Super User

Super User

Following its expansion into Asia, PulPac announces HZ Green Pulp as its first licensee in Malaysia

HZ Green Pulp aims for a speedy market launch to supply the growing sustainable packaging market with Dry Molded Fiber products. Starting with convenience products such as lids for hot and cold drinks, food trays, and cutlery.

With a commitment to environmental sustainability, circularity, and social responsibility, HZ Green Pulp is one of the APAC market's largest molded paper pulp groups. Among their customers are some of the top five global FMCG brands.

"Our mission is to provide quality combined with sustainable and cost-efficient solutions. As a leading packaging producer, we can be a force in minimizing waste and using resources responsibly. Implementing Dry Molded Fiber will drive sustainability within our operations and customer network", said Dato Dr. Donald Yap, CEO of HZ Green Pulp.

Dry Molded Fiber is a resource-efficient, fiber-forming technology that can replace single-use plastics. It is faster than traditional fiber molding and matches plastic processing on cost, output, and speed, but with a significantly lower environmental impact. PulPac bases its business model on partnerships and licensing. Turn-key machine solutions are provided by PulPac’s network of partners, enabling fast technology scaling.

HZ Green Pulp is one of the APAC market's largest molded paper pulp groups. HZ Green Pulp is one of the APAC market's largest molded paper pulp groups.

Sanna Fager, PulPac's Chief Commercial Officer, commented, "The roll-out of our technology is accelerating, and Dry Molded Fiber is now being implemented at producers worldwide. We are thrilled that a knowledgeable and forward-thinking company like HZ Green Pulp has joined our producer network. We look forward to working with the team to meet the market's and planet's needs for responsibly produced packaging."

About HZ Green Pulp
We are the leader in the molded pulp industry based in Malaysia, exporting to the world. Our facilities and products are certified and in compliance with GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative), USFDA and EU regulations. We prioritize quality, sustainability and productivity, which granted us prestigious industrial awards.  Our aim is to reduce carbon footprint and breakthrough in diverse industry with our sustainable serviceware packaging solution. Through implementing DMF technology, we can further achieve our goals with greater impact toward the environment, social & governance (ESG). For further information, please visit www.hzcorporation.com and follow us on social media.

About PulPac
PulPac provides the packaging industry with groundbreaking manufacturing technology for making economical, high-performance fiber-based packaging and single-use products. By pioneering the technology of cellulose molding, PulPac enables its customers to replace single-use plastics with sustainable and cost-competitive natural fiber alternatives globally. For additional information about PulPac, please visit www.pulpac.com or follow us on social media.

Dry Molded Fiber
The Dry Molded Fiber process, invented and internationally patented by PulPac, is a manufacturing technology designed for the emerging circular economy.  By leveraging globally available, affordable, and renewable commodity cellulose fiber, Dry Molded Fiber technology allows for producing high-performance fiber-based packaging with highly competitive unit economics. Dry Molded Fiber also saves significant amounts of valuable water resources and energy, resulting in up to 80% lower CO2 footprint than alternatives.  Dry Molded Fiber processing is up to ten times as efficient as conventional fiber molding processing, first used over 100 years ago.

Elaine Scott, Business Development Manager at Fedrigoni Elaine Scott, Business Development Manager at Fedrigoni For the drinks and tobacco industry in the high-end luxury sector, brands tend to opt for varnished wood, MDF or perspex to encase and display their exclusive ranges. When it comes to packaging these high-priced items, brands tend to choose the less sustainable options at their disposal for fear of impacting the premium quality and experience consumers look for in these products. But the truth is, brands no longer have to compromise on a luxury feel, as the eco-friendly options available now provide a premium standard.

The stigma around paper being seen as a low quality material, unworthy of 7-star luxury status is far from reality. Because of its durability, paper unlocks design innovation and allows for technological integration that other materials aren’t able to achieve.

