Breaking News on Food Processing & Packaging

Sidel claims world’s lightest hot-fill PET bottle

20-Nov-2009 - Sidel has announced the development of what it says are the world’s lightest hot-fill PET bottles.

WTO to rule on origin labeling row

20-Nov-2009 - The World Trade Organization (WTO) has agreed to rule on the ongoing dispute over whether US country of origin labeling (COOL) violates international trade agreements, as Canada and Mexico have alleged.

Coca-Cola packaging redesign spearheads global strategy

18-Nov-2009 - Coca-Cola is to create a single global packaging design for its key juice brands as part of a bid to cement its market leadership in the sector, the company has announced.

Coca-Cola begins global launch of plant-based PET bottle

17-Nov-2009 - Coca-Cola Co yesterday announced the selective global roll-out of its new PET bottle made from up to 30 per cent plant materials such as sugar and molasses.

News in brief

Berry Plastics buys Danish packaging company

17-Nov-2009 - Berry Plastics Corp announced its takeover of Danish company Superfos Packaging for around $82m (€55m).

KHS unveils expansion plans for PET barrier system

17-Nov-2009 - KHS will soon be introducing a larger version of its PET barrier system Plasmax to bring the technology to large bottling lines.

High energy prices prompt fourfold rise in bioplastics demand

16-Nov-2009 - Global demand for bioplastics will rise more than fourfold to 900,000t by 2013 with a value of $2.6bn fuelled by high crude oil and natural gas prices, according to the latest report from market research group Freedonia.

News in brief

TCP Partners acquires confectionery packager Tray-Pak

16-Nov-2009 - Pennsylvania-based TPC Partners has acquired a majority shareholding in packaging manufacturer, Tray-Pak Corporation.

Packaging innovation aimed at low scale confectionery makers

13-Nov-2009 - A new digital press can provide cost effective customised decoration of metal containers for eco-conscious confectionery makers involved in small volume applications, claims a US speciality packaging firm.

Can volumes stagnant, closures decline but profit on target, says Rexam

13-Nov-2009 - Rexam said demand for beverage cans continues to fall in Europe and North America but was confident of meeting market expectations for the full-year as cost reductions and currency gains had offset weak sales.

Plastic additive firms face €173m price fixing fine

12-Nov-2009 - Dozens of companies that produce plastic additives for food, beverage and cosmetic packaging have been fined more than €173m for their part in price fixing and market sharing cartels over a 13-year period.

Rexam sells its Petainer business

12-Nov-2009 - UK private equity companies Next Wave Ventures and WHEB Ventures have acquired global packaging company Rexam’s Petainer PET container business for £16m.

Challenges and opportunities for bio-based plastics

09-Nov-2009 - Bio-based plastics have the potential to substitute almost all oil-based plastics but will not do so in the near future because of higher production costs and restricted output capacity, said a new study.

Cadbury cites eco concerns for tin swap

05-Nov-2009 - Confectionery giant Cadbury is playing up its sustainability initiatives in its seasonal packaging to appeal to consumer demand for a 'green' Christmas.

News in brief

Mocon to open 'strategic' Indian lab

05-Nov-2009 - Mocon has said it will be opening a new testing laboratory in India at the beginning of next year as part of a strategy to expand into global packaging hotspots.

New valve delivers quicker filling and dispensing

03-Nov-2009 - Improved performance during filling and dispensing is the main benefit claimed for the new DN50 Integral valve from the UK-based, bag-in-box specialist, Rapak.

Weekly comment

Clinical trials are EFSA’s fool’s gold

02-Nov-2009 - There’s gold to be found in them health claims mountains, but prospectors from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) must be happy with the little chunks that add up to a lot, and stop searching for nuggets the size of your fist.

Call for more education on Canadian nutrition labeling

02-Nov-2009 - Most Canadians use on-pack nutrition labeling as their primary source of nutritional information but many need to interpret it better, according to a study from the Canadian Council of Food and Nutrition.

Velvety PETG film protects drinks from light damage

30-Oct-2009 - Printpack has developed a new PETG film with a matte finish and light protection barrier to help fruit juice and dairy product makers replace expensive containers.

News in brief

Sonoco internal flexible packing merger

29-Oct-2009 - Sonoco has announced the merger of two of its subsidiaries within the company’s flexible packaging division.

SIG gives combiSmart screw cap wings

28-Oct-2009 - SIG has added wings to its combiSmart screw cap to make small cartons of products like condensed milk and cream easier to open.

US federal cash for ‘estrogenic activity free’ plastics

28-Oct-2009 - As concern over bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles mounts, US company PlastiPure announced it has received more than $1m in federal funding to develop plastics free of chemicals that may mimic estrogenic activity (EA).

Alcan costs and flexible packaging sales under pin Bemis results

28-Oct-2009 - The $16m costs of acquiring Alcan Packaging Food Americas and strong performance in its flexible packaging sector underpinned Bemis Company’s 2009 third quarter results.

US government slammed on wood packaging plans

28-Oct-2009 - The US government should find out more about how serious a problem plant pests pose in wooden packaging before making potentially costly and damaging rule changes, said the American Meat Institute (AMI).