葡萄酒和烈酒 Archives - Selig Group

Packaging Sealing at its Best with Selig at Interpack

Lori Szkodzinski — Wed, 03 May 2023 20:57:36 +0000

The post Packaging Sealing at its Best with Selig at Interpack appeared first on Selig Group.

软包装——不断变化的格局

Amabel Ryan — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 17:57:18 +0000

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新闻和白皮书

软包装——不断变化的格局

22 7 月, 2022

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葡萄酒和烈酒, 食品, 饮料

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Region: Europe

The Growth of Flexibles

We might be forgiven for thinking that flexible packaging is a relatively new concept. However, as far back as the second Century BC, when the Chinese used the bark of the mulberry tree to wrap their food1, flexible packaging has been used to protect and preserve fragile goods. Although plastic was discovered in the 19th Century, it wasn’t until the 20th Century that its potential as a packaging material began to be explored.

Now, packaging is the largest end-user segment for plastic products, accounting for more than 40% of the total plastic usage in the world2. Within this category, flexible plastic packaging is used to protect many products. It is such a versatile packaging solution that the flexible packaging market was valued at USD 230.49 billion in 2020, and it is projected to be worth USD 289.89 billion by 2026, registering a CAGR of 3.89% during the forecast period (2021 – 2026)3.

The reasons for flexible packaging’s popularity are numerous. As a material it is lightweight, durable, cost-effective, and convenient. It also offers producers on-pack design opportunities, cheaper transportation and shelf-life supply chain benefits, as well as consumer health and safety reassurance. However, things are changing for flexible packaging. Some of the main drivers include concern for the environment, the changing face of convenience and technological advances.

All change for flexible packaging?

Increasing concern for the environment – sustainability is now top of consumer concerns when it comes to packaging. With single-use, plastic-based flexible packaging firmly on the consumer watch-list, producers are increasingly having to look at incorporating more recyclable content into their flexible packaging and explore more sustainable biodegradable, compostable, returnable or recyclable solutions.

Convenience drives packaging changes – demand for more convenience is driving design changes in flexible packaging. As a result, pouch packaging and sharing packs are increasing in popularity. As well as being lightweight and an economical way to package specifically tailored servings for snack products, pet foods Etc., the additional ability to add zipped closures makes them appealing single-serve and sharing serving solutions.

Technology augments consumer experience – one of the by-products of the pandemic has been a wider consumer acceptance for scanning QR codes. This, amongst other technologies, is now being used to full effect on flexible packaging to augment the consumer experience. From website to video QR codes, the ability to drive customers to more information about the product is a powerful one that is being experienced by a wider consumer demographic than ever before.

The size of the flexible films market

Demand for polyethylene (PE) flexible films is on the rise and is coming from a number of different sectors – including a sizeable share of food packaging producers.

What Consumers Want

Consumers across the globe want more recyclable packaging. According to those surveyed in the US, Europe, and South America, two out of every three see environmentally friendly, recyclable packaging as important and 74% would pay more for sustainable packaging⁵.

At present, there are many different grades of PE used in food packaging and the challenge for many producers is that flexible plastic packaging recycling rates vary depending on the country and even region that recycling schemes are operating in. At present, flexible plastic packaging recycling rates are relatively low.

Challenges

Recycling rates of plastic packaging waste (including rigid and flexible plastics) in Europe vary significantly, ranging from 26% to 52%6. However, with the introduction of The Directive (EU) 2019/852 on Packaging and Packaging Waste, higher recycling targets per material have been set (50% for plastic packaging by 2025 and 55% by 2030), and a new calculation method of recycling performances has been put in place.

The reason for low recycling rates across many countries can be broadly explained by widespread consumer confusion as to what can and can’t be recycled, multi-layer materials that can’t yet be recycled and limited recycling infrastructures in some regions.

Bridging the gap

According to the European Commission’s New Circular Economy Action Plan7 design is key to sustainability; with up to 80% of a product’s environmental impact determined at the design phase8 and one of the barriers to the expansion of markets for circular products being the complexity of packaging materials. However, transitioning from a linear economy that sees plastic packaging as disposable to a fully circular one needs more than just re-designed packaging, it needs a cohesive recycling strategy that involves many players.

So, how can producers play their part in giving consumers what they want, whilst still delivering light weight packaging that promotes health and safety, is durable and convenient, has graphic impact, can be designed to very specific requirements and offer supply chain benefits?

Packaging focus areas

Building more sustainability into flexible packaging, without compromising material performance, is being approached in several ways at present by producers:

Thanks to country-specific incentives such as the UK’s Plastics Packaging Tax⁹, more recycled plastic content is being introduced
More mono-material constructions are being designed, to improve the recyclability of current packaging options
Suitable markets for flexible biopolymers are being identified at present

As well as continued consumer education, waste collection and materials recyclability need to be developed in parallel. However, with consumers demanding change, how is the flexible packaging used on your product lines being altered to meet this need?

A case in point
With the focus squarely on plastic packaging waste reduction, Selig Flexibles is working with clients to offer them more biodegradable and recyclable flexible packaging solutions. The company’s 84% recyclable flexible plastic packaging is being trialled in companies across Europe at present and has recently been approved for use by a German baby food manufacturer seeking to improve its sustainability credentials.

As the degree of a flexible film’s recyclability is impacted by the type of method used to seal the product and the inks featuring on the packaging’s surface, further trials are underway by Selig Flexibles to achieve recyclability of more than 90%. These will subsequently be certified by RecyClass, to achieve Recycled Content Certification.

As flexible packaging requirements change, getting the right partner has become even more important. And as a customer focused producer, Selig Flexibles offers a customised service, low minimum order quantities and short lead times – for both cold and hot seal packaging.

