Amcor introduces ‘first’ all-PE spouted pouch in North America

NORTH AMERICA – Amcor, a global leader in packaging solutions, has partnered with Stonyfield Organic, the premier organic yogurt producer in the US, and Cheer Pack North America, a leading spouted pouch manufacturer, to introduce the first all-polyethylene (PE) spouted pouch.

This collaboration, according to Amcor, presents a sustainable packaging alternative without sacrificing performance.

The innovative pouch replaces Stonyfield Organic’s previous multi-laminate structure with a more sustainable design for its YoBaby refrigerated yogurt.

Incorporating Amcor’s AmPrima Plus, an all-PE film designed to meet the APR Design Guide for recyclability, and Cheer Pack North America’s Vizi cap, the packaging eliminates metallized or foil-based film layers commonly found in standard pouch structures while still offering heat resistance for spout insertion.

Additionally, the inclusion of the Vizi cap reduces plastic usage by over five tonnes per 10mm cap.

Amcor’s research and development collaborated closely with Cheer Pack North America’s pouching and spouting experts to validate the AmPrima Plus structure in production environments.

This collaboration resulted in a package featuring premium graphic production, high moisture and oxygen barrier properties to preserve content, and highly durable hermetic seals along the pack edges and around opening fitments for optimal performance even under challenging conditions.

Moreover, the package meets standard line speeds for conversion at Cheer Pack North America and filling lines at Stonyfield Organic.

Expressing pride in the collaborative effort, Tom Schell, senior director of research and development at Amcor Flexibles North America, stated, “This custom-engineered solution is the result of a longstanding relationship between Amcor, Stonyfield Organic, and Cheer Pack North America.

“We are proud to collaborate with cross-channel partners in the development of this highly innovative solution that helps Stonyfield reach its sustainability goals.”

Al Madonna, vice president of marketing for Cheer Pack North America, added, “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Stonyfield Organic and Amcor on the YoBaby all-PE recycle-ready spouted pouch featuring AmPrima Plus with Vizi cap, a pioneering step in sustainable spouted pouch and cap packaging that exemplifies our shared commitment to a greener world.”

In a separate initiative earlier this month, Amcor signed an agreement with Cadbury Australia, a subsidiary of Mondelēz International, to supply approximately 1,000 tonnes of post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic for packaging the confectionery giant’s core chocolate assortment.

This endeavor aims to accelerate Cadbury’s efforts to reduce its reliance on virgin plastic for packaging its chocolate range.

The initiative is expected to halve Cadbury’s need for virgin plastic in core chocolate products by 2024, aligning with the company’s sales volume projections and plans for wrappers free of recycled plastic.

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