Amcor has launched its new Clear-Tite 40 shrink bag solution for fresh and processed meat, said to achieve a 19% reduction in weight when compared to standard 50µ shrink bags.
The company states that at 40µ, the Clear-Tite 40 reduces the amount of plastic used per product while maintaining product freshness. Apparently, the Clear-Tite 40 bag achieves an estimated 16% reduction in the packaging’s carbon footprint, based on Amcor’s ASSET Life Cycle Assessment system, with the comparison based on cradle-to-gate analysis of baseline packaging vs comparison product.
The solution is said to have high shrink performance and visual appeal, allowing shoppers to clearly see the product at point of purchase. Amcor says all its shrink bags are also printable, aiming to assist brands with catching consumers’ attention with ‘wrinkle-free’ packaging.
According to Amcor, the shrink bag’s weight reduction provides an opportunity for manufacturers and brands to reduce their Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees. The company states that customers who currently use 50µ shrink bags could save up to 19% in EPR by adopting the new Clear-Tite 40, when compared to fee calculations for Clear-Tite 50 in Germany, the UK, Netherlands, Spain, France and Italy.
“The technical requirements for shrink bags make them notoriously difficult to make more sustainable, so the launch of Clear-Tite 40 is a major breakthrough for the industry. This new solution is a huge step forwards; promising a significant reduction in the amount of plastic used per bag, without compromising shelf life,” said Rosalia Rosalinova, senior marketing manager at Amcor.
In April, Nestlé revealed a recyclable shrink sleeve label with light-blocking print technology for its ready-to-drink Nesquik portfolio. Reportedly, the shrink sleeve does not need to be removed before disposal and can be recycled together with the bottle and cap.
More recently, we spoke with Mondi’s packaging innovation scale manager for flexible packaging, Jakub Vilánek, about Hug&Hold – its recyclable, paper-based shrink wrap alternative said to reduce carbon footprint by 43% compared to LDPE shrink wrap. Vilánek said Mondi is the first to manufacture and market a complete concept that offers a strong solution made from renewable and fully recyclable materials, suitable for existing paper waste streams across Europe.
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