
Mark Summers
Film Sales Director
Jo Ormrod
Paper & Board
Sales Director
Adam Robinson
Pack Positive
Centre Manager
KEY BRANDS

PE+ and OPE
recyclable films
Freshlife films
High-performance
functional films
and laminates
Self-adhesive and
linerless labels
Cartonboard and
hybrid laminate board

Positioned to drive sustainable
change, Coveris, one of Europe’s
largest manufacturers of both plastic and
paper packaging solutions, recently
launched its Pack Positive sustainability
strategy, in line with its UK Plastics Pact

commitments, to deliver four leading
industry targets; elimination of problematic or unnecessary single-use packaging;
100% recyclable plastic packaging by 2025;
30% recyclate plastic content by 2022; 20%
food waste reduction by 2025..
Having launched a first of its kind Pack
Positive sustainable development centre
and academic partnership with Leeds
Beckett University’s Retail Institute,
Adam Robinson, Pack Positive centre
manager explains how the new facility
is set to deliver the sustainable packaging of the future “Through its vertically
integrated innovation and manufacturing model, Coveris is in a unique industry position to drive sustainable change
across plastics and paper packaging.”
“Reducing our reliance on fossil fuels
and eliminating single-use plastics from
the supply-chain, Coveris is focused on
new and innovative ways to reduce and
‘design out’ unnecessary plastics, supporting the use of paper and board alternatives where there is no compromise to
food safety, shelf-life or product protection. Having recently worked with M&S
to replace traditional rigid and black plastic sushi packs with sustainably sourced
board, the packs provide a more widely

6 l 16 March 2019 l www.thegrocer.co.uk

recyclable solution whilst delivering
added-value brand positioning.

Coveris is
❝

in a unique
industry
position to
drive
sustainable
change across
plastics and
paper
packaging

❞

100% RECYCLABLE PLASTICS
Launched across several major retail lines
including Co-op prepared vegetables and
Tesco organic salads, Coveris’ PE+ films
provide a leading alternative to other not
yet recyclable UK plastics like OPP. Delivering the same protective, functional and
shelf-life benefits as existing solutions,
the mono film is easily recycled in the
same way that you would recycle a carrier bag in larger stores. Supported by
ongoing R&D into extrusion and material
science, recyclable PE solutions are being
developed for more complex materials
like laminates and barrier films.
30% RECYCLATE CONTENT
Operating its own circular production
model, Coveris are responsible for recycling over 6,000 tonnes of post-manufacturer and post-processer plastic waste,
and 6,500 tonnes of paper by-product
waste each year. With this being reprocessed by Coveris for secondary packaging reuse, they are also leading the

research and development of post-consumer recyclate content to meet 2022
legislative requirements.
20% FOOD WASTE REDUCTION
Despite food waste targets having seemingly moved down the ‘sustainable
agenda’, this remains key to Coveris’ Pack
Positive strategy for a sustainable future.
Targeting a 20% reduction in line with
Courtauld 2025, Coveris have recently
been awarded for their work in this field
for their Freshlife MAP film for Tesco and
Waitrose avocados. Scientifically developed in partnership with fruit and vegetable supplier Greencell, the packs deliver
at least +2 days shelf-life and a 25% quality improvement in ripe and ready-to-eat
avocados, significantly reducing instore
waste, improving consumer satisfaction
■
and product availability.
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PACKAGING

FSC

PACKED WITH IDEAS
DETAILS

Forest Stewardship
Council (FSC) UK

The Billiard Room
Town Hall
Llanidloes
Powys
SY18 6BN
01686413916

www.fsc-uk.org
KEY CONTACTS

Tallulah Chapman
Communications
Manager
Beth Bennett
Business Development
Manager

The world of packaging is in flux
and those in the industry are working hard to rethink and reform their
products. Testament to this is the recordbreaking visitor numbers at the NEC’s
Packaging Innovations 2019. The show
was buzzing and nowhere more so than
on the stand of the Forest Stewardship
Counci (FSC) UK, a UK charity that helps
businesses procure and supply products,
packaging and other forest-based materials from responsible sources.
Paper-based packaging can protect
goods, provide product information and
be both biodegradable and easily recyclable.
Rosie Teasdale, executive director says:

“However, forest-based materials such as
these can also be the product of deforestation or poor forestry practices: a threat
not only to the world’s forests but also to
business and brand reputation.

