Global plastic packaging manufacturer Retal is actively working with a leading food and agri-business to manufacture a PET preform that helps to extend the shelf life of its popular refrigerated drinking yoghurt in Africa.
To achieve this, Retal is adding ColorMatrix Lactra SX Light Blocking Additive to its monolayer PET bottles for the multi-national producer’s refrigerated drinking yoghurt specifically for the Nigerian market. The PolyOne additive is claimed to block 99.9% of light, thus protecting the dairy product.
Read online at Dairy Industries
Retal’s EcoVadis score has increased seven points from last year, taking the global plastic packaging manufacturer to a Silver medal at 58%, further closing-in on its objective to reach 65% by 2022. EcoVadis is the recognised ratings platform to assess corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance; minimum Ecovadis scores are increasingly demanded by multinational brand owners in order to be part of their supply chain, so it is imperative that manufacturers perform well in CSR.
Sustainability Director Emmanuel Duffaut says, “Retal is in the top 19% of EcoVadis rated companies in its sector. Staying still doesn’t mean you maintain your score – you lose points. It costs a lot to even maintain your existing EcoVadis score, let alone improve it, so this seven-point increase is an excellent achievement that validates our strategy and action. Our strategic decision to implement the ISO 26000 standard by investing in a specific tool that also allows us to monitor and assess our suppliers’ CSR performance has proved to be the right decision; we have particularly increased our ‘Procurement’ score to 60% (a 20-point increase), which puts us in the top performers in our industry in this category.”
Retal has also increased its score by 10 points in the Labour and Human Rights category, by conducting a detailed Human Rights assessment and thanks to a joint action with all its regional Retal HR departments implementing anti-discrimination actions; this score is expected to improve further in the company’s 2021 results in part due to a boosted performance in the Ethics category.
Read more in PetPlanet online.
The modification of APET films to suit the demands of face shields has opened up not just philanthropic avenues for one packaging converter, but also commercial opportunities. Emma-Jane Batey reports
It will be almost impossible to describe 2020 in the future. With so much happening that we could have never predicted, the stories of loss and triumph over adversity may well get forgotten as we try to make sense of it.
Businesses large and small have had to adapt, some with more of a fair wind than others, and as we head into the unknown that is this winter, it is crucial that we take what we have learned and make the best of it.
During the first lockdown in spring, global plastics packaging manufacturer Retal responded to an online shout-out from a non-profit organisation that needed face shields for healthcare workers in Lithuania. The Retal Baltic Films team made the necessary adjustments to the plant’s equipment in order to produce transparent, fog-free APET films that are thicker than the company’s usual food-grade films.
As ‘essential’ manufacturing has been able to continue throughout the lockdown, the company was able to donate the required volume of these particular APET films for the production of more than 70,000 masks. These were requested by Robotikos Mokykla, a non-profit that provides technical education for children, and was spearheading the organisation of creating PPE masks for people in at-risk jobs during the initial phase of coronavirus.
Following the success of this volunteer project, the Retal Baltic Films team was keen to continue with the production of this specific APET film, even though the demand for face shields decreased in urgency as the supply of PPE became more reliable.
Violeta Ruseka, Retal Baltic Films’ APET films sales manager, explains: “We all know that 2020 has been a huge challenge, but the challenge to amend part of our additional production capacity to produce these thicker APET films for face shields was a welcome one. In March and April we found they were in great demand and we created an internal platform so that medical professionals could order them directly; it’s quite probable that the majority of face shields used in Lithuania until May were made from Retal Baltic Films APET film.”
While demand for this film for face shield applications dropped slightly after June, the company found that other applications were fast creating additional needs, in particular for the temporary, transparent hanging screens that have been quickly installed at many shops, coffee bars, and administrative offices with public access.
Ruseka adds: “This APET film is around 5mm thicker than the film used for face shields, but other than that it has the same anti-fog, no haze qualities and can be easily cut to whatever size and shape is required.”
Now that the company has finalised the technical parameters for its various APET film thicknesses, it is able to quickly adjust production according to its customers’ needs, both in terms of donating product for non-profit organisations and selling in quantity for commercial customers.
For example, Swedish packaging converter INP Forpackningar contacted Retal Baltic Films eager to source large volumes of clear films following the news that the company was able to supply thicker APET film with guaranteed anti-fog, no haze properties.
“This is one of two new cooperations that we have established since June and we are seeing new orders come in in smaller quantities too,” admits Ruseka.
Read online at Plastics in Packaging
Brands overlook the importance of innovative closures to their detriment, as clever caps deliver protection of product as well as convenience. Yet with the latest EU directive regarding tethered closures making stay-connected caps a need not a want, manufacturers are highlighting how their particular expertise can bring value to this crucial part of packaging design. Emma-Jane Batey speaks to design engineer Andzejus Buinosvskis and marketing manager Mariya Ushakova from RETAL to learn how this global plastic packaging manufacturer is exceeding its brand-owner customers’ requirements.
