Coveris launches recyclable MAP trays for meat and fish markets

UK – Coveris has launched a new board-based modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) tray designed for the meat, fish, and poultry sectors, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic trays.

The new BarrierFresh MAP trays reduce plastic content by up to 90% while preserving recyclability and product shelf life.

Equipped with Coveris’ proprietary EVOH (ethylene vinyl alcohol) barrier film, the trays provide a fully printable, hermetically sealed pack in a single-SKU format.

According to the company, the trays offer the same protective and shelf-life benefits as conventional rigid plastic trays, but with a significantly lower environmental footprint.

“Our BarrierFresh MAP solution marks a unique breakthrough for this category,” said Will Mercer, Research and Development Director for Coveris’ Paper Business Unit.

“It offers a reduced-plastic, reduced-packaging solution without compromising on barrier performance or recyclability. This innovation supports our vision of ‘No Waste’ and responds directly to the industry’s push for more sustainable alternatives.”

The new tray format extends product shelf life to 21 days and is compatible with existing MAP machinery, making it easy for manufacturers to integrate without additional investment.

The trays are lightweight, stackable, and designed to deliver strong on-shelf presence in retail environments.

In parallel with the launch, Coveris is strengthening its commitment to circular packaging solutions through a partnership with Nextek, a recycling technology company.

Together, the two firms aim to tackle one of the packaging industry’s most pressing challenges: recycling multilayer flexible plastic films.

The collaboration centres on Nextek’s award-winning COtooCLEAN technology—a waterless decontamination process that enables the conversion of post-consumer polyolefin (PE and PP) packaging waste into food-grade recycled resins.

A demonstration plant is currently under development in the UK, where trials will generate critical data for regulatory compliance and scalability.

“COtooCLEAN has the potential to transform plastic film recycling,” said Professor Edward Kosior, CEO and founder of Nextek.

“Our goal is to prove that this system can consistently deliver high-purity, food-safe recycled content from complex flexible films.”

Together, Coveris and Nextek are laying the groundwork for a more sustainable packaging future—one that closes the loop on materials long considered unrecyclable, without compromising safety or performance.

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