Primary fresh food packaging manufacturer Linpac Packaging (Knottingley, West Yorkshire / UK; www.linpacpackaging.com) is introducing what it calls a fresh innovation strategy to provide further support for customers during volatile market conditions marked by fluctuating and rising raw material costs. The new approach will see the development of more cost-effective packaging that is both lighter and more sustainable, but retains all the properties required to be fit for purpose. One recent introduction that reflects this innovation concept is the “Rfresh MB” range of rPET trays for meat and fish products, which contains up to 95% food-grade, post-consumer recyclate – see Plasteurope.com of 02.01.2012.

The company has significantly improved its process technologies and expects to make step-change improvements in the reduction of tray weight, says Bart Stubbe, vice president purchasing at Linpac Packaging, adding that, “We are in the process of developing fresh ideas and high-quality products using the minimum amount of material needed for packaging to effectively protect, preserve and present food.”

Light-weighting is one of the key objectives. Together with packers and retailers, the Linpac Packaging Innovation Team is running a project termed LIFE – Light-weighting For Excellence. The team is aiming to significantly reduce the overall weight of trays and to down-gauge LINtop lidding films. Aside from minimising material consumption, the company says this will also lower the carbon footprint of products.