Flexible Packaging Solutions Bolster Product Sustainability
By Karla Paris
Advancements in flexible packaging provide better seals, allowing manufacturers to improve product shelf-life
Fifty-four percent of wasted food is lost during production, post-harvest treatment, and storage notes the report entitled, Food Wastage Footprint: Impacts on Natural Resources of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Packaging foods more securely, and with higher throughput, is a top priority for food manufacturers seeking to reduce food waste. Many are taking a hard look at packaging and integrating newer methods to maintain and improve product freshness.
Hook to hook (HTH) technology on flexible packaging is an option being utilized by several food manufacturers. HTH, sometimes called easy-lock, technology enables consumers to seal food packages without perfect alignment, while being resistant to particulates, which keeps freshness locked in. The re-closable design is suited for a variety of products including cheese, coffee, frozen food, pet food, confectionary, detergents, and other manufactured goods.
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Kellogg’s launched a new flexible bag in January using the intuitive closure EASY-LOCK by APLIX. These flexible bags are now available on shelves in all European countries for SPECIAL K, Muesli, and CRUNCHY NUT. This new bag is more responsive to consumer needs: a less bulky bag, easy-to-close, and offering enhanced product preservation. Additionally, Kellogg’s product will maintain its freshness longer thanks to the change in packaging and the self-mating micro-hooks used in its new flexible bags.
But, the cereal maker isn’t the only food company using HTH. In April, Mars took on HTH technology by using the EASY-LOCK by APLIX closure in its personalized MY M&M’s bulk packaging design. APLIX’s re-closable system allows the consumer to reseal and secure their package, keeping the confectionary inside fresh longer.
The coffee industry is also taking on HTH. Three of the largest-Italian coffee brands, KIMBO, ILLY, and INDESIT, worked together in partnership to launch UNO, pods for coffee machines. The trio chose the EASY-LOCK by APLIX system to equip the pods flexible bags. The intuitive closure preserves the freshness of its coffee pods while being stored in the original bag.
Robin Hood, the Canadian flour maker, has also integrated EASY-LOCK by APLIX closure into its new bags. The new, re-sealable bag allows consumers to reseal their flour after each use. Robin Hood, under the umbrella of the Smucker’s brand, is an expert in baking products and ingredients, bringing consumers quality products and hundreds of kitchen-tested recipes.
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The downside of many food-saving packages, however, is that they are relatively expensive to produce. If, for example, a stronger package requires more materials to be made, more resources are required to make it. Therefore, food manufacturers are trying to offset the expenditure on smarter packages by economizing elsewhere along the food value chain. In the interim, manufacturers of packaging machines endeavor to boost the efficiency of their lines and reduce costs by increasing the degree of automation and optimizing their processes.