Food packaging innovations

RPC Group enjoyed a highly successful All4Pack in Paris, where the company showcased a wide range of its latest developments and innovations in plastics packaging.

Among the highlights,  RPC Bebo unveiled its innovative coffee capsule material that is able to be industrially composted while still delivering long-term protection of the contents and being able to withstand the high pressurised operation of coffee machines.

The new Bebo B2nature™ material features a special multilayer sheet which incorporates an effective oxygen barrier to deliver a long ambient shelf life and maintain the aroma and quality of the coffee in the capsule.   Within 12 weeks of industrial composting only a minor amount of capsule material is left thanks to efficient decomposition, which is assisted by the coffee itself, as it provides valuable nutrients to the compost and improves the nature of the soil. The material can therefore be certified for industrial composting, based on key European and US norms.

The ability of individual specialisms within the RPC Group to be combined in the devising of bespoke customer solutions was demonstrated by a new bespoke dispenser from RPC Promens and RPC Superfos that is reducing food waste through improved emptying. The dispenser - for foodservice sauces from French company Lesieur – was developed by R&D at RPC Promens who produce the blow moulded top, with RPC Superfos manufacturing the injection moulded base.  The improved modernised pack performs significantly better than the one it replaces, dispensing up to 16% more product, while its ergonomic design provides easy handling.

Another food packaging innovation on display was a bespoke pack from RPC Barrier Containers that resembles a traditional Tajine, created for a new range of exotic ready meals from leading French food manufacturer Soulié Restauration, part of William Saurin. The design comprises a thermoformed multilayer polypropylene container produced by RPC Bebo Plastik, combined with an injection moulded PP lid from RPC Bramlage, both in a warm terracotta colour.

In addition to its attractive presentation in retail outlets and in the home, which also means the container can be taken directly from oven to table, the barrier pack’s layer of EVOH provides effective protection against oxygen ingress to deliver an ambient shelf life of 18 months.  Equally important, the lightweight, easy-to-handle pack offers maximum consumer convenience.