Through paper, the packaging industry has been able to continually push its creative boundaries. The only thing lacking is awareness in the high-end luxury market of how paper and cardboard can be utilised to create beautiful quality packaging while using sustainable practices. After all, the sector needs to be working towards the same 2030 sustainability targets outlined by the UN as everyone else.

Before addressing sustainability in luxury packaging, it’s important to identify what elements of luxury the packaging of products brings to the consumer experience. For high-end brands, packaging plays a key role in the brand messaging and an even bigger role in consumer experience. When thinking of Harrods, for example, the deep earthy green springs to mind immediately. Harrods encasing items in this colour triggers an association with opulence and high quality. Tiffany & Co, too, has a distinct custom colour called 1837 blue named after the year the luxury jewellery brand was founded. Again, everyone knows the role the covetable small suede bags and boxes play in representing the house-colour and brand. It’s understandable, then, that packaging on a budget is not an option for these high-end brands, and until recently sustainable packaging was not associated with elite brands.

2023 03 09 002455

It goes without saying that unboxing is a huge part of the luxury experience. But as we move more towards e-commerce, the formula of unboxing needs to be elevated, providing a more personalised experience for the consumer. This is where paper can help create the at-home luxury experience consumers are used to engaging with in stores. Texture, colours and embossings are all techniques that can be elevated with paper. In order for these to be part of the circular system which feeds into environmentally friendly packaging, luxury brands need to move away from practices like laminating and using paper that is contaminated with other materials. This means virgin fibres are imperative to ensuring the luxury sector can enter the circular economy. Because they’re the first in the chain, virgin fibres are by their nature more robust and therefore easier for luxury brands to create high-quality packaging. Not only this, but packaging made from virgin fibres can be recycled.

Materials aren’t the only way for brands to embrace sustainability. For brands that make luxury spirits, for example, premium packaging is often a big part of how rare or specialised releases are marketed. This creates opportunities to craft ‘keepsake’ packs, encouraging consumers to retain packaging, avoiding landfills. Brands like Diageo and Johnnie Walker Black Label have already experimented with this, creating a ground-breaking new spirits bottle, which is manufactured from sustainably sourced pulp - making it fully recyclable.

It’s not just token collectibles like this that paper can create. Thanks to its versatile form, paper packaging can be used to house recyclable microchips which can create a much more bespoke experience between luxury brands and their consumer. By using NFC (near-field communication) consumers can use their phones to scan the hidden chip, adding to the theatre of unboxing while not relying on unsightly QR codes to create the same drama.

Paper is inherently sustainable, and because of its versatility as a material it can provide a plethora of options for premium brands to showcase luxury and quality. By working closely with paper specialists, brands in the luxury sector can create experiences for their consumers that are sustainable and healthy for the environment while not compromising on the experience they expect from their favourite premium brands.

Stora Enso has completed the acquisition of the Netherland-based company De Jong Packaging Group, one of the largest corrugated packaging producers in the Benelux countries. The acquisition announced in September 2022 with an enterprise value of approximately EUR 1,020 million was closed today following regulatory clearances and employee consultation.

The acquisition will significantly strengthen Stora Enso’s presence in European packaging markets and provide an entry into the corrugated packaging market in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and the UK. With the acquisition, Stora Enso’s Packaging Solutions division will increase its corrugated packaging capacity by approximately 1,200 million m2 to more than 2,000 million m2, including De Jong Packaging Group’s ongoing expansion projects. De Jong Packaging Group’s full year 2022 sales is estimated at approximately EUR 1 billion. Its product portfolio and geographic presence complement and enhance Stora Enso’s offering, especially in fresh produce, e-commerce and industrial packaging.

2023 02 15 094726

“I am pleased to officially welcome De Jong Packaging Group as part of Stora Enso. This acquisition advances Stora Enso’s strategic direction by accelerating revenue growth and building market share in renewable packaging in Europe,” says Annica Bresky, President and CEO at Stora Enso.