The impact of the EU Single Use Plastic Directive on tethered closures sees a ruling that all beverage containers of up to three litres must have lids that ‘remain attached’ is not only set to be positive from an environmental perspective, but also in terms of packaging innovation.
With the crucial yet often underplayed role of closures in the performance and, to a lesser extent, brand awareness, this SUP directive brings closures into the spotlight. And now that closures have been given their chance to shine, they seem to be rather enjoying it! For global caps and closures manufacturers, their work has long been somewhat in the shadow, yet for those involved in the creatively technical aspects of the design of closures, their deep understanding of how the closure literally allows the product itself to be protected, this is not news. For carbonated beverages in particular, the role of the closure is driven by the pressure of the fizzy drink within, so understanding how that performance influences the engineering elements is key. The additional demands of tethered closures is bringing an additional challenge to those who create what consumers take for granted.
Andzejus Buinosvskis, design engineer for RETAL, a global plastic packaging manufacturer that works with many of the world’s leading food and beverage brands, explains how the EU’s SUP directive is influencing his work. He says, “In the early days of tethered cap development all packaging manufacturers were working in our own bubbles, but as the regulations and their impact have become more clearly understood and, particularly, now we have more specific requirements from our household-name brand owner customers, we are able to develop solutions that are unique to us.”
Read full article online on Packaging Today
Plastics packaging manufacturers are keen to stay ahead of changing EU legislation in order to be a positive influence and supporter of the circular economy. The EU SUP Directive’s tethered closures rule for all beverage containers of up to three litres to have lids that ‘remain attached’ is a reflection of the organisation’s ‘growing sense of urgency’, which also reflects the view of the majority of PET manufacturers.
Packaging converter Retal is driven to meet and exceed EU targets in order to deliver on its customers’ CSR targets as well as its own strict
goals.
Andzejus Buinovskis, design engineer at Retal, has been deeply involved in the development of the company’s tethered cap solutions, a process which has evolved in response to challenges and further information.
“The process of developing and changing has been interesting as we’ve been in close communication with our beverage brand customers,” said Buinovskis. “Their needs are evolving too, so sharing ideas has helped to create solutions that we’re really proud of.”
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Read online on Plastics in Packaging
Working together to create a complicated closure has been a positive and commercially beneficial project for both RETAL and PepsiCo.
The resulting crown-shaped cap helps to ‘guarantee the preservation of the first-class taste and useful properties of the fruits within thanks to a unique combination of functional parts and clever design.
The project has been driven by PepsiCo’s launch of a new chilled juices category in Russia in 2019, seeing its Ya and J7 trademarked chilled natural juices. Сaps for this project are the result of this collaboration and are exclusively owned by PepsiCo, bringing benefits that have seen increased sales and strong brand awareness.
Traditional yet modern
The crown closure from RETAL is produced by utilising the shared customer/supplier relationship. Commercial production started in August 2019, with this 38mm 8.5g closure complimenting the 38mm 36g preform also supplied by RETAL to PepsiCo for the Russian market. For the production of this brand new line of chilled natural juices, which have a shelf life of less than 72 days on a cold (dairy) shelf, completely new aseptic filling equipment was installed at the Tsaritsyno Dairy plant in Moscow, including an ultramodern line with a capacity of 16 thousand 0.85 litre PET bottles per hour.
RETAL key account manager for Russia Anastasiya Romanovskaya adds, “This premium product needs special packaging that highlights its quality and positioning. The fundamental difference between the new crown closure and its Tropicana predecessor is the clever combination of its functionality, which is how the necessary tightness is achieved, with the design element, which sees a characteristic bright design in the form of intersecting arches. This versatile solution eliminated the need to seal the neck with foil and ensure the complete tightness of the product when it is resealed, making it convenient for consumers.”
Creatively commercial
It is these performance- and design-driven intersecting arches that help make this closure unique. Having already worked in close partnership with PepsiCo for some years, Romanovskaya and her team were committed to designing a closure solution that harnessed RETAL's deep understanding of the company and its products. She says, “Huge efforts were made on both sides to ensure that the samples requested for different tests were produced and delivered on time. We also made a commercial mold as part of the project; all in all, it was a very complicated process that required the skills of PepsiCo and RETAL's R&D teams. We truly value the shared project and the resulting sucсess of the crown closure.”
Evgenia Kiyashko, purchasing manager for polymer packaging PepsiCo Russia, says, “Consumer-centricity is in heart of our business. We investigate consumers needs and heavily invest in product innovations. Launch of chilled juices was one of our largest projects in 2019. We wanted to deliver a brand new, high quality product to our consumers and make it look really great. This required new ideas in packaging including juice closures”.
