Are we doing everything we can?
Belgium-based non-profit Plastics Recyclers Europe has created RecyClass, a platform that is a vocal proponent of Design for Recycling (DfR) and its clear approach shares how responsible players in the plastics value chain can do more, earlier. RecyClass defines its purpose as ‘a cross-industry initiative facilitating the transition towards a circular economy’, which it promotes utilising its roster of ‘scientific findings, transparency and traceability’. A useful resource is its Design Book, which was published in June 2022 and is now being increasingly referenced as a science-driven handbook for the entire plastics value chain.
The Design Book is the result of a collaboration from across the entire plastics value chain, particularly members and supporters of RecyClass, with RecyClass Chairman Paolo Glerean explaining that it can, ‘lead to improved quality of recycled plastic and stimulates its uptake in new packaging applications’, while ‘opening the door for a circular plastic future.’
Emmanuel Duffaut, Sustainability Director for multinational plastics packaging manufacturer RETAL, shares how the RecyClass Design Book is an excellent way to clarify and define how that journey from linear to circular economy for the plastics industry. “There are limitations to simply shouting that increasing recycled material volumes in plastic packaging is the answer, especially in food packaging; of course, this is part of the solution, but there are currently also market issues with supply and quality, so strict legislation on this topic is not only helpful. The RecyClass Design Book is a welcome addition to our continually progressing arsenal of circularity tools, as it clearly defines the concept and guidelines of DfR for all players in the plastics industry, showing how we can work together to dramatically increase the likelihood of a realistic plastic circular economy.”
Read full version at Sustainable Plastics
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The multinational sales team from plastic packaging producer RETAL was out in force at the recent Plastics News Caps & Closures speaker event in the US.
Held in Schaumburg, Illinois, the prestigious event, hosted by the world’s leading online and print magazine for the plastics industry Plastics News, took place from 19 – 21st September 2022, with over 1500 participants.
RETAL’s sales director for Europe and the US Vitaly Lavrinenko and key account manager Gennadiy Khmelevskiy presented to a packed audience, with the subject ‘Staying Ahead of Legislation – Caps & Closures for Global Beverage Brands’.
The presentation started with details of the impending EU legislation regarding the requirement for all single-use containers of over three liters to have closures that stay attached, explaining how RETAL has developed closures in-house to ensure all its customers are in line with the new rules.
A mineral water bottle made with NEOPET Cycle (PET resin with 30% rPET integrated into the flakes produced by sister company NEO Group) and tethered closure produced by RETAL in Europe was used to demonstrate how the combination works. Lavrinenko and Khmelevskiy continued to explain how the R&D behind the development was achieved, notably sharing how close cooperation with global customer requirements were met alongside the EU Directive.
Following the 20-minute presentation, the RETAL team took a wide range of questions from the floor, with both noting that the audience asked many pertinent questions, highlighting that the dynamic US market is considering the potential realities of implementing tethered closures both to stay ahead of possible legislation and to support global brands in achieving their own ambitious sustainability targets.
RETAL Baltic Films offers full mono solutions of APET rigid and top lidding films, with performance analysis for customers.
The decision to promote RETAL Baltic Films as a dedicated company with its own website coincides with its increased portfolio in flexible and rigid films, thanks to considerable investment at its Klaipeda, Lithuania location, including sales increasing by 100% over the last five years.
Viktorija Griziene, General Manager, RETAL Baltic Films, says, “RETAL has long been a well-known name in rigid packaging across the Baltic region, and we have been increasingly adding to our flexible film capabilities in recent years. Now, RETAL Baltic Films has our own website, and we can highlight how our place in the stable RETAL Group is perfectly complemented by our nimble approach to flexible film packaging development.”
RETAL Baltic Films will be participating at Fachpack, the European trade fair for companies that produce and use packaging, held in Nuremberg, Germany from 27 – 29 September, and Scanpack in Sweden from 4 – 7 October. The team of rigid and flexible film experts will be on hand to talk through its latest sustainable solutions for recyclable high barrier films in APET for top lidding and high barrier mono Form-Fill-Seal laminate, planned investments, and to share how the complete assessment of top lidding and bottom tray is of great value to customers.
