Eco-friendly packaging cuts paper and energy use

New at the trade fair Drinktec ’09, Munich, Germany, Cap-it packages use significantly less paper than conventional designs at a price comparable with shrink wrap packaging, the company’s marketing manager Keith Brimble, told FoodProductionDaily.com.

“Our Cap-it paperboard packages are made from a sustainable, recyclable, renewable ecologically friendly raw material​,” he said. “In addition to the inbuilt advantages offered by the medium, we have been working hard to minimize the fibre content in our packages. This is not only the right thing to do from an environmental standpoint, but also offers customers competitively priced packages for today’s cost-sensitive market place​.”

Minimal packaging ​

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Its minimal packaging design allows consumers to view the bottled beverages which is said to provide added quality assurance.

The multipack needs only die-cutting and can be transported flat to improve truck load pack-out. Energy consumption for manufacturing and delivering Cap-it multipacks is claimed to be significantly lower than the energy used for Hicone plastic rings.

Other recent minimum fibre packages from the company include a range of can and bottle clips and a two-piece, fully enclosed carton for bottles. This is designed to allow the use of reduced caliper and low–fibre packages which can be run on existing equipment, claimed the company.

The company said it launched the new product in response to consumers’ and clients’ demands for sustainable innovation in packaging products.

Graphic Packaging’s Cap-it multipacks are available for bottles in a range of sizes from 12oz to 32oz. Available worldwide, no precise information was available on pricing but the cost is said to be equivalent to that for shrink wrapping.

Product differentiation​

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Meanwhile, earlier this year, the Cap-it design triumphed in the 66th annual National Paperboard Packaging Competition held in the United States. Cap-it was chosen as the paperboard package with the most positive impact on product differentiation, merchandising, and sustainability among the 87 entries.

“We appreciate the industry’s recognition of the Cap-it concept, which we believe can reposition paperboard as a competitive alternative to plastic rings and shrink film​,” said John Best, the company’s vice president, product development.

“Cap-it paperboard multipacks demonstrate that designing for sustainability all along the supply chain can deliver more value compared with conventional plastic choices​.”