Coveris, UPM Raflatac develops recyclable labels for food producer Cranswick

UK – European packaging company Coveris has teamed up with food packaging specialist UPM Raflatac to develop a range of label and recycling solutions for UK-based food producer Cranswick.

As part of the partnership, the two companies will introduce fiber-based packaging for Cranswick’s convenience foods division.

Made from UPM Raflatac RAFNXT+, the lighter and recyclable liner will replace Cranswick’s existing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) release liner.

Cranswick is currently using the new material on all base labels for its cooked meat range, with plans to introduce it across more than 175 million packs.

Delivering a weight saving of around 12% per label, the new liner material will remove over 35 tonnes of plastic PET from the supply chain per year

In addition, Coveris will recycle the release liner by-product waste at its Environmental Services facility in Boston, Lincolnshire, through its partnership with UPM Raflatac’s RafCycle recycling service.

The partnership is responsible for recycling more than 10,000 tonnes of manufacturer and customer material each year.

According to Coveris, the new material and recycling process will reduce carbon emissions by 20% while saving energy by 6%.

Coveris paper research and development director Will Mercer said: “Once again, we have demonstrated that by working in partnership with the wider supply chain, small changes can deliver a huge environmental impact.

“Having seamlessly delivered a reduced carbon solution through our leading partnership with UPM Raflatac and Cranswick Convenience Foods, we hope that other manufacturers recognize the major sustainable impact they can make through better label material choices and recycling options.”

The move is in line with Cranswick’s vision to become the world’s most sustainable meat business.

As part of its Second Nature roadmap, the company aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its operations by 2040.

Based in Vienna, Coveris supplies packaging solutions for the food, pet food, industrial, medical, agriculture, home and personal care sectors.

Last month, the firm invested more than £1.5 million (US$1.86m) in its linerless label manufacturing capabilities.

The company said the investment delivers increased output and supports the facility’s growth plans in existing and diversified markets.

“With this investment, our customers benefit from improved linerless capacity and the newest print technologies, whilst we are also targeting accelerated growth outside of our core meat, fish, poultry and convenience markets,” said Nigel Hewitt, Coveris’ BU Paper Sales director at the time.

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