Image: Campus Wien / private (students)
Master's Program for Sustainable Packaging Technologies: The Experts of Tomorrow
30/01/2025
At the University of Applied Sciences in Vienna, Austria, professionals are being trained to shape the future of the packaging industry. The Master's programme in Packaging Technology and Sustainability prepares students for future-oriented solutions through practical projects such as recycling analysis and material testing. Graduates actively drive innovation and sustainability in the industry.
Image: WPO
Stemming the tide on ocean-bound plastic
27/01/2025
The NextWave consortium has diverted over 20,000 metric tons of ocean-bound plastic—equivalent to 2.27 billion single-use water bottles. And SABIC, meanwhile, says Italian food-packaging innovator B!POD is using its OBP-based polypropylene in its latest range of food-preserving vacuum-packed containers.
Image: Uhlmann
Uhlmann Group: EU packaging regulations accelerate pace of transformation
14/11/2024
Less packaging waste, more recycling and increased use of sustainable materials – these are the goals of the EU packaging regulations PPWR which will soon be implemented. For this, the packaging industry has already begun full-scale preparations. For example, the Uhlmann Group from Swabia – in the centre of a region that is one of the world's most important hubs for the packaging industry.
Image: Pact Group
Pact group & partners creating circular solution for pret tray-to-tray recycling
06/11/2024
Australia’s meat eaters create a lot of waste with their PET meat trays. But thermoformed PET food packaging is very recyclable, with the right infrastructure in place. So Pact Group is working with Hilton Foods, Woolworths Group and Cleanaway Waste Management to close the loop on this by collecting, sorting and cleaning these PET materials, and remanufacturing them into more food packaging.
Image: Antoine Schibler/unsplash
European ReBioCycle project aims to develop circular solutions for bioplastics
06/11/2024
October saw the launch of the new EU-funded ReBioCycle project. It is intended to show that the bio-based and biodegradable plastics PLA, PHA and starch-based compounds can be efficiently recycled on a large scale, keeping them in circulation.
Image: iStock
Sustainable plastics on the rise
23/10/2024
Consumers’ growing environmental consciousness leads to added pressure on the packaging industry to develop sustainable solutions. In this context, sustainability is not limited to bio-based or bio-degradable materials. Conventional fossil-based plastics can also be part of sustainable strategies – if they are designed for recyclability or produced using recycled raw materials.
Image: iStock, Jackie Niam
Rendering packaging sustainability transparent with blockchain technology
14/10/2024
Anyone using recycled materials needs to know where they come from, what they are made of and what stages they have gone through. Particularly in times of global, complex supply chains, seamlessly tracing materials is an immense challenge. Blockchain technology can help.
Image: Brangs+Heinrich
Sustainable packaging film for sleeving, stretching, shrinking and sealing
17/09/2024
Plastic film is indispensable in the packaging sector. Used as sealing film, it can seal food trays, it can enclose beverage bottles in the form of sleeves and as stretch film, it lends stability to packaging during transport. Modern packaging films are sustainable, recyclable or are made from recycled materials. With a view to the European Packaging Directive, this is indeed a boon.
Image: unsplash/ Alexandre Lallemand
Compulsive EU regulation for sustainable packaging not far away
13/05/2024
Harmonising the rules on packaging and packaging waste within Europe is long overdue. The draft of a Europe-wide, compulsive packaging directive by the European Commission in 2022 has already passed through the different levels of legislation and could achieve final adoption in autumn. Industry representatives are both expressing approval and criticism.
Image: Julia Paul
Artificial intelligence improves recycling
16/04/2024
A green Europe is unthinkable without a working circular economy. For this to happen, waste sorting and recycling processes need to improve in order to obtain more recyclates for reuse. Artificial intelligence (AI) is already being used in sorting and recycling today, but new AI developments are currently revolutionising the industry.
“We must make packaging more attractive as a varied professional field”
21/02/2024
In a world forced to meet the global challenges of sustainable food systems, progressive packaging solutions are indispensable. This includes the people working on these solutions. In this interview with Caroline Babendererde, Head of Sustainability Mid Europe at Tetra Pak, we discuss how to win young talents for the industry and the role of sustainability initiatives.
