ASTUCCI LITOGRAFATI Srl | Best Packaging 2026

Product overview. PaperSmarTray is a carton oven tray featuring a patented two-part reinforcement along the rim. It is both lighter and stronger than conventional trays, making it ideal for shrink film or hermetically sealed top lids. The design reduces disposal weight and shortens cooking or reheating times.

Innovation. PaperSmarTray’s innovation lies in its symmetrical two-part reinforcement, cut from a single reel and applied solely to the rim. Developed by Astucci Litografati, this technology dramatically reduces waste thanks to specialised know-how in welding the reinforcements.

Materials used. Base tray made from 190 g/m² cardboard with a 7 μm biaxially oriented PET film, chosen for its lightness and suitability for cooking; reinforcements in 310 g/m² co-extruded cardboard with a heat-sealable polymer, selected for strength and weldability. Non-cellulosic content is below 10%, allowing the tray to be recycled with paper.

Technologies. PaperSmarTray combines automatic tray forming with two-piece reinforcements cut from reels and welded only to the rim using automated machines developed by Astucci Litografati. Both the design and the application method of the reinforcements are patented. In packaging, the tray accommodates either sealed top lids or shrink film, reducing waste, weight, and energy consumption while maintaining structural stability.

Environmental benefits. Compared with trays of similar performance, PaperSmarTray weighs up to 50% less, is stronger, and cuts rim-related waste by over 75%, reducing emissions by up to 15 kg CO₂-eq* per 1,000 trays produced. Hermetically sealed tops help limit food waste, and the thinner material reduces cooking energy use. The tray is fully recyclable with paper collection.

Benefits for end users. The lighter cardboard reduces cooking times in conventional ovens, delivering both energy and cost savings. From a recycling perspective, the almost halved weight represents a significant environmental advantage, as well as economic benefit in regions where waste collection is charged by weight.

Communication advantages. PaperSmarTray exemplifies sustainability while maintaining, or even enhancing, performance. By converting what would otherwise be unavoidable waste into a more efficient, resource-conscious solution, it also optimises material use and significantly reduces production scrap.

*Calculation based on Carbon Footprint values from the CarbonCloud Platform: 1.69 kg CO₂-eq per kg of laminate.