1. http://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/IR/00/00/15/24/00001/AE20600.pdf
2. https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/plastic-packaging-market
3. ibid
4. https://www.plasticsrecyclers.eu
5. Trivium Packaging and Boston Consulting Group Packaging Report, April 2020
6. Conversio Market & Strategy GmbH
7. https://ec.europa.eu/environment/pdf/circular-economy/new_circular_economy_action_plan.pdf
8. https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/4d42d597-4f92-4498-8e1d-857cc157e6db
9. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/introduction-of-plastic-packaging-tax/plastic-packaging-tax

软包装

包装与特殊包装

流量包

密封小袋与可封口小袋

盖膜解决方案

个人护理

解决方案指南

软包装

食物

21 世纪的葡萄酒保存

Amabel Ryan — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 02:34:18 +0000

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新闻和白皮书

21 世纪的葡萄酒保存

18 7 月, 2022

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葡萄酒和烈酒

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地区：北美、欧洲、亚太

The changing face of the wine industry

During the global pandemic, the wine industry proved its versatility in finding flexible solutions. From a largely on-premise distribution model to creating more accessible e-commerce and convenience retail options, quick moving suppliers enabled the wine industry to demonstrate its resilience. However, with change now the only constant in the wine industry, how are producers continuing to adapt?

Five trends transforming the world of wine¹:

Supply chain issues and price inflation are creating challenges for cost management and margin structure. This is leading buyers to look beyond tried-and-tested purchasing routes
Colour boundaries are being pushed as more experimental wines defy genre classification (Eg. macerated whites and multiple red and white grape variety fermentations)
Natural wines are moving from niche to the mainstream
Sparkling wine is becoming a staple for consumers, moving it from being a treat to a mid-week drink
Ecommerce is becoming even more creative so as to keep Covid-acquired customers.

Despite the impact climate change is having on wine production that is being felt across the world, the wine industry is still predicted to grow by a CAGR of 4.28% until 2026². The fastest growing market is Asia Pacific; however, Europe is still the largest market. Key factors expected to fuel growth over the coming years are product premiumization and the demand for wine due to its health benefits. At present, the five biggest wine consuming countries drink half of the world’s wine (49%)³.

Wine packaging predictions

Although the wine industry is facing significant change, an area that has been slower to embrace adaptation is wine packaging. However, according to industry predictions, change is on the horizon for wine packaging and includes:

Increased sustainability – a growing interest in the light weighting of glass packaging in non-sparkling wines, to help major retailers meet their carbon reduction targets⁴, particularly as up to half of a wine’s carbon footprint comes
from its glass bottle⁵
On the go consumption – Canned wine popularity continues to grow, particularly when paired with low-alcohol formulation RTD options⁶
Plastics bottles – ecommerce and sustainability concerns are driving niche development of 100% recyclable, 750ml, flat Polyethylene Terephthalate wine bottles⁷
Biodegradable bottles – Bacardi is setting an example in the spirits arena. By 2023 it will be using plastic-free, biodegradable spirits bottles made from palm-, soy- andcanola-based oils
Bag-in-box – this continues to grow in popularity, particularly as the traditional aluminium-lined bags are replaced by malleable polymer alternatives that don’t trigger wine oxidation⁸.

Evolutions in wine sealing

Since the earliest vintners began producing wine on a large scale in 6,000BC, the challenge has been how to store and serve this precious commodity. For many years the glass bottle and cork have seemed like a match made in heaven. However, over recent years, issues with cork taint have led to wine providers exploring other options.

The challenge of using cork:

Pressure changes in the bottle can cause movement and/or wine creep
Cork shows a wide variation in oxygen transfer characteristics⁹
Synthetic corks have high gas permeability and are only suitable for wines destined for early drinking¹⁰
If insertion machinery is faulty it can lead to the compression of air into the wine
Cork can harbour chloranisole-producing microbes that can lead to 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA) and other taint causing compounds that can spoil the wine.

A maturing relationship?

Over the years the question of maturation has been raised when it comes to screwcaps. Afterall isn’t a cork needed for the wine to breathe, to develop and to age properly? The answer to this is a simple ‘no’. “Oxygen is not the agent of normal bottle maturation¹⁶”. In fact, bottle maturation is the opposite of oxidation and it is via ‘a process of reduction or asphyxia, by which wine develops in the bottle.¹⁷” To summarise, “When a wine ages in the bottle, the oxidation – reduction potential – decreases regularly until it reaches a minimum value, depending on how well the bottle is sealed. Reactions that take place in bottled wine do not require oxygen.¹⁸”

The screw cap and liner – a match made in heaven

Screwcap closures differ greatly from cylindrical stoppers made of cork or synthetic materials in their mode of sealing. The main difference is that they seal around the rim of the bottle, rather than along the internal surface of the bottle’s neck. The screwcap is traditionally formed of a malleable aluminium alloy that is rolled onto the bottle. This is then combined with a wine liner that creates a seal between the closure and the bottle:”

The screwcap and liner exclude oxygen from the bottle, and thereby promote the development of bottle bouquet
Screwcaps are guaranteed against failure for 10 years, but realistically can be expected to last at least 20 years
The liner is compressed onto the surface of the bottle rim (120 kg) and held in place by the aluminium outer
The high pressure hermetic seal is capable of withstanding relatively large pressure and temperature increases
A total gas barrier is created, offering perfect inclusion/exclusion.

Screwcaps and liners are proven wine sealing technology. Using a specialised liner, such as Selig’s oenoseal®, ensures excellent oxygen barrier performance, no negative impact on wines prone to reductive notes and a reduction and prevention of volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs)….all from a technology that is cheaper than a cork.