Amcor's easier to recycle breakthrough stand-up pouch shortlisted at 2021 UK Packaging Awards
Innovation
October 15, 2021Reading time: 2 minutes
Amcor's easier to recycle microwaveable rice pouch created with Mars Food has been shortlisted in this year’s UK Packaging Awards in the Flexible Plastic Pack of the Year category.
This innovation uses Amcor’s proprietary AmLite HeatFlex technology to allow Mars Food to retain the shape, long shelf-life, functionality and high safety standards needed for its ready-to-heat rice. This recyclable* technology has a broad range of applications for food products that require the packaging to be heated either during manufacturing or at-home consumption. This was its first application for microwaveable food and the first launch in a stand-up pouch format.
Amcor's easier to recycle microwaveable rice pouch created with Mars Food has been shortlisted in this year’s UK Packaging Awards in the Flexible Plastic Pack of the Year category.
This innovation uses Amcor’s proprietary AmLite HeatFlex technology to allow Mars Food to retain the shape, long shelf-life, functionality and high safety standards needed for its ready-to-heat rice. This recyclable* technology has a broad range of applications for food products that require the packaging to be heated either during manufacturing or at-home consumption. This was its first application for microwaveable food and the first launch in a stand-up pouch format.
In 2018, Mars Food partnered with Amcor to develop new recyclable mono-polypropylene (PP) microwavable rice pouches, to launch in market starting 2021. The project was aimed at making the pouches for Mars Food’s household brands such as Ben’s Original® and Seeds of Change® recyclable where infrastructure exists – an industry first.
In early 2021, the new designed to be recycled pouch was piloted in the UK with Ben’s Original® Ready to Heat Wholegrain Rice. In April 2021, the pack became available in Tesco stores, delivering on the public commitment made by the two companies in December 2020.
Developing a recyclable, retort stable stand-up-pouch represents one of the most difficult technical challenges in flexible packaging, because of the strength and durability of the laminates required to allow a long shelf life. Compared to mono-PP EVOH barrier solutions, that are suitable for simple recipes and don’t guarantee long product protection, AmLite HeatFlex uses mono-PP SiOx and is best for long preservation, due to the silicon oxide barrier coating.
The roll-out of Ben’s Original® new pouch coincided with several major UK retailers announcing in-store trials to collect and recycle flexible packaging material such as this.
This breakthrough packaging meets the needs of consumers for taste, convenience and now also improved sustainability; and it can act as a catalyst for new waste management and recycling infrastructure. Additionally, a life cycle assessment demonstrates a carbon footprint reduction of up to 56% for this packaging compared to previous versions.**
The progress is part of Mars’ Sustainable Packaging Plan, which outlines the business’ commitment and plans to achieve 100% recyclable, compostable or reusable packaging by 2025. The project also moves Amcor closer to achieving its pledge to develop all its packaging to be recyclable or reusable by 2025.
The results will be announced on Friday 12th November 2021 at The Brewery, Chiswell Street, London.
To find out more about Amcor’s award-winning more sustainable products, click here.
*AmLite HeatFlex Recyclable is certified as recyclable by cyclos-HTP Institute, an independent testing lab. It can be easily recycled within plastic collection streams already existing in several European countries, including Germany, Austria, parts of Italy, Norway and The Netherlands.
**Source: ASSET packaging lifecycle assessment.