Previous releases about the acquisition:

1 December 2022: Stora Enso received approval for the acquisition of De Jong Packaging Group
8 September 2022: Stora Enso acquires Dutch company De Jong Packaging Group to accelerate growth in renewable corrugated packaging

Part of the global bioeconomy, Stora Enso is a leading provider of renewable products in packaging, biomaterials, wooden construction and paper, and one of the largest private forest owners in the world. We believe that everything that is made from fossil-based materials today can be made from a tree tomorrow. Stora Enso has approximately 22,000 employees and our sales in 2021 were EUR 10.2 billion. Stora Enso shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Oy (STEAV, STERV) and Nasdaq Stockholm AB (STE A, STE R). In addition, the shares are traded in the USA as ADRs (SEOAY). storaenso.com

Voith has acquired shares in the sustainability start-up Yangi®, headquartered in Varberg, Sweden. Both parties signed the purchase agreement in December 2022. Yangi's® ground-breaking technology emerges from 10 years of R&D within its sister company, The Loop Factory®, which focuses on the megatrends of sustainability and circular economy. As a result, the leading full-line supplier Voith is investing in new, future-oriented technologies to further drive decarbonization in the paper industry.

  • Innovation and development partnership between Voith and start-up Yangi®  
  • Yangi® is leading the development of a dry forming process to produce 3D-formed, cellulose-based packaging in one machine line without process water
  • Compared to the alternative energy- and water-intensive wet pulp molding process, the innovative process saves 75 percent energy

2023 01 27 123256 

Yangi® has developed a manufacturing process and is pioneering a new technology to produce 3D-formed, cellulose-based packaging. The process is based on dry forming principles in one machine line and enables a cost- and resource-efficient solution that has the potential to replace rigid plastic at scale. Compared to the water- and energy-intensive wet pulp molding process, Yangi's® dry forming process uses no water and less energy, resulting in minimized CO2 emissions and 75 percent less energy consumption. The applications for packaging solutions are diverse and range from cosmetics and beauty products to fresh food, take-away, and consumer goods. For example, in addition to Voith, the luxury brand CHANEL has also acquired shares in Yangi® and is actively supporting its business development.

"We are excited about the partnership between Voith and Yangi. With Voith, we have found the right partner to further develop our innovative solutions and also grow in new business areas," says Johann Kaiser, CEO of Yangi®. "From the beginning, we have been united by our common interest and motivation in sustainable technologies," confirms Anna Altner, founder of Yangi® and The Loop Factory®.

"Voith's expertise as the leading full-line supplier in the paper industry and Yangi's expertise in dry processing of fibers open new doors for innovative solutions. Fiber-based packaging is a sustainable alternative to plastic and will continue to gain relevance," emphasizes Dr. Michael Weiss, CTO of Voith Paper. Compared to petroleum-based packaging, the newly produced fiber packaging saves 75 percent CO2 emissions. In addition, the innovative process is characterized by short cycle times. Michael Weiss continues, "The investment in Yangi is therefore an important strategic step for us to advance our decarbonization strategy as part of our Papermaking for Life sustainability program."

2023 01 27 123228

About Yangi® AB
Yangi® is reshaping the world of packaging through its revolutionary manufacturing technology and next-generation fiber-based solutions. Emerging from 10 years of R&D within its sister company, The Loop Factory®, Yangi® offers an open-source, turn-key machine platform and customized packages of value-added services such as material on subscription and ready-made design concepts, meeting the needs of manufacturers and brands for more sustainable packaging alternatives. Yangi® is a pioneering, innovative and established partner within the dry-formed fiber industry. To learn more, visit http://www.yangi.se.

About the Voith Group
The Voith Group is a global technology company. With its broad portfolio of systems, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, the company today has around 21,000 employees, sales of € 4.9 billion and locations in over 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the larger family-owned companies in Europe.

The Group Division Voith Paper is part of the Voith Group. As the full-line supplier to the paper industry, it provides the largest range of technologies, services and products on the market and offers paper manufacturers holistic solutions from one source. The company’s continuous stream of innovations facilitates resource-conserving production and helps customers minimize their carbon footprint. With its leading automation products and digitalization solutions from the Papermaking 4.0 portfolio, Voith offers its customers state-of-the-art digital technologies to improve plant availability and efficiency for all sections of the production process.

