Indian rice manufacturer Tilda (Europe: Rainham, Essex / UK; www.tilda.com) will start using a new plastic packaging to market its basmati rice in Europe. The new container is the brainchild of a cooperative effort between German packaging manufacturer Nordenia (Greven; www.nordenia.com) and Pactiv Corporation (Lake Forest, Illinois / USA; www.pactiv.com) and replaces Tilda’s existing zipper bag.

In future, the rice will be packaged in Nordenia’s proprietary “FlexZiBox”, made of a watertight PET-PE composite material, and which guarantees both load and form stability. In addition, each bag is fitted with a carrier handle affixed to the side, allowing for easy transport and proportioning. “FlexZiBox” is available in 5, 10 and 20 kg sizes.

Pactiv’s “Slide Rite” hooded top slider closure completes the new packaging. The closure allows consumers to open and close the bag as many times as necessary. Its newly developed airtight membrane protects the rice from contamination. Built into the top part of Nordenia’s “FlexZiBox”, the slider can only be accessed once the consumer rips open the top part of the packaging, as indicated by the micro-perforation.

The new bag has reportedly enabled Tilda to reduce its packaging waste by some 40%. It can be filled both from the top as well as the bottom. Tilda already markets its rice in these packages in the UK, the Middle East, Canada and the USA.