GREEN ISSUES

On 22nd April, it’s time to pay tribute to

the planet. Earth Day is important because it reminds us how important it is to care for our world. Why limit this to one day a year? Make every day Earth Day. The theme of Earth Day 2021 is “Restore Our Earth” with a focus on reforestation and soil conservation. In fact, any action that can reduce climate change. More than one billion people participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world.

www.earthday.org YOUR COMPANY CAN CONTRIBUTE TOO

Have you heard about Sprout’s new pencil that can grow into a

spruce? Spruce trees are incredibly quick growers and are efficient CO2 absorbers

Giving away a customised pencil that can grow into a new tree makes so much sense, don’t you think?

www.sproutworld.com

SAPPI AND HP INDIGO JOIN FORCES IN PACKAGING

The demand for recyclable, paper-based packaging as a substitute for

less sustainable materials is increasing. Sappi and digital printing leader HP Indigo have joined forces to meet the needs of a changing world. A paper-based solution from Sappi that renders additional special coatings or laminations superfluous was successfully verified for the HP Indigo digital printing.

DEMAND FOR SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING IS INCREASING

2020 European surveys (e.g. “European Packaging Preferences 2020” by Two Sides Europe) indicate that the type of packaging is a hugely important factor with consumers at the point of sale. Paper and cardboard packaging ranks highest with consumers for sustainability attributes including being home compostable (72%), better for the environment (62%) and easier to recycle (57%). Furthermore, paper or cardboard packaging is considered to be the most recycled material, with 30% of consumers believing the European recycling rate to be over 60% (with 85% of paper and cardboard packaging actually being recycled).

Innovation leader Sappi has been a frontrunner in the development of innovative and sustainable packaging solutions for over ten years. “With our innovative functional paper packaging solutions we are offering a sustainable material based on renewable sources that can be recycled in the paper stream,” explains René Köhler, Head of New Business Development Packaging Solutions, Division Innovation & Sustainability, at Sappi Europe. This sustainable approach also extends to the various integrated functions of Sappi’s functional papers, such as barrier properties and heat-sealability.

HP Indigo is continuously investing in solutions that improve packaging production sustainability. “HP Indigo is collaborating with Sappi to validate high-grade substrates that can meet our customers’ requirement to reduce the impact of packaging on the environment, while leveraging HP Indigo’s ability to deliver on-demand, high-quality packaging with minimal waste”, says Eli Mahal, Head of Labels and Packaging Product Marketing and Management at HP Indigo.

The new challenges manufacturers will be facing include small product quantities from flourishing small labels and start-ups, increasing demand for faster production and delivery, an ever-increasing variety of products and a trend towards more personalised campaigns. The need for faster, customisable and reliable production procedures is becoming crystal clear.

EXPLOITING THE ADVANTAGES OF DIGITAL PRINTING

HP Indigo took over the elaborate design of the pouches. At its Graphic Experience Centre in Barcelona, the three side seal soup pouches (130 mm x 86 mm) were given their individual design. The team developed the artwork for the pouches and six different and unique designs, that leverage HP Indigo’s proprietary variable data printing (VDP) capabilities, came to life to meet the soups’ different vegetable flavours.

For the printing process, a narrow-web HP Indigo 6K Digital Press was deployed, using HP Indigo’s full colour range, silver and special invisible yellow inks. In combination with Sappi’s cutting-edge material, the inks give the soup pouches their high-quality appearance. The amazing results demonstrate the unique digital printing capabilities that extend from various inks to variable data and personalisation with six different SKUs.

The pouches were then finished by Bossar Packaging. The company specialises in the design and production of horizontal form-fill-seal equipment for manufacturing flexible packaging, such as spouted pouches, zippered pouches and sachets. The three side seal bottom-folded pouches were produced using Bossar’s fully servo-controlled machines belonging to the BMS series. This technology substitutes the traditional and standard single cam shaft. The control is provided by means of an intuitive touch screen, facilitating format change-over and adaptability to multiple formats. This is made possible by the servo technology, which enables independent movements of machine parts.

Filling and sealing of a package are handled on the same packaging machine where filling takes place through the open-top part of the pouch. The technology guarantees outstanding efficiency as well as significant time and cost savings.

A perfect finale for a production that meets the requirements of today’s flexible-packaging solutions. With the printing, finishing and sealing processes now being adaptable to small print runs, the industry can meet the requirements of new target groups that include small and medium-sized brands, enterprises and start-ups, as well as a new generation of customers who want more individually designed packaging solutions. By using Sappi’s Guard Gloss 4-OHG, customer demand for sustainable and recyclable solutions can also be taken into consideration.

www.sappi-psp.com