European thermoforming packaging specialists Waddington Europe, a division of Novolex, has launched of two food packaging material options made of 100% recycled plastic that are also 100% recyclable.
This represents a best in class circular packaging option for the food manufacturing and retail sectors.
The Eco Blend Pura and Eco Blend 100 products made with 100% recycled materials are intended to offer competitive and cost effective options to customers.
“Waddington Europe is one of only a handful of suppliers within the European rigid plastic market that can truly offer and maintain the supply of a reduced environmental impact 100% recycled plastic packaging at a competitive price,” said Eduardo Gomes, managing director at Waddington Europe proudly.
The company’s Eco Blend Pura rPET tray range is made entirely from post-consumer recycled waste. Comprised of thermoformed trays, collation trays, punnet boxes and pots, the range is also fully recyclable and suitable for packaging a wide range of food items including meat and fish, baked goods, prepared food, soft fruits and salads.
The Eco Blend 100 range of packaging - made from 100% recycled content derived from a mixture of both post-consumer and post-industrial waste content, offers customers the same benefits as the Pura line, but at a slightly lower price point.
The company also reported that it had achieved Zero Waste to Landfill status across all three of its manufacturing sites, located in Arklow Co. Wicklow, IR and Milton Keynes and Bridgwater in the UK.
The certification was awarded to Waddington Europe following a rigorous auditing process by Valpak, the official third-party auditor accredited to evaluate facility compliance with the zero waste to landfill criteria.
Food waste from the canteens or offices and anything else that cannot be recycled or re-used is now compacted into bulk containers and sent for incineration at a Waste to Energy facility. By installing the compactors, Waddington Europe can now accomplish an average of 7.5 tonnes per collection, over double the amount previously achieved and halving the number of collections needed. “This has an additional environmental benefit from a transportation point of view,” Gomes pointed out.
Waddington Europe has introduced numerous sustainability initiatives the company has introduced across all sites in recent years, including closed loop systems for water used for cooling tools in production and filters on every external drain to prevent plastic pellets from entering into the water system. The filters are part of a pellet retention scheme which is linked to Operation Clean Sweep - an international program adopted by entities in the plastics value chain designed to prevent the release of plastic granules into the environment.