Dairy Processing -March/April 2022 - 38

PACKAGING
sales
of cheese products
in the United States
surged during the
pandemic to reach
$28 billion
in 2020
resurgence that is bringing
people back to that area of
the store where retailers
can drive more profit
as opposed to having
to purchase from the
retail shelves with lower
price points and greater
competition for share, "
Klug said.
To this end, Amcor uses a thin
film technology that develops products designed to
mimic the appearance and feel of existing poly bags and
improve shelf-life performance. These products come in
both pre-made pouches and rollstock films.
Amcor's newest cheese packaging products are
the AmPrima PE Plus offerings. Klug said they ensure
film clarity and allow consumers to see the cheese inside the
packaging while still maintaining a surface that allows for
complex graphics and print finishes. The packaging has the
strength to enable the product to stand up on the shelf while
also providing the heat resistance necessary to allow for fast
line speeds so brands can meet demand and control costs.
" Both recycle-ready structures and the inclusion
of recycled content result in a reduction of energy and
greenhouse gas emissions, " Klug said of the products.
" On-pack claims to promote these improvements also help to
build greater brand equity with consumers who are interested
in more sustainable packaging. "
Klug said Amcor's inclusion of recycled content in
films also has helped reduce its carbon footprint, and the
company is working with industry organizations to support
infrastructure and technology for the recycling of consumer
packaging.
Amcor also offers an overwrap for string, stick and snack
bars that is designed for the toughness, strength and good seal
characteristics necessary for high-speed production lines. The
company's 40-lb block tubestock offers material and labor
savings and reduced environmental impact, Klug said.
Abbie Ansburg, marketing communications manager
for Montreal-based TC Transcontinental Packaging, said
the company has introduced two new sustainable cheese
packages, one being a post-consumer recycled film for
shredded cheese and the other being a recycle-ready
overwrap for fresh cheese.
The puncture-resistant film is made with up to 35%
post-consumer resin and is useful in stand-up pouches. The
overwrap is a recyclable non-barrier secondary package
made from polyethylene and is pre-approved by the
Sustainable Packaging Coalition for the How2Recycle label,
38 MAR-APR 2022 | DAIRYPROCESSING.COM
a labeling system that communicates recycling instructions
to the public.
Joel Schmidt, general manager for ePac Flexible
Packaging's Middleton, Wis., facility, said the company offers
connected packaging that helps personalize engagement with
customers, verify authenticity and trace products. He also said
the company's digital printing is more energy-efficient than
" Both recycle-ready structures and
the inclusion of recycled content
result in a reduction of energy and
greenhouse gas emissions. "
Travis Klug, marketing manager, dairy, Amcor
traditional printing, and waste is reduced through their efforts
to eliminate packaging obsolescence. The company also offers
several sustainable material options, including PCR films and
in-store recyclable films. Compostable films are currently in
development, and the company expects to introduce a cold
seal product this year in addition to exploring lidding film
technologies, Schmidt said.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE INNOVATION
As the number of cheese products on the market increases,
Klug said Amcor is investing in technologies to support
shorter run times that will help address the challenges that
have resulted from a proliferation of SKUs in the marketplace.
He said digital printing also has allowed for greater
customization and design flexibility and allows brands with
numerous SKUs to react quickly to the market.
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