UK production and marketing group Berry Gardens is teaming with sustainable packaging manufacturer Coveris to launch a new printed lidding film containing more than 30% post-consumer recyclate (PCR).
This first-to-market film is being utilized across all of Berry Gardens’ fruit lines, including strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and other stone fruit. Berry Gardens have been responsible for in innovative approaches using recycled content in everyday products.
“Moving to the rPET film on our punnets will allow us to have the same transparency and technical properties as virgin material, but with reduced carbon impact and significant plastic reduction from the supply chain,” said Siobhan Parks Berry Gardens’ Head of Packaging. “This is just one example of how we are leading the way in packaging for the UK soft fruit sector by creating stable end markets for recycled content in packaging.”
The film, in fact, offsets the requirement for virgin polymer, removing around 53,000 kilos annually. The film also supports the 30% recycled content requirement for the 2022 plastics packaging tax with the option of up to 50% recyclate available.
The new rPET film is sealed to the existing rPET tray to offer a fully recycled plastic solution. It can be peeled back for reuse.
Along with Coveris’ Freshlife perforation and anti-mist properties, the packs +4 days shelf-life via improved moisture management.
“Launching any packaging into a sensitive product category like berries presents unique technical challenges regardless of material, so to maintain shelf-life and packing performance via a recycled alternative goes one step further,” said Eric Valette, Innovation Director for Coveris’ Flexibles business.
