John Shipley, Business Unit Director at KM Packaging, said the past year has been very meaningful for plastic packaging: "On the BBC TV programme ‘ Blue Planet; After it aired, we saw a significant shift in attitudes. There was a massive awakening and reassessment, not only of the use of plastic in our daily lives, but also of what happens after it is used."

He takes a positive view that it is an exciting time for the plastics industry as change promotes innovation and challenges bring opportunities. "Globally, we are seeing a trend towards a circular economy for plastics, which treats plastic waste as a resource, to ensure that we can minimise plastic waste and fully reuse and recycle plastics," he said.

Reduce plastic waste, improve recyclability

For KM Packaging, a flexible packaging supplier to the world's leading food manufacturers, plastic has its advantages: its versatility and versatility make it suitable for a wide range of applications. The positive role of plastics in reducing food waste cannot be ignored.

In order to meet the needs of the changing global market, companies have reduced the weight of plastic packaging, thus ensuring lower packaging and sales costs, benefiting food manufacturers, meat and seafood processors, fresh produce growers and packers.

For example, changing from 100% rigid plastic clamshell type packaging to pulp/fiber pallets with a top-sealing plastic cover film can reduce plastic weight by more than 95%, while the packaging is secure, burglar resistant, and easy for consumers to open.

Looking ahead, he stressed that keeping up with regulatory requirements for food-contact packaging in a timely manner is key. At the same time, it is also important to constantly meet the changing needs of retailers such as supermarkets to reduce the amount of plastic used and ensure the recyclability of plastic packaging. "The recyclability of plastics is vital as plastics must be part of the long-term solution to reducing food waste and we as an industry must continue to innovate, while our government needs to make the necessary investments in infrastructure to collect and recycle plastics more efficiently," he reiterated.

Cap Film technology

KM Packaging presents its range of professional cap film to the Chinese market together with its regional partner XILE Net Solutions, a distributor of Proseal's online pallet sealing machinery. The product on display is GT0s, an advanced automatic, high-speed in-line medium yield pallet sealing system. Using KM Packaging's advanced K Peel cover film, it features high yield, fast mold change, and a compact design that saves space.

He noted that this combined technology solution is suitable for a variety of pallet types, including CPET, APET, RPET, PP, pulp, cardboard and aluminum foil. Its film range includes a single polymer solution that can be recycled, as well as a non-plastic capping film solution that can be composted after use.

The new film technology is in response to a major shift towards chilled produce, he says: "As the world economy grows, we are increasingly pressed for time, increasing the demand for pre-prepared ready-to-eat foods, convenience foods and fruits and vegetables."

He anticipates that food manufacturers and processors, as well as fresh produce growers and packers, will benefit from tray sealing technology and materials. Companies that supply flexible packaging materials to the food industry will also benefit from a variety of solutions that can also be made available to local processors for further processing, such as printing, lamination and perforation.

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