Paper or plastic? 6 sustainable foodservice packaging options for both

Novolex product lines are seamlessly aligned with the ongoing foodservice packaging shift toward sustainable solutions.

Consumers’ appetite for foodservice convenience at restaurants of all types—casual, quick-serve and takeaway—and for catering services continues. According to a report from Markets and Markets, the overall foodservice packaging market is projected to grow from $62.6 billion in 2016 to $84.3 billion by 2021, a CAGR of 5.2% over the period 2017-2022. In offering heat resistance, preventing the growth of microorganisms and helping extend the shelf-life of the food products, the packaging is designed to maintaining the hygiene, quality, and safety of food products at an economical price.

A key trend is the increase in regulations to ensure that the raw materials used are recyclable, such as plastic, paper and paperboard, and cellulose. The challenge is that these sustainable materials are often higher in cost higher than their non-biodegradable counterparts.

Packaging supplier Novolex is at the center of this dynamic and increasingly eco-sensitive market. The company’s Adrianne Tipton, Ph.D., vice president of innovation, is a plastic and paper industry veteran with more than 20 years’ experience in R&D. Tipton serves as a guide through a selection of the company’s portfolio that encompasses recyclable and compostable options in paper- and plastic-based packaging.

First up is a pair of fresh solutions featuring a tamper-event carryout bag.

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A whole lot of food for thought for packaging will be found at PackEx Toronto June 4-6, 2019, where innovative ideas in containers and design, the latest machinery and automation solutions and free education at Centre Stage will be available. For more information, visit PackEx Toronto. ___________________________________________________________________________________

Load & Fold and Load & Seal Tamper Evident Home Delivery Bags

Description In working toward improved prepared and grocery food delivery for third-party delivery services, convenience stores, grocery stores and quick and limited-serve restaurants, Novolex developed products to keep food safe in transport and preserve food quality, while also reducing the amount of waste associated with shipping and handling. The recyclable plastic bags are designed with tamper-evident closures for food safety while maintaining heat and food freshness and integrity.

When introduced Load & Fold in 2018, Load & Seal (shown) in 2019

Materials/structure The substrate is customer-dependent for a choice of plastic or white or kraft paper.

Status There have been extensive trials and interest for both products in this line. These are in test with several large- and medium-size foodservice and retail customers. Novolex is also receiving interest from many global customers that request pricing quotes and trials.

Next: Bagasse as a food packaging source…

Eco-Products

Description Compostable and recyclable food packaging including molded fiber salad bowls and food clamshell containers made of plant-based materials.

The benefit of using compostable products is to prevent waste from finding its way to the local landfill, increasing waste diversion. Eco-Products also provides marketing programs to raise awareness on proper disposal of compostable food containers and beverage cups in which consumers don’t have to separate the plate from their food scraps—it can all be put in the same waste bin and sent to a commercial composting facility to be turned into soil.

Two lines of products are available: GreenStripe items made with renewable resources and most are compostable. BlueStripe items made with recycled content. Not all of these materials can be recycled most places in the U.S.

A new product line of Vanguard-branded products made from sugarcane was introduced last month (shown above; see below for more information). The items are designed to meet requirements of the Biodegradable Product Institute for compostability certification that will go into effect on January 1, 2020.

Materials/structure GreenStripe sources include paper and corn-based polylactic acid (PLA) and can be disposed of in a commercial compost facility instead of the landfill. They are labeled as recycle #7.

BlueStripe items are made of or fiber, polystyrene (PS), PET plastic or recycled PET (rPET); the latter two are recyclable where #1 PET recycling is available.

Vanguard products are made from sugarcane fiber, aka bagasse.

When introduced GreenStripe 2007, BlueStripe 2010, Vanguard 2019

Status MicrowavableVanguard water- and grease-resistant molded fiber plates and containers for hot and cold products introduced in April 2019are made from sugarcane.  Marketing manager Sarah Martinez tells Packaging Digest that what distinguishes Vanguard is that it does not use FDA-approved fluoronated compounds for those protective properties that are coming under increased scrutiny.

Available in a limited release, the initial line includes a 10-inch round plate, a three-compartment 10-inch plate, a 9-inch single-compartment clamshell and a three-compartment 9-inch clamshell. A select group of customers is currently running trials. More products will be added soon, including bowls and other sizes of plates and clamshells.

For more information, visit the Eco-Products website.

Next: No-foil sandwich wrap options

Dubl-Shield

Description Fully-recyclable food wrap and bags replace aluminum foil used to wrap burgers and sandwiches. Dubl-Shield was developed in response to demand for a recyclable foil alternative. The Novolex R&D team conducted multiple tests to find the right adhesive and product combination that maintains food integrity with the right balance of moisture absorption and heat retention.

Materials/structure Dual-ply paper laminate.

When introduced 2015.

Status Interest in recycled paper and recyclable products is very high among customers.

Next is a bonus of two non-foodservice options worth noting.

Eco-Blend (left above) and Ultra-Post (right) T-shirt bags

Development of post-consumer content in plastic carry out bags and can liners has been a focus of the Novolex R&D Team; Eco-Blend and Ultra-Post T-shirt bags are two notable product lines in this area. Novolex also has the Bag-2-Bag program in which more than 30 million pounds of t-shirt bags are collected and reprocessed as part of closed loop and circular economy initiatives.

Materials and structure Ultra-Post contains 40% post-consumer recycled content and is available as  2.25-mil polyethylene.

Introduced 2016

Status/interest Ultra-Post has been used by many medium and large grocery chains in California. This product is focused on the California market, and Novolex sales continue to grow in this area.

Also, Novolex’s recycling plant works with bag manufacturing plants throughout the region to reprocess plastic scrap from their production lines for the Bag-2-Bag program. The company reports that it also uses post-consumer recycled content from various vendors and customers. For more about Bag-2-Bag, read  Novolex Bag-2-Bag System closes loop for plastic bags, published April 2019 by sister publication PlasticsToday.

For more information, visit Novolex.

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Much food for thought for packaging will be found at PackEx Toronto June 4-6, 2019, where innovative ideas in containers and design, the latest machinery and automation solutions and free education at Centre Stage will be available. For more information, visit PackEx Toronto. ___________________________________________________________________________________