adapa FlexiClose 12.03.24

Flexible packaging company Adapa has introduced its FlexiClose(re) AMX top film for Dutch cheese company Vergeer’s sliced Gouda products, in line with its Designed for Recycling specifications.

According to Adapa, an existing mono APET material was used for the base film of the packaging, with the top film needing reliable sealing properties and an additional reclose function to preserve the product freshness after opening. Vergeer also wanted the film to enable printing for presentation in retail stores and be as resource efficient as possible.

Adapa states its FlexiClose(re) AMX is a top film based on polyolefins that allows for reliable sealing against the mono APET base film. The composition of the film ensures that it can be removed from the packaging evenly, without tearing or rolling, while still allowing for reclosure, and the weight of the top film has been reduced by almost one gram per square meter overall.

Along with adjustments to the base film thickness and packaging dimensions, Vergeer has reportedly been able to reduce the material usage for its Gouda packaging by 26 to 30 percent overall. Apparently, with a density of less than 1 g/cm3, the printed top film can largely be separated in recycling plants using the float-sink separation process, allowing the mono APET to be recycled again.

Benjamin Leviez, product and application specialist manager at Adapa, concludes:

“To meet the requirements of modern packaging, true specialists are necessary. Nowadays, retailers set specific packaging goals that food manufacturers like Vergeer must meet. Consumers also expect providers to address sustainability concerns. However, divergent recycling systems make it difficult to design packaging that is equally recyclable in different European countries. With our comprehensive expertise, we will support Vergeer in the future, as well as our entire customer base, in developing efficient solutions for the highly dynamic conditions in the European market.”

In similar news, last year Novolex announced its ‘recyclable’ food packaging containers, reportedly made with a minimum of 10% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content. Manufactured by Novolex brand Waddington North America (WNA), the products include various sizes of dessert cups, tamper-evident containers, cake containers and bakery clamshells.

In the same month, Howard Wright, executive creative and strategic director EMEA & Canada at Equator Design, spoke to us about the trends in pet food packaging. He highlighted the use of materials such as biodegradable plastics and compostable packaging, how transparency in packaging allows consumers to make informed buying choices and the rise of customized packaging.

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