Visit RETAL Baltic Films at Fachpack, Hall 7, stand 7-259, and at Scanpack stand number D03:37
See RETAL Baltic Films’ new website at www.retalfilms.com
For further information, contact info@retalfilms.com
RETAL Baltic Films offers full mono solutions of APET rigid and top lidding films, with performance analysis for customers.
The decision to promote RETAL Baltic Films as a dedicated company with its own website coincides with its increased portfolio in flexible and rigid films, thanks to considerable investment at its Klaipeda, Lithuania location, including sales increasing by 100% over the last five years.
Viktorija Griziene, General Manager, RETAL Baltic Films, says, “RETAL has long been a well-known name in rigid packaging across the Baltic region, and we have been increasingly adding to our flexible film capabilities in recent years. Now, RETAL Baltic Films has our own website, and we can highlight how our place in the stable RETAL Group is perfectly complemented by our nimble approach to flexible film packaging development.”
RETAL Baltic Films will be participating at Fachpack, the European trade fair for companies that produce and use packaging, held in Nuremberg, Germany from 27 – 29 September, and Scanpack in Sweden from 4 – 7 October. The team of rigid and flexible film experts will be on hand to talk through its latest sustainable solutions for recyclable high barrier films in APET for top lidding and high barrier mono Form-Fill-Seal laminate, planned investments, and to share how the complete assessment of top lidding and bottom tray is of great value to customers.
Visit RETAL Baltic Films at Fachpack, Hall 7, stand 7-259, and at Scanpack stand number D03:37
See RETAL Baltic Films’ new website at www.retalfilms.com
For further information, contact info@retalfilms.com
Read online at Business Focus
Read / download in PDF
This summer, RETAL is enjoying the opportunity to be a sponsor of a charity bike tour as 2,400 Team Rynkeby cyclists head to Paris to raise funds for seriously ill children.
The Team Rynkeby Nieder-Olm is participating in the challenging tour across Europe, starting in Nieder-Olm on July 16th and taking in seven daily stages, including the notorious ‘Mur de Huy’ in Belgium with a gradient up to 26%.
The participants will use their own energy and two wheels to cycle across Europe, from Nieder-Olm via Mosel, Cologne, Maastricht, Dinant, Saint-Quentin and Chantilly to the finish line in Paris.
This year, Team Rynkeby consists of 2,400 cyclists and 360 helpers, spread over 65 teams from nine countries. Over the past 20 years, Team Rynkeby has raised €75 million for seriously ill children.
All donations from the German Team Rynkeby Teams (Berlin, Flensburg, RheinRuhr & Nieder-Olm) go to the German Children’s Cancer Foundation, whose important work benefits children with cancer and which is financed in large part through sponsorship by charitable companies.
RETAL is proud to be a sponsor of the Team Rynkeby project.
R&D is an integral part of daily life for design engineer Andzejus Buinovskis. Buinovskis has worked at global plastic packaging manufacturer RETAL since 2015, bringing his creative design skills to his CAD-based role in the company’s R&D team at its largest facility in Lithuania. To demonstrate how R&D supports progress at RETAL, we share a day in the life of Buinovskis.
In terms of product development, Buinovskis acts as a pivotal point of contact between the sales team and the market, with his remit to translate the requirements of the customers into functional packaging solutions. A day in the life of Buinovskis reflects how design is integral to the ongoing development of packaging solutions at RETAL, including evolving tethered closure options, lightweighting and integrating environmental sustainability at every stage.
Buinovskis generally starts his day by checking what online meetings are scheduled to understand what new information may be forthcoming. A regular participant in meetings for various teams throughout the company, Buinovskis’s input is valued by the sales, NPD, communications and sustainability departments.
Read full article online at Packaging Insights
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The expansion of plastic packaging manufacturer RETAL in Donora, PA continues with investment, recruitment and production all stepping up a gear.
RETAL PA has so far included a further six injection molding lines to join its existing five lines, adding an additional 8000 sq. ft warehouse and recruiting 30 new employees to take the headcount from 40 to 70.
