This year's special packaging prize of the German Sustainability Award goes to the food manufacturer Frosta for its paper bag for frozen vegetables. The packaging, which is suitable for deep-freezing, does not require any plastic coating or film.
A bio-based and compostable coating and reduced secondary packaging made of cardboard for PET drinks bottles were also in the final. The special award for more sustainable product packaging ideas was organised for the second time this year by the German Sustainability Award Foundation together with the REWE Group awarded.
„Reducing packaging material and increasing the recyclability of packaging are among the most important, but also most complex challenges facing our industry. With its development, Frosta is demonstrating a holistic approach that reduces the ecological impact of packaging and promotes the circular economy of the materials used.“ Dr Daniela Büchel, Divisional Director REWE Group Retail Germany, Human Resources / Sustainability Department
With the paper bag for frozen vegetable mixes, Frosta is replacing plastic with paper. The packaging is made of unbleached and uncoated kraft paper. Unlike other cardboard packaging in the freezer, the bag does not require any plastic coating or film. It can also be disposed of with the paper waste. Environmentally friendly water-based colours are used for printing.
The necessary product protection is guaranteed with this paper bag without fillers or the usual plastic coatings. The jury of the German Sustainability Award recognises that Frosta, as a food manufacturer, is committed to the development of sustainable packaging materials and that on our own initiative with co-operation partners has developed an innovative and sustainable packaging solution for frozen vegetables.
Please also read our article from 13 October 2020:
German Sustainability Award: Three packaging solutions in the final
The finalists in the competition for the German Sustainability Award's Special Packaging Prize have been announced. With this award, the German Sustainability Award Foundation recognises exemplary ideas for sustainable packaging.
It could be the year for Frosta. Just with the German Packaging Award The first paper bag for frozen food could now also win the German Sustainability Award. Karl Knauer and Krones also have high hopes for their cardboard bottle carrier and the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research.
The following packaging is in the final for the German Sustainability Award:
LitePac Top - Karl Knauer KG & Krones AG
The packaging solution „LitePac Top“ is a reduced secondary packaging made of cardboard for PET beverage bottles. It was developed by the packaging manufacturer Karl Knauer KG together with the system supplier to the beverage industry, Krones AG. The main ecological advantages lie in the material and energy savings. The previously used film packaging made from fossil raw materials has to be shrunk using a lot of energy. The use of the cardboard carrier eliminates this very energy-intensive process step, saving around 90 per cent energy in the packaging process.
LitePac Top was also featured on packaging journal TV
Frozen paper bags - Frosta
The paper bag for Frosta's frozen vegetable mixes replaces plastic with paper. The packaging is made from unbleached and uncoated kraft paper. In contrast to other cardboard packaging in the freezer, the bag does not require any plastic coating or film and can be disposed of in the paper waste. Environmentally friendly water-based colours are used for printing. A special high-density paper is used for the inside. The necessary product protection is guaranteed with this paper bag without fillers or the usual plastic coatings.
Multifunctional barrier coatings - Fraunhofer
The Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC is developing sustainable multifunctional barrier coatings for easily recyclable, bio-based and compostable packaging: BioORMOCER is a bio-based and compostable coating using residues from food production or other biological waste streams. This coating has very good barrier properties against water vapour, oxygen, aromas and plasticisers. The coating is applied to the packaging materials in a very thin layer and does not impair their recycling in the conventional recycling process. Large quantities of composite film can therefore be replaced with recyclable materials - without any loss of quality in the packaged products.
The winner will be announced at the German Sustainability Award ceremony on 4 December 2020 in Düsseldorf.