Paper
❝
packaging
protects,
provides
information,
can be
biodegradable
and easily
recyclable

❞

“Through responsible management
of forests, the FSC certification system
can help to secure a long-term source of
paper and other forest-based products.
FSC can enable you to demonstrate your
commitment to responsible forestry to
your customers.”
Packaging can carry the FSC label if it
is produced using FSC-certified materials
under a valid FSC chain of custody certificate. Including the FSC label on packaging is a great way to capitalise on one of
its key functions: promotion.
This is particularly important in

packaging and other applications where
sustainability can be a key differentiator.
Brands that use FSC-labelled packaging
can be granted authorisation to promote
it using the iconic FSC trademarks under
an FSC trademark licence, thus facilitating online, offline and in-store promo■
tions.

FSC® CERTIFIED PACKAGING
DOES MORE THAN LOOK
AFTER YOUR PRODUCTS,
IT LOOKS AFTER
OUR FORESTS TOO.

Our forests give us
many things, including
the packaging for some of
our favourite products.
FSC helps look after forests
and the people and wildlife
who call them home. So you
can choose paper, board and
other forest products while
keeping our forests full of life.
Choose FSC.
FSC®F000231
8 l 16 March 2019 l www.thegrocer.co.uk

www.fsc-uk.org
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TETRA PAK

PROTECT WHAT’S GOOD
DETAILS

Tetra Pak
Eagle House
Peregrine Business Park
Gomm Rd
High Wycombe
HP13 7DL
01494 886000
www.tetrapak.
co.uk/goodchoice
KEY CONTACTS

Erik Lindroth
Sustainability Director,
Tetra Pak North Europe
Ben Cutts
Business Development
Director, Tetra Pak
North Europe
KEY BRANDS

Tetra Pak

The problem of plastic pollution
has been building up for years, and
is now perhaps a top priority since nature
programmes like Blue Planet II. Consumers, retailers and producers need to think
of the bigger picture when it comes to
packaging choices - where the material
comes from, what it’s made of and what
happens after it’s recycled.
Erik Lindroth, sustainability director,
Tetra Pak North Europe says: “For us it’s
all about ‘protecting what’s good’, hence
why cartons are designed to be low in
plastic, easily recyclable and have low
CO2 impact. On average, 75% of our carton
is made from paperboard from trees – a
plant-based and renewable material.
“Because of this, only a small amount
of plastic needs to be used in beverage
cartons and after use, cartons can be
recycled in over 90% of local authority
areas. These recycled materials can then

❝

For us
it’s all about
‘protecting
what’s

good’

❞

WATER IN A
GOOD PACKAGE
JUST Water’s packaging is driven by
sustainability and a desire to do the right
things for our planet. The carton is mostly
made from renewable resources, is
recyclable and has a low CO 2 impact.

If sustainability is on your agenda, consider Tetra Pak
ccartons as your packaging choice today: www.tetrapak.co.uk

be made into new products like tubes,
cores and containers.”
Tetra Pak cartons can contain 80% less
plastic than an equivalent plastic bottle,
which is peace of mind for environmentally conscious consumers and brands
looking for more sustainable packaging
options. Tetra Pak has also been trialling
a paper straw that is suitable for portionsized carton packages, as part of a broader
programme to help address the issue of
plastic straw waste. Lindroth says: “You
can see the positive impact of choosing
cartons first hand through our work
with Just Water. Just Water chose Tetra
Top from Tetra Pak as an alternative to
plastic bottles and to reduce the impact

of bottled water on the environment.”
The carton is made mostly from paperboard from renewable sources, while the
cap is made from renewable plant-based
n
plastic from sugarcane. 