“We must make packaging more attractive as a varied professional field”
21/02/2024
In a world forced to meet the global challenges of sustainable food systems, progressive packaging solutions are indispensable. This includes the people working on these solutions. In this interview with Caroline Babendererde, Head of Sustainability Mid Europe at Tetra Pak, we discuss how to win young talents for the industry and the role of sustainability initiatives.
Image: Securikett
Paper safety labels for recycling
14/02/2024
Products that are counterfeit or which have been tampered with cause large economic damage. Safety labels can help to guarantee the authenticity and integrity of goods, as when someone attempts to open the packaging, it leaves irreversible traces. When it comes to recyclability, however, these small labels are often not performing very well.
Image: Beijing Key Laboratory of Wood Science and Engineering
Researchers tout sustainable packaging foam made from waste cardboard
17/01/2024
Researchers in Beijing have developed an environmentally friendly cushioning and insulating foam made entirely from recycled cardboard that they say offers a sustainable, plastic-free packaging alternative to the shipping industry.
Image: Juha Hakulinen, VTT Technical Research Center of Finland
VTT PILOTS CELLULOSE AS ALTERNATIVE TO RIGID POLYPROPYLENE PACKAGING
30/11/2023
Researchers at the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have developed formable, cellulose-based webs that they say offer a sustainable alternative to plastic in rigid polypropylene in food packaging applications.
Image: RIGK
Agricultural bulk bags for a circular economy
14/11/2023
Whether it is seeds, fertilisers or animal feed, farms receive a large amount of items in bulk bags. But what to do with the empty plastic super sacks? The VerenA return scheme was launched in early 2023 specifically for the disposal of used, licensed bulk bags.
Image: Aldi Süd Gruppe
Final testing stage for HolyGrail 2.0
14/11/2023
Digital watermarks could play a key role in the future when it comes to packaging recyclability. They are invisible to the human eye but carry a wealth of information. The HolyGrail 2.0 initiative aims to implement the technology for large-scale sorting of post-consumer waste, with plans for a test market in France in 2024. The final stage of testing has now begun.
Image: BASF
Women in packaging: Mia Pettersson – helping take compostable bioplastics to the next level
14/11/2023
BASF has been active in the bioplastics field for more than 30 years. Swedish chemical engineer Mia Pettersson is head of BASF’s biopolymer portfolio in Ludwigshafen, Germany, where she works on continuing to develop compostable and biodegradable plastics while supporting women in their advancement in the company.
Image: Siegwerk Druckfarben
How coloured foil bags become colourless granules
11/10/2023
Colourful plastic packaging sells well. However, the printing colour also prevents the packaging from being recycled in the form of transparent granules. Now there is a solution that completely removes printing colours and barrier coatings from foil bags. Afterwards, the packaging can be recycled to almost colourless granules.
Image: The Paper Lid Company
Paper lids for less single-use plastic
15/08/2023
When the time comes for a hot or cold drink while out and about, many people opt for takeaway beverages in disposable cups. These often come with a plastic lid, resulting in a significant volume of waste. One Finnish start-up is instead using recyclable paperboard lids and has entered into a partnership with Walki.
Image: Futamura
Sustainable tamper-proofing
11/08/2023
When it comes to protecting valuable products from tampering and theft, the method often used is to apply adhesive tape that will leave permanent marks on the packaging if an attempt is made to open it. In addition to recyclable paper solutions, there are now compostable alternatives made from bio-based film.
Image: igus GmbH
Recycling programme for engineering plastics
11/07/2023
Plastic energy chains and bearings are deployed wherever movement is required in production. They are responsible, for instance, for keeping processes running smoothly in packaging plants. But even chains and bearings need to be disposed of at some point in time. What happens then?
Image: Gary Chan/unsplash
Labels with separation information on packaging help the circular economy
13/06/2023
Efficient and consistent recycling is one of the pillars of a functioning circular economy in the packaging industry. Such recycling includes the correct separation of packaging so that it can be fed into its respective recycling stream. A survey has now shown that information about separation can play a decisive role for consumers.
Bild: jeshoots/unsplash
Better recycled material as a result of fewer fragrances
16/05/2023
Not all recycled materials are the same. That is because the quality of recycled plastics plays an important role en route to a circular economy. The Fraunhofer Institute LBF has consequently developed a method that removes problematic fragrances from packaging for detergents that is being recycled.
