Sweet packages

Very interesting the trends for packaging showed at ProSweets Cologne. Buyers ask for: shorter changeover times to ensure greater flexibility when changing products. This trend also is having an impact on suppliers of packaging equipment and packaging materials. Here too there is a growing demand for faster product changeovers and above all for more complex packages.

Bisphenol A update

The European Food Safety Authority will invite national experts from the EU Member States to a meeting by early April to discuss its ongoing scientific work with regard to bisphenol A (BPA).

At the meeting, EFSA will outline its draft opinion on BPA, which is currently being prepared by EFSA’s scientific panel on food contact materials (CEF Panel), prior to its expected adoption in May 2010. The meeting will allow Member States to contribute any relevant national work in support of the finalisation of EFSA's opinion.

Environment and packaging

There will be a revision of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD) in the coming years. Referring to this and others challenges that European Parliament is going to face about environmental policy, Apeal offers an interesting interview to Caroline Jackson, Member of the European Parliament between 1994 and 2009 who played an important role in shaping some key pieces of the EU’s environmental legislation.

PET bottles for wine

UK wine merchant Roger Harris Wines (RHW) is targeting two new ranges bottled in multi-layer PET bottles at outdoor consumption and retailers looking to reduce their carbon footprint.

PET bottles kept the wines fresh for two years and were 100% recyclable. They are also 35% lighter than a 465g, 75cl glass bottle, that the firm said was the equivalent of loading 10,000 more bottles onto a container.

Retailers and Manufacturers join forces to drive global change in packaging

In the context of The Consumer's Goods Forum Global Packaging Project (GPP), leaders from many of the world’s largest consumer goods companies and major retailers have approved a suggested set of common definitions and principles for packaging in the framework of sustainability.

South China Label Show

The Labelexpo Global Series announces the launch of the South China Label Show, which will take place on 25-27 October 2010 at the Jinhan Exhibition Center in Guangzhou.

The launch follows the success of Labelexpo Asia 2009, which recently attracted 16,601 visitors. Market feedback clearly indicated the need for a show in the south – one of the country’s main printing and production hubs. The Pearl River Delta (incorporating Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macau) has been widely termed as “the factory of the world”. Guangdong Province alone has some 18,000 print related organizations, with 1500 of these specifying in narrow web applications.

Country of origin labelling

How people understand and use ‘country of origin’ labels? Food Standard Agency commissioned a package of research to find out more about it. The study consisted of five separate pieces of research that have been pulled together into one report. A range of methods were used to investigate consumer attitudes, including questionnaires, group discussions and innovative eye-tracking technology that looks at people’s behaviour in real life situations.

Starbucks wants to reduce waste

Starbucks Coffee Company underlines the urgency to improve and maximize recycling systems across United States.

As recycling capabilities are different along the areas, Starbuck is trying to involve key stakeholders to develop by 2012 a recyclable cup solution which can reduce packaging waste.

About Us

"Food Packages' staff has been surprised by the 2009 subscription's campaign: thanks to the many and positive comments of our readers, we had a great feedback” says Maria Rosa Baroni, Food Packages' editor in chief. For this reason the subscriber campaign for 2010 is based on the opinion of the readers; as Food Packages' subscribers, they were the best way to introduce the magazine to new readers.

Pop-Up Popcorn

One bowl for cooking. One bowl for eating.

This is the original Pop-Up Popcorn Bowl designed by Anni Nykänen of Packlab, Packaging and Brand Design Department of Lahti Institute of Design.

The slick container of paper can fit in the microwave to cooking the corn and becomes a pretty bowl once the popcorns are ready to eat. The Pop-Up functions both as pot and container and people can cook and eat the snack in the same place.