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PACKAGING

KP

CELEBRATING 10
YEARS OF RPET
DETAILS

Klöckner Pentaplast
4 Kingdom Street
London
W2 6BD
01977 692 111

KEY CONTACTS

Maurizio Carano
Marketing
Director EMEA
Helene Roberts
MD UK and Australia
KEY BRANDS

Elite
Ellipse
Jewel
Pentafood

For over 10 years leading plastics
manufacturer Klöckner Pentaplast
(KP) has been at the forefront of sustainable packaging with solutions made from
100% post-consumer recycled PET, (rPET).
Dr. Helene Roberts, MD of UK and
Australia says: “Since 2009, our UK site
in Featherstone has been delivering
rPET solutions that can be further recycled, so thereby supporting a circular
economy, and all the PET used is from
post consumer sources. By investing in
technology that allows us to clean curbside collected PET material and comply
with all the food contact regulations, KP
stands now as the top user of recycled
plastic within the packaging industry in
the UK. In 2018 KP has used over 140,000
tonnes of PCR globally, hence supporting
a plastic economy that creates value and
keeps plastic away from the oceans.”
KEY ROLE PLAYER
KP understands the important role that
the company can play within its value
chain. Designing and producing 100%
PCR made products and make sure they
can be further recycled is only part of the

work.

10  l  16 March 2019  l  www.thegrocer.co.uk

❝

KP stands
now as the top
user of recycled
plastic within
the packaging
industry in
the UK

❞

Dr Helene Roberts adds: “Communicating to retailers and consumers on the
opportunity presented by recycled plastic and our deep involvement with local
sorters and recyclers is more and more an
integral part of daily life.
“KP also has more than six active EU
funded projects that aim at pushing
these technologies even further.”
Klöckner Pentaplast believes this will
ultimately optimise processes involved
from end to end of the supply chain and
will create a true positive plastics economy. Dr Roberts says: “Our journey that
started 10 years ago in the UK has now
become an integral part of the Klöckner
Pentaplast global strategy on materials, aiming at further maximising the

content of PCR material in our product
n
lines.” 

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NOLUMA

PROTECTED
PACKAGING PAYS
DETAILS

Noluma
International, LLC
1007 Market Street
10th Floor
Wilmington
DE 19899
+1 (302) 773-2583

www.noluma.com/
KEY CONTACTS

Divya Chopra
President

Georgia Kollias
VP Global Brand
Development
Cathy Hyde
Business Director UK
Geert Sterkendries
Technical Director
UK/EU
KEY BRANDS

Noluma

We all know that consumers are
concerned about the issue of sustainability. However, a more fundamental question is often forgotten: how can
I be sure that the packaging is actually
doing an adequate job of protecting the
produce within?
Noluma president Divya Chopra says:
“And it’s a question that, when asked and
then addressed, can have real commercial benefits for FMCG brands. Noluma’s
work with Jersey Girls Dairy, a dairy farm
based in Vermont USA, is a good example of how introducing light-protected
packaging not only improves quality for
consumers, but can also provide a real
boost to sales.
“As a company, Jersey Girls takes pride
in making sure their artisanal milk is of
the highest possible quality. As such,
they were concerned when they found
out that the packaging transporting the

milk from farm to customer was not
protecting it from the damage caused
by light, both real and artificial. Unless
light is blocked by purpose-made lightprotected packaging, it can have a significant negative impact on the taste and
nutritional content of milk.
“To preserve nutrients, freshness and
sensory qualities, Jersey Girls partnered
with Noluma to measure the light-protection of its packaging and advise on the
development of a container that would
fully protect its farm-fresh milk.
“Through this partnership, Jersey Girls
launched a new light-protected bottle,
certified with a Noluma logo, and used

12  l  16 March 2019  l  www.thegrocer.co.uk

❝

Carton is
truly the most
sustainable
packaging
material

❞

local campaigns to help educate people
about how all kinds of light affect milk.
The campaign resulted in Jersey Girls’
sales tripling in just two weeks.”