As part of the WaysTUP! project, Aimplas has produced a plastic wrap from coffee grounds. (Image: Aimplas)
Plastic wrap from coffee grounds
14/02/2023
The project WaysTUP! is looking for new use options to maintain organic waste in circulation for longer and to use it as secondary raw materials. The Spanish centre for plastic technology Aimplas is using coffee grounds to make biobased polymers for flexible packaging.
CCL Label was able to reduce the thickness of their stretch sleeves to 30 micrometres. (Image: CCL Label)
Thinner sleeves for more sustainability
14/02/2023
Everyone is talking about sustainability. The way to an improved carbon footprint is to decrease the use of unnecessary material. Austrian company CCL Label, for example, were recently able to decrease the thickness of their stretch sleeves for PET bottles by one third.
The European Green Deal is supposed to make Europe carbon neutral by 2050. (Image: unsplash/Alexandre Lallemand)
European Green Deal – ambitious concept for carbon neutrality in Europe
17/01/2023
The bundle of measures that makes up the Green Deal is supposed to make Europe the first carbon neutral continent. Circular economy is an important stepping stone on the way to achieving this goal. The EU Commission now has presented a suggestion for a packaging regulation which is supposed to create a new order for the European packaging market.
The new film by allvac is suitable for wrapping foods and has a high degree of recyclability. (Image: allvac Folien GmbH)
Recyclable wrap for food packaging
16/01/2023
Film wrapping can achieve an appetising presentation of foods at the PoS. For composite films, their ability to be recycled is especially relevant. allvac has achieved confirmation from the cyclos-HTP institute that their new wrapping film is 100 percent recyclable.
When emptying the Ecobulk SX-D, the discharge pipe reaches down to the bottom and achieves near complete emptying. (Image: Schütz)
Safe protection under difficult conditions
12/12/2022
The safe transport of hazardous goods or chemicals depends on reliable containers. But sustainability should not be overlooked. The German company Schütz produces different IBC containers which are manufactured using recycled material.
The sustainable load carriers by Cabka were especially designed and improved for the chemical industry. (Image: Cabka)
The new generation of recycled plastic pallets
12/12/2022
For the chemical industry, plastic pallets could be a sustainable alternative when it comes to the transport and storage of products. With the help of industry feedback, Cabka has developed a sustainable generation of their plastic pallets, made from recycled material.
The ZP3C series vacuum pad (shown here in the version for flat work pieces) does not require tools for maintenance thanks to its two-part construction. (Image: SMC Deutschland GmbH)
New vacuum pad makes maintenance possible without tools
12/12/2022
Transport of hazardous materials poses different challenges to labels. They have to adhere to different materials and be resistant to chemicals or environmental effects. Storage and disposal of large amounts of labels can become a problem.
Bio-based adhesives may for example be produced from pine resin. (Image: Michele Purin/unsplash)
Glue goes green
17/11/2022
Quite often, consumers only take notice of it when it doesn’t work: glue. But as invisible as this little helper of packaging might be, so important is paying attention to its carbon balance, too. Improvements can be made, for example by using bio-based adhesives.
The PowerCast XL is a high performance system for the manufacture of stretch films (Image: SML)
PCR in film production
17/11/2022
Mechanical engineering company SML and plastics producer Braskem have entered a cooperation and are now using recycled raw materials to produce film for a joint project. The use of PCR (post-consumer recyclates) is supposed to save resources and reduce waste.
When it comes to their daily coffee, many people choose the to-go option and quickly dispose of the cups afterwards. Stora Enso and Huhtamaki now want to recycle these cups. (Image: Stora Enso)
A coalition for more and better cup recycling
24/10/2022
For 2030, the EU recycling target for paper and cardboard packaging is 85 %. However, the valuable raw materials in paper cups are often lost after only a short period of use. With The Cup Collective, Stora Enso and Huhtamaki are launching an initiative to collect and recycle paper cups.
The use of recyclates begins with the correct separation of waste. (Image: Sigmund/unsplash)
Use of recyclates in packaging
24/10/2022
If there is one thing the industry agrees on, it is that more recycled raw materials must be used. In the case of plastics, this means recyclates. They are in greater demand than ever, but the supply is still relatively small. What do packaging manufacturers have to pay attention to when using them, and what has to change so that more recyclates can be used?
