Tata Steel is presenting its collaboration with Grupo Calvo – a canned tuna pack aiming to lightweight steel packaging, reduce food waste, and stand out on the shelf – at this year’s METPACK.
The solution makes use of Tata Steel’s Protact, a steel substrate with a three-layer polymer coating on each side. Its organoleptic properties preserve the taste of canned food while its low porosity level is ideal for food packed in oil and brine, the company claims.
In this collaboration, the internal polypropylene layer apparently facilitates the can’s direct seal concept, which negates the need for a can ring and is said to reduce the weight of the steel by 24%. The plastic interior is reported to prevent residue from remaining inside the can when the tuna is removed, thus lessening food waste. This particular application is also thought to cut down on food oil by 15%.
In turn, the polymer coating allows Grupo Calvo to apply its Vuelca Fácil or ‘Easy Flip’ aluminium film lid; this is expected to enable an easy and safe opening process.
Coating colours such as white, black, metallic silver, and gold are all available with Protact, and the customisation hopes to increase shelf impact.
“We were delighted to work with Grupo Calvo developing this can,” said Huib Simon, head of Marketing Packaging at Tata Steel. “BPA-free Protact is our leading-edge, polymer coated, food-safe product, and has now been extended to include new tailored variants further optimised for efficient and sustainable canmaking. The new variants encompass all formats - two-piece as well as three-piece cans, ends and components.
“Protact’s polymer coating system simplifies canmaking operations while lowering the environmental footprint, energy and water consumption and eliminating VOC emissions, making it a must-see product at METPACK this year.”
Martín Barbaresi, marketing director of Grupo Calvo’s Europe Division, added: “Through Vuelca Fácil, the Calvo brand has enabled a new way of consuming canned tuna that is more efficient, convenient and sustainable.
“We have been shaping the evolution of one of the most widely consumed canned products in our country, with milestones such as low-sodium light tuna and, more recently, light tuna with fifty per cent less fat, as well as Foodie tuna salads with edamame and chickpeas. Today, we continue to drive change with our new Vuelca Fácil packaging.”
Last year, Tata Steel Nederland revealed its green steel solution, Zeremis Carbon Lite, which expected to reduce the European average for CO2 intensity by 30%.
In more recent news, steel and aluminium beverage containers have become compatible with the Netherlands’ national deposit return system, and Tesco has worked alongside Keep Sea Blue to implement recycled plastics into its fish packaging in an effort to prevent marine pollution.
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