Maison Perrier-Jouët, one of France’s most historic and distinctive champagne houses, has partnered with sustainable packaging brand, COLOURFORM by James Cropper, to challenge the norms of luxury. Together they have created an eco-designed gift box that marries beauty with environmental commitment seamlessly in the luxury market.

Crafted from paper pulp and vine shoots, the Belle Epoque Cocoon has been designed for the champagne house’s vintage cuvees Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque and Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Rosé.

The vine shoots are recovered after pruning at the end of winter, ensuring that this naturally derived agrifibre is given a second life and that the packaging is both recyclable with other paper products and circular in design. The upcycled vine shoots also provide a beautiful coloured speckled aesthetic to the finished gift box.

The box perfectly envelops the Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque bottle, enhancing its shape. Offering a unique design profile with a pleasing sweep producing an organic and natural feel, only the golden cap crowning the champagne is revealed which is showcased by a small petal-like collar. With an enchanting minimalist elegance, the emblematic Art Nouveau inspired anemone of the Perrier-Jouët house is subtly conveyed through the intricately sculpted floral decoration which beautifully fades out at the packaging edge with a double-deboss.

In addition to its featherweight of 49 grams, which is 93% lighter than the previous gift box, the Belle Epoque Cocoon wrap doesn’t include any varnish or glue. It is designed with only two natural materials, paper pulp prepared from FSC® approved sustainably managed forests and vine shoots from France. The vine shoots evoke the Champagne region and nod to the house’s passion for nature and art which has been passed down through the generations since the house formed in 1811. James Cropper’s Colourform production uses 100% renewable energy, with the majority of power being generated on site by their own solar and hydro plants.

Richard Dancy, COLOURFORM brand manager, comments: “A beautiful and sustainable solution that delivers the essence of the Belle Epoque brand through this luxury packaging. The high attention to detail behind this unique box design has been born from Maison Perrier-Jouët’s close relationship with nature and love of art and natural materials. The wash cut crafted finish is both simple and elegant, and offers up a fine example of circularity and recyclability, adding to the other initiatives that the house of Perrier-Jouët has pioneered.

“By reducing the impact on the environment as much as possible with Belle Epoque Cocoon, Maison Perrier-Jouët is giving meaning to all moments of celebration and has reinvented the codes of luxury.”

The box is varnish free, with a long sleek hinge and fastened with a double locking clasp mechanism it does not require any glue.  The clasp closes with a crisp audible click, lies flat and also features a debossed logo. The presentation is finished with a paper label.

With its rich botanical heritage, Maison Perrier-Jouët has evolved in symbiosis with nature since 1811. In 2020, it began a new model of viticulture, inspired by the cycle of nature, which is in line with the evolution of the brand’s practices over the last decade.  Regenerative viticulture allows Maison Perrier-Jouët to act on the life of the soil, local species and people at the pace dictated by nature. The aim is to pass on to future generations a terroir, capable of adapting to climate change by limiting the influence of human activities on the ecosystem to which we all belong. 

2023 01 25 120726

Audrey Guerin, Packaging Development Manager at Perrier-Jouët, says: “This work represents a fantastic collaboration between the James Cropper and Maison Perrier-Jouët development teams.

“Maison Perrier-Jouët has always been guided by a love of nature. The new sustainable wrap reflects the evolution of this passion, with the house taking sincere, ethical and lasting action to reduce its impact on nature and sustain the environment. 

“The ultra-light creation represents a huge moment for the brand since it marks the goal we set out to achieve of having our entire gift offer eco-designed by 2023. We’re delighted to mark the achievement with such a beautiful design that seamlessly showcases how beauty and sustainability can work together, in the luxury market.”

