ITC Packaging has combined separable, ‘100% recyclable’ plastic and cardboard components to develop its thermoformed CombiCup for hot and cold, ready-to-drink and dairy products.
CombiCup aspires to bring together the ‘natural appearance’ of paper and the ‘practicality’ and ‘versatility’ of plastic in pursuit of a completely recyclable packaging solution. At end-of-life, its zip-shape die-cut is designed to help consumers easily separate the cardboard and plastic components and recycle them in their respective streams.
Until that point, its heat-sealed closure is set to preserve the organoleptic properties of the food or drink it packages in various environmental conditions, including freezing, cold, and room temperatures.
Right now, the cup is available with a capacity of 200ml and a 75mm diameter, but ITC emphasizes that it can be adapted to fit different shapes and capacities. Recycled paper can also be incorporated into the cup.
ITC hopes the pack will help customers differentiate themselves on an increasingly competitive market; satisfy increasing consumer demand for both practical and sustainable packaging design; and drive its own commitments to the circular economy and sustainability-minded practice. It is also set to comply with existing environmental regulations and rules.
“CombiCup is another step forward as part of our pledge to carry on supplying packaging solutions that are both practical and also environmentally friendly,” says project and innovation director Jesús Burbano. “It is the perfect packaging solution for dairy or on-the-go products.”
A similar development has come to light on the shelves of popular retailers like Asda, Lidl, M&S, and Tesco. Greiner Packaging has provided seven big names with a self-separating packaging solution for their own-brand instant porridge lines; the cardboard wrap is designed to remove itself from the plastic pot during the waste disposal process, a move thought to achieve a recyclability rate of up to 98%.
Huhtamaki has also unveiled recyclable, single-coated paper cups for dairy products such as yoghurt. Said to contain less than 10% plastic, the solution is reportedly manufactured in Europe and fully recyclable across the continent.
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