There is no such thing as innately good or bad packaging, and the environmental impact should always be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. (Image: Nick Fewings/unsplash)
Life cycle assessments – a useful tool or greenwashing?
26/09/2022
Plastic or paper, single use or reusable – which packaging gets the best marks in a life cycle assessment? The answer often appears to be simple, but an environmental assessment should always look at the individual case in detail, because there are benefits and drawbacks everywhere – and the results are sometimes surprising.
The Innokeg AF-C Transversal can wash and rack returnable and one-way kegs on just one system. (Image: KHS Group)
500 kegs per hour on one conveyor belt
24/09/2022
In the early days, a keg tap was simply driven into the wooden keg with a hammer, but today modern returnable kegs are connected to tap systems. However, after use, they need to be washed and then refilled, or racked. KHS, a Dortmund-based machine manufacturer, has now developed a system that can wash and rack different types of kegs using a single conveyor belt.
Used beverage cartons on the way to the recycling plant. Photo: FKN
Benelux to recycle beverage cartons
17/08/2022
Beverage cartons are not waste, they consist of valuable raw materials that can be recycled. Stora Enso and Tetra Pak want to build a complete recycling system for the composite cartons in Belgium and are currently assessing the project’s feasibility.
Many companies are switching their packaging to mono-materials like polypropylene. But what are their advantages and disadvantages? (Picture: Shutterstock/ CalypsoArt)
Mono-material, a ray of hope
17/08/2022
The industry is in pursuit of the circular economy. That is why, in the packaging industry, companies are increasingly switching to mono-materials. But what exactly does that term mean, and why are these packaging materials becoming ever more popular?
Image: AdobeStock
Sausage wrap that can be recycled
21/07/2022
Sliced sausage is supposed to look good on the refrigerator shelves in the supermarket and is usually wrapped in non-recyclable transparent composite film. Now, thanks to energy-efficient heating systems in thermoforming machines for packaging, it is possible to use more sustainable materials – while maintaining the same level of safety, quality and transparency.
Image: Froneri Finland Oy
Ice cream packaged in mono-material
21/07/2022
Companies continue to ask themselves how they can meet customers' demands for sustainable packaging. Together, Borealis, Froneri and Paccor have found an answer, and are packaging ice cream from the brand Aino in mono-material.
Image: "Mülltrennung wirkt" (waste separation works) initiative / Steffen Jagenburg
Public obligations for recycling: Germany – a good role model?
14/07/2022
In 2019, the Central Agency Packaging Register started its work. Since then, companies that place packaging in circulation must register with it. An amendment to the German Packaging Act led to this requirement being extended to all online retailers and providers of take-away packaging on July 1st, 2022. Is this still reasonable or is this over-regulation?
Photo: Kier In Sight / unsplash
Mono-material sachets
21/06/2022
For packaging made of plastic, their potential to be recycled is very important. Refilling systems save material. Mono-material sachets and bags also reduce the amount of material consumed, protect packaged goods and have practical uses for customers.
Image: Fraunhofer IVV
Rebound Plastic Exchange: New trading platform for recyclates
25/05/2022
Circular economy can only truly work if plastic waste is collected, recycled and reused. To drive international trade with recycled plastic, Abu Dhabi-based International Holding Company (IHC) has now established a new trading platform for recyclates with Rebound Plastic Exchange.
Image: Sea Me
Deposit systems for cosmetics packaging?
24/05/2022
On the beverage sector, deposit systems have been around for many years. Now, deposit systems are being introduced specifically for cosmetics packaging as well. A pilot project by Circleback is currently underway in Berlin, while Sea Me has introduced a reusable solution for cosmetics packaging with zerooo.
Image: Greiner Packaging
PCR Coffee Capsules Stay in the Recycling Loop
12/04/2022
For their morning coffee, many consumers choose coffee capsules that then end up in the bin. This is not particularly sustainable, since the capsules consist of new plastics. Greiner Packaging and LyonellBasell have developed a circular solution made of post-consumer recyclates for Nescafé.
Image: Coca-Cola Germany
Coca-Cola keeps its cap on
02/03/2022
Coca-Cola Germany has given its single-use PET bottles new caps. In November 2021, the company introduced caps that are tethered to a safety ring on the necks of their bottles. In doing so, Coca-Cola is implementing a EU directive on plastic products way ahead of time.