General manager and president of the facility Darius Janulionis notes, “This is an exciting time to be part of the US plastic packaging industry; we bring a fresh focus on sustainability in our portfolio and the demand for our expertise and our products is high. Customers increasingly appreciate our deep understanding of creating responsible packaging solutions. The new molding lines have been carefully chosen for their sustainability credentials, with the advanced technology meaning that each machine uses less energy to produce the same product.”
HR manager Elizabeth Giecek says, “We have a lot of roles available, including in the warehouse and in production, and we love to share how many of our team have been promoted internally, and that there is plenty of excellent training available for the right people. I look for enthusiasm, a positive attitude, and people that are happy to be part of our strong team.”
The team at RETAL’s Donora plant have generated excellent results, leading to the ongoing expansion program that is driven by strong demand from global food and beverage brand customers.
Direct applications for all open positions are welcome at RETAL PA, with further information available from elizabeth.giecek@retal.us
Read online at SP News.
In preparation for International Women in Engineering Day, packaging writer Emma-Jane Batey spoke to Brittany Brooks, sales representative at global plastic packaging producer RETAL, about her journey from humble beginnings, to mentoring the next generation of STEM students for a career in engineering.
Alabama native Brittany Brooks has forged a successful career in plastic packaging thanks to her determination to harness her intellect and utilize her opportunities. With a strong character and an even stronger dedication to being successful in everything she does, Brittany has recently been promoted to sales representative at global plastic packaging producer RETAL, at its Donora PA facility.
Born in a small town in Alabama in the southeast of North America, Brittany did not come from a wealthy or educated immediate family yet has consistently succeeded against a backdrop of limited support in her higher education. She says, “My grandparents have always encouraged me to learn and use my brain. My grandad was a retired math professor and he shared with me a love of math; he'd teach me things I wasn't supposed to know yet! I was also intrigued by science from a young age; my aunt would give me experiments to do and articles to read.”
Read online at Interplas Insights
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After a Covid-induced delay, the world’s leading drink and liquid food trade show Drinktec is fast approaching, with the RETAL team ready to head to Munich from 12 – 16 September 2022.
With Drinktec being the first international show that RETAL has attended for two years, the team is looking forward to presenting our latest sustainability-driven products, tethered closures and other recent developments at our stand C5 Booth 351.
Senior Marketing manage Europe and US Maria Jarrar says, “Drinktec is a great opportunity for us to meet with our customers as it’s such a popular trade show. There’s a great energy at Drinktec; we’ll be there sharing our most up to date packaging solutions and talking with customers, partners and friends from across the supply chain.”
RETAL is arranging meetings with customers, potential customers and valued contacts at our stand and is pleased to offer free Drinktec tickets directly from Maria or your RETAL contact.
The expansion of plastic packaging manufacturer RETAL in Donora, PA continues with investment, recruitment and production all stepping up a gear.
RETAL PA has so far included a further six injection molding lines to join its existing five lines, adding an additional 8000 sq. ft warehouse and recruiting 30 new employees to take the headcount from 40 to 70.
General manager and president of the facility Darius Janulionis notes, “This is an exciting time to be part of the US plastic packaging industry; we bring a fresh focus on sustainability in our portfolio and the demand for our expertise and our products is high. Customers increasingly appreciate our deep understanding of creating responsible packaging solutions. The new molding lines have been carefully chosen for their sustainability credentials, with the advanced technology meaning that each machine uses less energy to produce the same product.”
HR manager Elizabeth Giecek says, “We have a lot of roles available, including in the warehouse and in production, and we love to share how many of our team have been promoted internally, and that there is plenty of excellent training available for the right people. I look for enthusiasm, a positive attitude, and people that are happy to be part of our strong team.”
The team at RETAL’s Donora plant have generated excellent results, leading to the ongoing expansion program that is driven by strong demand from global food and beverage brand customers.
Direct applications for all open positions are welcome at RETAL PA, with further information available from elizabeth.giecek@retal.us
Read online at Business Focus
Read online at SP News