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In line with its recent acquisition of BMP TAPPI, Essentra PLC is trialling alternative materials to single-use plastics for future protective cap and plug ranges, implementing post-consumer recycled content and biodegradable bioplastics.

Tests are being carried out in collaboration with the Essentra Centre of Excellence in Kidlington, UK; these are set to examine how the new integrations could enhance the sustainability of the manufacturing process and meet demand from Italian and Southern European customers.

Essentra also plans to utilize the 115 injection moulding machines at BMP TAPPI’s facility to boost production. It is currently introducing 1,500 products into its manufacturing lines and serves 3,300 live accounts, and hopes to manufacture a wider range of caps and plugs in higher numbers with speed and efficiency.

New products and developments in production and tooling capability are set to be announced in Q2 and across the rest of the year. Essentra highlights that its current range includes ‘a number of sustainably sourced products’.

“The BMP TAPPI team is very excited about being part of the Essentra family and about what the future holds,” says Nicolas Karoui, integration director at Essentra. “We are building on very strong foundations with proven products and a management team committed to further strengthening our European presence and global manufacturing footprint.”

In a similar endeavour, Blue Ocean Closures previously sought to drive development for its recyclable, biobased screw cap by partnering with Coca-Cola’s EMEA R&D Center in Brussels.

Hoffmann Neopac has also designed its LowPro Flip-Top Caps for its renewable, biobased, and recyclable EcoDesign tubes. The caps are intended to use less material in pharmaceutical, beauty, and oral care product packaging.

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