Romanovskaya concludes, “Creating a crown cap solution for PepsiCo was a fabulous challenge and one we were delighted to solve successfully and ahead of schedule. We understood that we were part of an important image project for the market leader of the juice sector in Russia and we did not have a single chance for a mistake or delay! We utilized our best resources, overcoming difficulties step by step, staying in constant contact with our injection equipment manufacturer Husky. We hope that the impressive results of this crown cap project once again prove RETAL’s high quality design and service standards to PepsiCo and the market.”
Digitalisation supports sustainable packaging thanks to adding value without adding materials or considerable costs. That value takes many
forms, from marketing and consumer engagement to raising awareness of environmental issues. Digital tools that can bring benefits to global beverage brands include laser engraving and a gaming-style recycling app, with plastic packaging manufacturers able to integrate both relatively easily and cheaply.
Laser engraving is a design tool to add value to plastic packaging, with the infrared and UV laser capabilities bringing appealing consumer
engagement opportunities right at the start of the design process. The digitalisation element of laser engraving comes from its graphic design
foundation, whereby the right files mean clear designs can be engraved on closures.
Andzejus Buinovskis, design engineer at global packaging manufacturer RETAL, developed specific files that highlight the possibility of laser
engraving for integration in the company’s portfolio of HDPE closures, which are widely used by many of the world’s leading beverage brands.
Andzejus says, “I realised the potential for laser engraving on the underside of our closures when I was Retalsent files to create engraving on our closures, but the graphic files were not suited to laser engraving. The files were prepared by a professional graphic designer as they meant to be printed, but they would not translate well in laser engraving and would not have the desired result. I worked on solutions using one or two lasers and with ultraviolet, infrared or both technologies, with my knowledge of the capabilities of the machines married with
my design skills. For example, the laser doesn’t see shapes, but rather outlines; the laser beam follows the perimeter of the shape, so the design needs to be simplified in order to create a clear image. I worked with the creators of the machine to understand in depth what is and is not possible within its existing capabilities, like can we create an infilled area and can we engrave on light, dark and coloured closures.”
Read online on Sustainable Plastics
Laser engraving brings new marketing opportunities for beverage brands, with RETAL collaborating with global customers to make easy to read and cheap to incorporate closure solutions.
By adding laser engraved images and codes to the underside of the HDPE closure, RETAL can provide a fresh new opportunity for customer engagement. Competitions, special offers and further information can all be shared, with QR codes, outlined pictures and sequential or random codes all able to be clearly engraved for carbonated and still beverages.
Thanks to infrared and UV laser engraving, RETAL can engrave on almost all colours, using one or both solutions. Andzejus Buinovskis, design engineer at the global plastic packaging manufacturer, says, “The potential for marketing is endless with laser engraving on closures. The machine can be set to engrave random codes, codes that relate to lotteries or prizes...we can even engrave an image of the prize itself! It's fantastic because of course there is a vastly reduced risk of the consumer checking to see if they've won a prize without buying the product, as can happen with on-label promotions for example.”
The engraved closure adds limited cost, the ultraviolet solution in particular as no additional additive is required to support the absorption of the laser beam. Buinosvskis says, “Laser engraving is a very effective marketing tool. If necessary, we can engrave with two lasers simultaneously in order to suit all colours of closures and, by working with our customers to create designs that are perfectly in tune with their current requirements, it adds a unique touchpoint for consumers.”
Laser engraving brings new marketing opportunities for beverage brands, with Retal collaborating with global customers to make easy to read and cheap to incorporate closure solutions.
By adding laser engraved images and codes to the underside of the HDPE closure, RETAL can provide a fresh new opportunity for customer engagement. Competitions, special offers and further information can all be shared, with QR codes, outlined pictures and sequential or random codes all able to be clearly engraved for carbonated and still beverages.
Thanks to infrared and UV laser engraving, RETAL can engrave on almost all colours, using one or both solutions. Andzejus Buinosvskis, design engineer at the global plastic packaging manufacturer, says, “The potential for marketing is endless with laser engraving on closures. The machine can be set to engrave random codes, codes that relate to lotteries or prizes...we can even engrave an image of the prize itself! It's fantastic because of course there is a vastly reduced risk of the consumer checking to see if they've won a prize without buying the product, as can happen with on-label promotions for example.”
The engraved closure adds limited cost, the ultraviolet solution in particular as no additional additive is required to support the absorption of the laser beam. Buinosvskis says, “Laser engraving is a very effective marketing tool. If necessary, we can engrave with two lasers simultaneously in order to suit all colours of closures and, by working with our customers to create designs that are perfectly in tune with their current requirements, it adds a unique touchpoint for consumers.”