Amcor will discuss its approach to sustainability and highlight a broad range of innovative packaging solutions at the SustPack 2016 conference planned to be held from 11-13 April at McCormick Place in Chicago.
Under its theme of "Fresher, Lighter, Safer, Smarter," Amcor will feature several innovative applications, including rigid and flexible packaging products. Amcor also will sponsor a tour of Method's advanced manufacturing facility in Chicago, where Amcor produces containers made from 100% post-consumer recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
"We're pleased to demonstrate examples of Amcor packaging innovations that reduce food waste, deliver a lower footprint and improve consumer safety," said David Clark, Amcor's vice president of safety, environment and sustainability.
Amcor will spotlight several packaging innovations that span a range of markets, geographies and sustainability focus areas. "Responsible packaging makes a valuable contribution to sustainability by protecting the products that consumers need," said Charlie Schwarze, global sustainability manager for Amcor Rigid Plastics. "Our innovative packaging minimizes product spoilage and breakage, preserves the resources invested in the product and ensures that it reaches the consumer fit and safe for its intended purpose."
Fresher
A "Fresher" approach is Empresas Polar's commercial launch of the first ambient stored yogurt in Venezuela. The non-refrigerated pourable yogurt, called MiGurt, is packaged in an aseptically filled, 750-gram barrier PET bottle. Current distribution for yogurt relies on refrigeration to slow the bacterial culture growth and maintain the quality of its probiotic benefit. Advanced barrier technology uses a PET monolayer barrier to enable aseptic filling of up to 140°F and provide light-blocking capabilities that preserve and protect the nutrients in the yogurt product. This breakthrough technology enabled Empresas Polar to use its extensive, nationwide ambient distribution chain to reach families in Venezuela, including those in low-income regions not served by refrigerated distribution channels.
Lighter
With "Lighter," Amcor Rigid Plastics has been at the forefront of lightweighting and downgauging to produce packaging that stores and protects the same volume of product using less material. The company was recently awarded the World Packaging Organization's WorldStar award for developing the industry's lightest heat set 500mL PET container for PepsiCo Latin America's Lipton brand. The container is 30% lighter, which leads to a 27% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, 28% reduction in energy use and a 28% reduction in water use.
Meanwhile, also on the "Lighter" side, Amcor Flexibles has achieved downgauging success with AmLite, a line of transparent packaging materials that offers excellent product protection, a strong seal and improved shelf appeal. AmLite was developed using Amcor's barrier coating, a micro-thin transparent barrier layer that is deposited on a base web. The result is a lightweight material with barrier levels rivaling that of aluminum. In a lifecycle assessment, AmLite provided a 40% carbon footprint reduction and 21% weight reduction compared to standard aluminum-based materials.
Safer
As for "Safer," Amcor Flexibles also worked with ColaLife, a nonprofit group which uses unconventional distribution channels to get medicines to African children in need. Amcor developed a packaging solution to safely deliver life-saving, anti-diarrhea medicines to remote locations. The kit uses an adaptation of Amcor's Push Pop concept typically used to package food. Dubbed KitYamoyo, the kit contains oral rehydration salts, zinc tablets, a small bar of soap and an easy-to-use instruction leaflet written in multiple African languages. The pack itself serves as a measuring device to safely and easily mix the correct proportion of water and medicine. The pack is light and extremely durable, while keeping the product safe and hygienic and nimble enough to reach the remotest of families in Africa.
As part of a "Safer" approach for wine and spirits, Amcor Rigid Plastics has developed more sustainable packaging for Bronco Wine Co.'s Green Fin brand of organic wine. Bronco is field testing its Green Fin brand in 750ml PET bottles. The plastic bottle offers a major weight savings over traditional glass containers and supports customer sustainability targets by achieving recyclability. Green Fin features a recyclable PET label and an aluminum closure that removes completely from the bottle.
Smarter
A "Smarter" sustainability-driven approach includes Amcor Rigid Plastics' operation of an on-site bottle production facility within Method's new advanced manufacturing facility in Chicago. The facility is Method's first U.S. manufacturing plant and the first LEED Platinum certified facility in the consumer packaged goods industry. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a green building certification program managed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices. Amcor plays a key role as a manufacturer of 100% PCR PET bottles for hand wash and household cleaners.
For another "Smarter" approach, Amcor Tobacco Packaging has launched a new printing technology called Sunshine, which provides a highly metallic effect, ideal for replacing traditional foil stamping or metalized and laminated boards. Among the key environmental benefits of the technology are reductions in waste and carbon footprint. During production and application, Sunshine drives a significant decrease in water consumption and greenhouse gases as demonstrated by a lifecycle assessment. The ability to use standard board and the removal of a metallization stage also reduce transportation freight costs, fossil fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.
Other "Smarter" product innovations from Amcor Flexibles include Formpack Ultra cold form pharmaceutical blister packaging. Thanks to enhanced elongation properties that can reduce cavity sizes, Formpack Ultra also reduces aluminum blister sizes and material usage. It supports a more responsible packaging use across the value chain and diminishes the total cost of goods for pharmaceutical companies. Its reduced size also meets patients' need for smaller, more discreet and convenient blister packs.