SO HOW DOES IT WORK?
Noluma is the first company to use technology to assess, measure and certify
light protection in packaging. Noluma’s
testing process replicates two weeks of
light exposure in just two hours, and can
measure sensory changes 99% more accurately than conducting a standard evaluation with a panel of expert taste testers.
The team can then assess the effectiveness of the packaging and offer
guidance on how to redesign packaging
to adequately protect from light damage.
Noluma objectively collaborates with
consumer-packaged goods companies
and their convertors to find the most
effective ways to enhance the light protection of packaging.
Noluma is the only company to certify
products that meet the highest standards
of light protection, providing them with
a Noluma logo to reassure consumers
that the products have been protected.
Chopra concludes: “As the Jersey Girls
case study demonstrates, once consumers become aware of light damage, they
will begin to look for light-protected
packaging solutions that preserve the
goodness in the brands they love. When
consumers see the Noluma logo, they’ll
know that the product is sufficiently protected, and will be of the same quality as
n
it was when it left the farm.”

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BPIF CARTONS AND PRO CARTON

CARTONS OFFER
THE SOLUTION

DETAILS

BPIF Cartons
www.bpifcartons.
org.uk
Pro Carton
www.procarton.com
KEY CONTACTS

Jon Clark
General Manager
of BPIF Cartons
enquiries@
bpifcartons.org.uk
Tony Hitchin
General Manager
of Pro Carton


Consumers’ perceptions of packaging have changed dramatically

over the last two years prompting Pro
Carton, the European association of carton and cartonboard manufacturers, to
undertake a huge Europe-wide survey to
understand exactly what consumers felt
and how this is affecting their behaviour.
The independent European Consumer
Packaging Perceptions study, surveyed a
total of 7,000 consumers across the UK,
France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland
and Turkey. The results revealed that two
thirds (68%) of Europeans felt being environmentally-friendly was now more, or
very important to them and 74% accepted
that media coverage on packaging waste
has actually influenced their purchasing
habits. In the UK over two thirds (68%)
said that the environmental impact of
a product’s packaging now affects their
purchasing decisions.
Tony Hitchin, general manager of Pro
Carton, said: “The prevailing consumer
trend towards more environmentallyfriendly packaging means that if shoppers have a choice, they are much more
likely to choose the sustainable option
even if it costs a bit more. In the UK more
than four out of five (85%) of consumers
surveyed said that given the choice, they
would choose cartonboard/cardboard
packaging over plastic.”
Hitchin added: “Cartonboard is truly
the most sustainable packaging material. Not only is it renewable, coming

Left to right: Tony
Hitchin, general
manager of Pro
Carton; Jon Clark,
general manager of
BPIF Cartons.
14  l  16 March 2019  l  www.thegrocer.co.uk

❝
Cartonboard is
truly the most
sustainable
packaging
material

❞

from trees grown in sustainably managed forests but it is, of course, recyclable
and biodegradable, making it the perfect
example of the circular economy.”
Brands are beginning to make the
switch to cartonboard and out of less sustainable materials. Jon Clark, the general
manager of BPIF Cartons – the trade association for the UK folding carton industry
– commented: “We’ve seen the demand
for carton packaging grow significantly
and there’s been major investment
throughout the industry to satisfy the
need for more sustainable packaging.”
PROTECTS THE ENVIRONMENT
Hitchin points out that although shoppers understand that packaging’s primary function is to protect its contents,

there is also a growing awareness of the
importance of protecting the environment. He says: “‘Easy to recycle’ ranks
second behind “protecting the product”
as one of the most important packaging
features, followed by ‘made of natural,
renewable materials’, ahead of factors
such as providing nutritional information and ease of opening.
Consumers also want more information on-pack about the packaging. A
resounding 90% of shoppers in all countries said they’d like information on-pack
about the environmentally-friendliness
of packaging. But perhaps the most
telling number was the level of dissatisfaction with the pace of change. An
incredible 72% of UK shoppers felt that
retailers and brand owners weren’t doing
enough to introduce more environmentally friendly packaging.
The industry is now challenged with
changing the status quo by replacing
non-sustainable packaging with more
environmentally-friendly such as cartonboard and other paper-based materials
and in doing so make the changes necessary to future-proof their products to the
benefit of the environment – and their
n
profits.
AN ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE GROCER





THE GROCER GUIDE TO...