Photo: Borealis & Tomra
Goods in short supply but in high demand
10/02/2022
10.02.2022- Although the use of recycled plastics is an important pillar of the circular economy, the recyclate market is nearly empty as of the beginning of 2022. In future, standards are supposed to ensure the availability of a sufficient amount of recyclates with consistent quality in order to supplement new material.
Image: Peter Tubaas, Vestland Media
Fish in packaging made from chemically recycled plastic
04/02/2022
Styropor boxes are a popular choice for transportation, particularly when food or medication need to be kept cool on the road. In Norway, this task is now fulfilled by the world’s first styropor boxes made from chemically recycled plastic.
Photo: Mondi
HolyGrail 2.0 and the digital recycling passport
23/11/2021
High-quality recycling is the be all and end all for a working circular economy. The HolyGrail 2.0 initiative is now testing how invisible digital watermark codes can contribute to increasing efficiency when sorting packaging waste; the project is supported by more than 120 companies and organisations along the entire packaging industry value chain.
Photo: Cosnova / ALBA Group
cosnova implements post-consumer recycled material in packaging for its decorative cosmetics for the first time
25/05/2021
The cosmetics industry is using more and more recycled material for packaging, although government requirements are not yet concrete. In the process, individual manufacturers are developing their own standards and making them available to the entire industry. The use of post-consumer recyclate reduces CO2 production enormously.
In 2011, toom became the first DIY store to introduce emulsion paint in tubs made out of recycled plastic. Photo: toom
Recycled materials in the construction industry
24/03/2021
The construction industry is aiming to become more sustainable and has increased their use of recycled materials in their packaging with the objective of reducing their own CO2 emissions. toom, a DIY giant, was one of the first in the industry to set their sights on implementing recycled materials.
New products made from packaging. Photo: LIDL
New products made from packaging
15/03/2021
Packaging is valuable and should be reused and repurposed as often as possible in line with the ethos of a sustainable circular economy. Thanks to improved recycling technology, more and more new products can be created from packaging, as demonstrated by the discount retailer LIDL.
Photo: L’Oréal
Increasing recycling of cosmetics packaging
12/02/2021
The cosmetics group L’Oréal is striding into the future with new technology and an attention-grabbing recycling campaign with the objective of increasing recycling of cosmetics products and closing loops.
Photo: Metsä Board
Hygienic disposal of masks
27/01/2021
People are wearing masks around the globe. This means we’re also seeing more and more of them littering the streets and the environment all around the world. The packaging specialist Metsä Board has now ensured that there is a hygienic solution for disposing of used masks.
Photo by Evonne Yuwen Teoh //Unsplash
Coca-Cola bottles made out of rPET
14/05/2020
Sweden will soon see the launch of the first Coca-Cola bottles made out of 100% rPET. Other brands produced by the group will also use this fully recycled plastic. The beverage giant has even replaced its sweeping, red-and-white lettering to motivate consumers to recycle the bottles.
© Werner & Mertz
What is reverse engineering?
23/03/2020
Packaging innovations are increasingly based around closed circuits. Engineers are employing the principles of reverse engineering in packaging development. A current and prominent example of this is the stand-up pouch for Frosch liquid soap, produced by Werner & Mertz and Mondi.
© L‘Oréal
Cardboard-based cosmetic packaging
12/02/2020
Many industries are looking for sustainable packaging. Recyclable, organic-based or compostable. The next big trend: A new approach in the cosmetics industry - paper packaging for body care products.
© Vélosophy Cycles AB
Upcycling Nespresso coffee capsules
15/01/2020
Turning waste products into new and useful products is known as upcycling. There are numerous examples: furniture made out of Euro-pallets, toys for children made out of cardboard and bicycles made out of used deodorant cans. Now, Nespresso is showing the world what old coffee capsules can do.
Recycling champion tin plate
06/01/2016
Boasting a recycling percentage of over 90% tinplate again outperformed all competing packaging materials last year. Sheet steel owes its top position first and foremost to its material resistance.
High-Tech against spoilage of food
03/07/2015
Over 80 kilos of foodstuffs are disposed of per year per capita in Germany according to statistical assessments. Innovative packaging material is to contribute to longer shelf-life.