Plastic packs are often viewed critically by environmentally conscious consumers. But packs protect food along the entire process chain, preserving the freshness and appearance of the product.

They also extend the shelf life, therefore making a major contribution to preventing food waste due to premature spoilage and have an impressive CO2 balance. Recent studies show the ecological footprint of a processed food product is generally up to 30 times higher than the footprint of its packaging.

That said, every gram of packaging material saved helps the environment, as does every piece of conventional packaging material that is replaced with a recyclable and more material-efficient substitute.

Multivac has been working on optimising the sustainability and efficiency of packaging and labelling concepts for many years. Its latest products – Top Wrap and Top Close – are closure sealing and labelling solutions for fruit and vegetable trays.

Top Wrap applies a label to the top and both sides of the tray, while Top Close seals the tray closed with a label from above.

Both concepts are suitable for fresh products that do not have to be packed under modified atmosphere or airtight in a vacuum. This means a label can be used to simply seal the tray closed and label it attractively at the same time.

With Top Wrap, the self-adhesive labels on a backing material provide a large area for customer information and marketing purposes as well as a wide range of possibilities for product presentation in terms of material thickness and label shape.

It is possible to have cut-outs in the label, as well as adhesive-free zones, so that contact with the product is prevented. Perforations can serve as opening aids and make the handling of the packs easier for the consumer.

Multivac Marking & Inspection product manager for Labelling Technology Michael Reffke says the components of the pack can be easily sorted into components for recycling.

“The proportion of plastic in the pack is under 10 per cent depending on the label material used. The label can also be easily removed, making it simple for the consumer to separate the materials into the different recycling channels,” Reffke said.

Top Wrap can use film labels made of polypropylene, providing the optimum view of the product thanks to a transparent window on the top of the tray. The backing material is not peeled off in this area, protecting the contents from contact with the label adhesive.

With Top Close, plastic, or cardboard trays with a wide flange or even round trays can be sealed closed simply and securely on the top and labelled at the same time. The label only adheres to the flanges of the tray.

Thanks to an adhesive-free zone or retention of the backing material in the middle of the label, the product does not have contact with the adhesive. Transparent labels also allow an optimum view of the product, while ventilation holes ensure that there is air circulation.

The label can be printed on the labeller itself with a best-before date for example, and it is even possible to inspect the print on the label.

With an output of up to 200 products per minute, a labeller with Top Close has a particularly high output. The trays are automatically labelled on the run, and they are either fed in manually or transferred automatically from an upstream module, providing cost savings and an efficient process.

Multivac’s high-output conveyor belt labellers, such as the L 310 FW or the L 312 FW with weigh price marking offer a wide range of different labelling solutions depending on the type and content of the tray, as well as the packaging materials used.

The models can be integrated into existing lines, or used as a stand-alone solution with manual product infeed.

 This article first appeared in the October edition of Food & Drink Business magazine. 

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