Fiber-based packaging hit hardest by new UK pEPR base fee

Sonoco announced it is implementing a price increase for all resin-based products sold in North America. The increase amounts by formulation are: CPET/PET – 15 percent, PE – 10 percent, PP – 5 percent. The increase, which impacts thermoformed, injection-molded and extrusion-molded products, is effective with shipments beginning October 15, 2017. “With the unfortunate events surrounding Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, we are seeing a significant inflationary spike affecting the entire industry, not just Sonoco,” said Jeff DiPasquale, vice president and general manager for Sonoco’s Global Plastics division. “The unprecedented occurrence of these natural disasters has greatly impacted the North American resin supply chain in terms of both production and distribution. We are doing everything possible to minimize the impact of this disruption to our customers.”

Metsä Board, a leading European producer of premium paperboards is pleased to announce that its Simpele mill has recently integrated the FSSC 22000 food safety system into its management systems and received third party certificate to verify this. The FSSC 22000 Food Safety System provides a framework for effectively managing an organisation's food safety responsibilities. FSSC 22000 is fully recognised by the GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) and is based on existing ISO Standards. It demonstrates that a company has a robust Food Safety Management System in place that meets the requirements of both direct customers and consumers. The GFSI brings together key players from the food industry to collaboratively drive continuous improvement in food safety management systems around the world. Click Read More below for additional information.

What does it take to persuade consumers to choose your product over similar products on store shelves? One key factor is understanding consumers’ non-negotiable packaging priorities, such as hygiene, convenience, and sustainability. When introducing new reusable packaging or recyclable fiber-based solutions, conveying the right message about the package is vital to overcoming these obstacles getting your product chosen. Consumers are open to reuse systems. We recently conducted a survey of European consumers and found that 77% hold a positive view of reusable packaging; however, only 30% have a clear understanding of what reusable packaging means. This highlights the first challenge for brand owners: how to efficiently explain to consumers how the reuse system works while also addressing their priorities. Consumers rightly prioritize their health, questioning the hygiene and safety of reusable containers, particularly in the cases of food. Our survey showed that 78% of consumers raise this issue, making it one of the most common obstacles to adoption.