The house’s vintage cuvees Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque and Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Rosé will initially launch in the US, France and Italy in the Belle Epoque Cocoon wrap.  More than ever, Maison Perrier-Jouët re-enchants the world we share.

About James Cropper

James Cropper is a world-class advanced materials and paper products group, with an operational reach in over 50 countries. Using materials from cotton and wood to carbon fibre the business supports industries from packaging to digital imaging and aerospace with products that are at the cutting edge of performance.

James Cropper is a specialist; providing niche solutions such as materials essential for a hydrogen fuel cell, a bespoke colour and texture for a luxury brand’s packaging or moulded fibre alternatives to single use plastics. 

James Cropper has a rich heritage at the Burneside mill, the company was established in 1845, and respectfully manufactures on this site, in the foothills of the English Lake District. The business is renowned globally for its dedicated responses to custom projects and its award-winning commitment to the highest standards of sustainability.

The Burneside mill location is the official Head Quarters for James Cropper PLC and all associated businesses.

www.jamescropper.com

Despite the cost-of-living crisis, European consumers increasingly recognise the environmental threats to planet Earth, and the need to live, and consume, in a more sustainable way

Two in three European consumers (63%) are intent on creating a more sustainable lifestyle, with more than half (58%) of consumers putting recycling at the top of the list to reduce the impact of climate change.

Despite the current challenges facing consumers, respondents in all five countries surveyed – UK, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy – agree that being sustainable has become more important. However, those in mainland Europe seem to be more committed than those in the UK, where just over half (57%) say a sustainable lifestyle is more important, compared to 69% in Italy, 67% in Spain, 66% in France and 59% in Germany.

The study, on behalf of Pro Carton, the European Association of Carton and Cartonboard manufacturers, asked more than 5,000 consumers about their attitudes towards the environment and packaging perceptions – exploring everything from deforestation and transportation, against other global concerns such as the war in Ukraine, Covid-19, and the economic crisis.

2022 – the year of inflation, extreme climates, and warfare

Among the biggest challenges identified by consumers, climate change (63%), ranked second only to the cost-of-living (71%) but ahead of warfare (59%), the economy (55%) and poverty (52%). Here, German consumers place greater concern on warfare (74%), compared to just 32% of Brits – almost certainly a result of their respective proximity to the ongoing conflict. In comparison, 84% of respondents in the UK are concerned about the cost-of-living, compared to 60% of German consumers.

The study also revealed that consumers across Europe have growing concerns about the environmental impact of plastic packaging (55%), while more than three-quarters (79%) admit that the cost-of-living crisis, war in Ukraine and the fallout from the pandemic are hindering a focus on a more sustainable lifestyle.

Addressing ways to combat climate change, recycling more has risen the ranks, escalating from second position in the same Pro Carton 2019 study to first place in 2022. It was closely followed by planting more trees – the previous first-place winner – and using more natural, renewable materials, which held steady in third place.

Consumer Survey image 1

A step towards circularity

Taking action to move towards circularity, there is a clear step-change among consumers taking their own advice. Here, 58% of European consumers are recycling more than 12 months ago, while more than half (54%) say the environmental impact of a product’s packaging has become more important in the last 12 months. And, the impact is being felt on brands failing to respond to this environmental call, with one in two consumers switching brands or products because of the packaging used.

When faced with a choice of two different forms of packaging, consumers further extend their preference for carton packaging. The preference rating for the economically and ecologically balanced packaging medium moved from 81% in 2019 to 86% in the 2022 study. Consumers in Spain and Germany are even more likely to purchase cartonboard-packed products, 90% and 89% respectively, while Brits fall behind with just 79%.

Demonstrating the virtues of cartonboard, the importance of packaging recyclability was evident across the board, with ‘easy to recycle’ highlighted as the most important packaging feature, cited by 85% of survey respondents. Packaging made from natural, renewable materials also ranked highly, with 81% of respondents balancing this with the role of packaging to protect the product (81%). And, consumers are willing to pay for these benefits. Almost three-quarters (72%) say they would pay more for their desired product if its packaging had less impact on the environment. A quarter said they would be prepared to pay between 5-10% more, with 8% going one step further, preparing to pay between 10-20% more.

