Packaging
Huhtamaki extends the r-PET salad pot range
Thursday 14. February 2008 - Huhtamaki has launched a second thermoformed r-PET (recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate) salad pot range following the success of a bespoke launch for Bakkavor early in 2007.
These new round containers with packaging sizes of 180 g, 200 g, 250 g and 300 g are ideal solutions for packing various chilled, short shelf-life products such as dips and wet salads and they can also be used for numerous other applications such as in-store deli counter applications.
All these new round salad pots come in a diameter of 101 mm enabling one lid to fit all pots. The 101 mm size is commonly used in the UK market and some other European markets. The packs can be used for filling coleslaw, potato salads, Greek dips, salsa, sandwich fillings and various dips which are closed with a clip lid. Current customers use shrink bands or board sleeves that securely retain the lids, keep it in place and provide tamper -evidence. The introduction of a modified lid in the near future will allow a heat sealable film to be applied offering another vehicle for tamper evidence.
Demand for sustainable packaging solutions boosting rPET
R-PET is post consumer recycled material (PCR) derived from recycled PET bottles. The thermoformed containers are made from material, which contains between 40 and 70% post consumer PET making the packaging more environment friendly. With Huhtamaki`s technically advanced extrusion of these materials the end products exhibit excellent clarity, good crack resistance and have appropriate food contact approval.
“Retailers in the UK continue switching to more sustainable packaging and r-PET is an ideal solution as it performs similarly to virgin APET. The inclusion of high levels of recyclate make these products attractive to customers looking to improve their environmental credentials and reduce dependence on virgin material. We identified the possibilities of food-grade r-PET early on and will continue introducing more and more products using r-PET”, says Andrew Lea, General Manager, Consumer Goods UK.
Huhtamakis first rPET salad pot range was launched last August. The oval-like, space economical salad pot range was developed for a UK customer Bakkavor who is using it for packing salads for Tesco. The success of this range has showed that r-PET fulfils customer expectations extremely well when switching to packaging solutions that help to reduce the environmental impact.