Packaging manufacturer Coveris has developed a 100 per cent recyclable, lightweight bag for grated cheese in collaboration with Ornua Foods. The new cheese packaging is now available from Tesco.
Until now, cheese has been sold in packaging made of three-layer nylon composite material, one of the most difficult materials to recycle. The new MonoFlex BE bags from Coveris are from Fully recyclable polyethylene monolaminate (PE) with integrated barrier properties and offer a sustainable alternative. They are therefore a direct replacement for previously used, non-recyclable packaging and fulfil the minimum shelf life. The new bags are also Compatible with modern packaging lines.
Currently, selected varieties of Tesco grated cheese are already available in the new packaging throughout the UK. The next step will be the complete changeover of the retail chain's own brands of grated cheese. This should save around 32 tonnes of plastic per year and recycle around 411 tonnes of plastic.
The new, highly transparent packaging has the same barrier properties as before and also has a resealable zip closure for greater convenience. It is completely Can be printed with up to nine colours in HD flexographic printing and the matt finish ensures a pleasant feel and improved stability.
„Working with Coveris to develop this new material has been great and we are a big step closer to our goal of using packaging made from recyclable monomaterials.“ Denise Mathieson, Senior Packaging Manager at Tesco
As cheese is very Complex product and durability requirements and also has a high packaging speed, the new packaging is a breakthrough for Coveris, Tesco and Ornua in terms of both technology and sustainability. Coveris' research and development centres were used intensively during development: In the Film Science Lab in Winsford, film and barrier technologies are developed and tested, and the Food Science Lab in Lincolnshire ensures compliance with food safety and the performance of the new materials.
„Sustainability is a central theme of all activities at Ornua Foods and it is an issue that is very important to our retail partners and ultimately to our consumers. We attach great importance to working together to achieve our goals.“ Gordon Walsh, Commercial Director at Ornua Foods UK
Mark Robinson, UK Flexibles Technical Sales Manager at Coveris, concludes: „It is also a turning point for the whole industry that we have managed to launch the first 100 per cent recyclable monolaminate for cheese.“
Source: Coveris
