RPC team grin, and Bear it

In this exclusive interview, Michael Stegeman, general manager for RPC’s Corby factory in Northamptonshire in the UK, tells FoodProductionDaily.com the benefits of the design, which is aimed at foodservice customers.

The Bear, which won a packaging innovation award at Emballage, is designed for liquid foods such as sauces and dressings, said RPC.

Similar barrier packaging it had developed could also be used for foods such as spaghetti hoops and baked beans, it added. The firm is looking at developing it for dry goods such as coffee.

As with many of RPC’s latest barrier packaging designs, the Bear could be used for hot-fill, pasteurisation and sterilisation applications, said Stegeman.

Barrier packaging uses special materials, layers and sometimes resins to protect products inside it from light, moisture and oxygen permeation. As a result, it dramatically prolongs shelf life.

RPC also aims to reduce the environmental impact of its packaging through its ongoing pursuit of lightweighting across all formats.