Metal packaging manufacturer Corus says that EU recycling targets
are achievable, but believes more investment in the UK's collection
infrastructure is needed. Anthony Fletcher reports.
New research suggests that biodegradable polylactide (PLA) bottles
can be easily segregated from PET bottles in the waste stream, a
point that strengthens the environmental claims of the material.
UK supermarket Tesco has launched the country's first fully
automated recycling machine designed to encourage customers to
recycle more packaging waste.
Tetra Pak's updated environmental policy, which will come into
force 1 January, underlines both the strength of green consumer
pressure and the direction in which the packaging industry is
moving.
Starbucks has promised to use beverage packaging containing 10 per
cent recycled material from 2005, though environmentalists have
criticised the corporation's commitment.
An innovative Australian scheme to recycle thousands of tonnes of
fish processing waste could dramatically cut down the need for
landfill space, save food processors money and, in the end, produce
a useful product.
A groundbreaking £8 million initiative to stimulate innovative
packaging design and at the same time significantly reduce food and
packaging waste has been launched in the UK.
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety
and Energy Technology in Germany are developing a compostable
packaging tape that can be disposed of cheaply and creates less
waste.
The UK's Environment Agency has warned manufacturers that they must
be prepared for imminent changes affecting the management of
hazardous waste, while the Environmental Services Association (ESA)
is concerned that safety standards...
Huhtamaki's Chinet range of moulded fibre foodservice plates has
just been certified for biodegradability - the latest step in an
industry-wide trend towards greener packaging.
PET industry organisation Petcore has published the first test
results for recyclable barrier technologies. The barrier materials
Glaskin and Bestpet passed the tests with flying colours, but
oriented polystyrene (OPS) sleeves proved...
The UK government looks set to miss one of its key recyclingtargets
after new government figures published today reveal thatonly 14.5
per cent of household waste in England was recycled in2002/3. Food
and beverage packaging makes...
Germany's current one-way can deposit system should be scrapped and
replaced with a mixed strategy of reuse and recycling, according to
the Association of European Steel Producers (APEAL). The body
argues that it has the support...
Waste in the food supply chain is a major issue for manufacturers -
billions could be saved each year if unnecessary and unsustainable
expenditure was kept to an absolute minimum. This topic was touched
upon at the recent Australian...
The UK has come in for a great deal of criticism from environmental
bodies following the release of figures that show the country is
lagging behind much of the rest of Europe in terms of can
recycling. Pressure group Friends of the...
A recent report from Food Technology Intelligence takes a closer a
look at the important issue of the impact of migrating contaminants
and additives in processed foods.
Roberts PolyPro, the US-based provider of packaging and converting
solutions, has launched a Beverage Carrier Assembly Machine (BCAM)
capable of forming open basket beverage carriers by combining
virgin Kraft board and post-consumer...
The Spanish manufacturing facility of leading PET bottle producer
Amcor PET Packaging Europe/Asia has been awarded the
internationally recognised ISO 14001 certification.
The Nova-Pack Europe show, which is currently running in
Dusseldorf, Germany, is featuring a forum on the business advantage
for PET containers, held by the PA Consulting Group, as well as
featuring a number of innovations from companies...
In South Korea the ubiquitous plastic-made instant noodle
containers and styrofoam plates will be separately collected and
recycled starting from next year, the Environment Ministry there
has said.
Alcan's US subsidiary Alcan Aluminium, the top US recycler of used
beverage cans, has said revamps at some of its plants slowed its
recycling to over 22 billion cans in 2001, from nearly 23.8 billion
cans in 2000.
Americans recycled 55.6 billion aluminium cans in 2001, for a
beverage can recycling rate of 55.4 per cent, and the industry paid
out $850 million to recyclers for their used aluminium beverage
cans.