PACKAGING

ULMA

DRIVING FORCE
IN PACKAGING
DETAILS

Ulma Packaging UK
Unit 2, Church Lane
Dinnington
Sheffield
S25 2LY
01909 506504
sales@ulmapackaging.
co.uk
www.ulmapackaging.
co.uk
KEY CONTACTS

Chris Pickles
Managing Director
KEY PRODUCTS

TFS 200 MSV
(thermoformer)
TFS 407R
(thermoformer)
Venturi System
Tight Bag (VFFS air

extraction system)

Ulma Packaging UK is a leading
provider of specialist packaging
machinery solutions, supplying some of
the best-known names in the British
food industry. From tray sealing systems, thermoformers, horizontal flow
wrappers and vertical form fill sealers to
shrink heat sealing, sleeve and stretch
film wrapping – as well as fully automated line and product handling solutions – there is no packaging need or
challenge that can’t be catered for and
met.
CHAMPIONING CHANGE
As part of the ULMA Group, which has its
global headquarters and main packaging
machinery production facilities in Oñati,
Spain, Ulma UK offers world-class innovation, heritage and high-quality equipment that is designed and manufactured
based on over 60 years of continuous
development and technical expertise.
This means Ulma UK covers a wide
variety of markets, including meat, poultry, fish, pet food, baked goods, confectionary, cheese, dried fruit, fresh produce
and ready meals, with business development specialists in each sector working
in partnership with customers to meet
their individual packaging needs.
Always seeking to introduce and
improve efficiencies in the supply chain,
Ulma UK is environmentally minded too.
As well as helping businesses achieve
their operational goals and delivery
targets, one of its top priorities is to

help food producers and Britain’s leading supermarkets reduce the amount of
plastic packaging and film entering the
marketplace, whilst using the latest in
energy saving components.
A GAME CHANGER
Ulma’s Venturi System for example, is
set to be a game changer in the UK loose
leaf salad market following successful trials in the fresh herb sector. The unique
packaging method is designed to miti-

18  l  16 March 2019  l  www.thegrocer.co.uk

❝

There is
no packaging
need or
challenge that
can’t be
catered for
and met

❞

gate damage to light leaves by creating a
vacuum under the produce and accelerating it into the bag.
The application has a host of other
benefits when compared to conventional
packaging methods. Unlike traditional
vertical packaging machines where the

re-work required for bags with product
entrapment in the seal is between 7-10%,
the Venturi System’s use of air to pull the
product all the way down to the bottom
of the bag safely can lead to a significant
reduction in re-work.
The system has proven to show
a reduction in line operatives and
increased output. The bag length and
width can also be reduced thanks to the
fact that the product is pulled further
inside the packaging during sealing,
which saves money, film and material
wastage throughout the process.
Other recent innovations introduced
in the UK include Ulma’s TFS407R thermoformer, which reduces film waste by
up to 40 per cent, and the revolutionary
VFFS Air Extraction System (Tight Bag),
which removes excess air using a controlled vacuum before sealing the bag.
During trials, at least 10-20% more packs
per pallet were achieved, reducing logistics costs.
Chris Pickles, MD at Ulma Packaging
UK,says: “Growing concerns over plastic
pollution and the impact of food packaging waste on the environment is increasing the demand for more sustainable
alternatives. The good news is that the
availability of innovative machinery, like
the Venturi System, TFS407R thermoformer and Tight Bag method, are already
helping to make waste reduction a reality.
“We are always working on developing
the next ‘big thing’ to benefit the packaging industry and there will be more exciting developments to follow with a focus

on reducing pack sizes and film usage
while increasing compatibility with biodegradable and recyclable materials.” n
AN ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE GROCER



WILLIAM REED BUSINESS MEDIA LTD
Broadfield Park, Crawley, West Sussex, RH11 9RT
Tel:01293 613400 Fax: 01293 610380
www.thegrocer.co.uk