Consumers in Europe also show a strong confidence in deciding on the recyclability of packaging materials. 77% of consumers express confidence that they know which packaging materials can be recycled. Leading on the trust scale was paper and cartonboard with 82%, followed by glass (80%) and corrugated cartonboard (78%). At the lower end, only 48% believed plastic coffee cups could be recycled, and just 47% of flexible plastic packaging.

Commenting on the results of the study, Winfried Muehling, Marketing & Communications Director, Pro Carton, said: “The findings from our latest consumer survey demonstrate unequivocally that when it comes to recycling and respecting the planet, consumers are willing to do their bit. The research points not only to the impact of current global crises, but the steadfast attitudes of consumers since the sustainability debate came to the fore.

“The results show us that consumers are willing to play their part, but they also expect brands and producers to respond to their cry for more environmentally-friendly packaging and guidance on recycling – both of which are huge components of the merits of the cartonboard industry. The trust consumers in Europe show in the collection and recycling system for fibre-based packaging materials is particularly notable. The high recycling rate for paper and cartonboard packaging of 82% combined with the strong resilience of the fibres used to produce cartonboard makes the material a true circularity champion.”

To find out more, visit www.procarton.com.

About Pro Carton

Pro Carton is the European Association of Carton and Cartonboard manufacturers. Its main purpose is to promote the use of cartons and cartonboard as an economically and ecologically balanced packaging medium. www.procarton.com 

What is cartonboard?

Cartonboard is a multilayer paper-based material with, usually, three or more layers of fibre derived from wood, or recycled materials such as paper or cartonboard. It is often used in packaging to make cartons for everyday products, such as breakfast cereals, frozen foods, luxury fragrances and pharmaceuticals.

The shift away from single-use plastics continues as USA-based manufacturing venture SustainaPac LLC joins PulPac’s growing licensee network. Employing the Dry Molded Fiber technology, SustainaPac intends to establish itself as a source of highly economical natural fiber, single-use food service packaging products for the growing North American QSR sustainability market. 

As the packaging industry works to balance environmental concerns with business performance, product sustainability is key. The Dry Molded Fiber technology, invented, owned and licensed by PulPac, enables the replacement of multiple single-use plastic products with sustainable fiber-based alternatives at commercial scale – setting a new standard for sustainable packaging. The highly economical dry fiber forming technology allows for fiber products produced in North America to be reasonably competitive on a cost basis with like plastic products.

SustainaPac intends to build a series of Dry Molded Fiber production facilities across the USA making fiber drink cup lids, hinged containers, bowls, trays, and related products beginning with a dedicated high volume fiber hot and cold drink cup lid plant in Jacksonville, Florida.   

Cup lids, trays, and cutlery made using the Dry Molded Fiber technology.Cup lids, trays, and cutlery made using the Dry Molded Fiber technology.

Les Schaevitz, SustainaPac CEO commented, “North American QSR’s are clamoring for economical, domestically produced, compostable fiber products to replace their single-use plastic packaging where appropriate, and SustainaPac with PulPac fiber forming technology will be out front meeting that demand.”

Sanna Fager, PulPac Chief Commercial Officer commented, “Time is increasingly becoming the most important factor in dealing with environmental challenges. Now is the time for action. Together with converters like SustainaPac stepping up to the plate, we can accelerate the shift towards sustainable fiber-based packaging and away from single-use plastics. Next generations deserve new generations of packaging where sustainability is just a given.”

About SustainaPac
SustainaPac LLC is a USA based manufacturing venture dedicated to satisfying the growing demand by the  North America QSR and food service industry for economical, domestically produced, high quality, natural fiber-based food service packaging products. Using the next-generation Dry Molded Fiber forming technology by PulPac AB of Sweden instead of conventional wet pulp molding, SustainaPac will compete effectively on a cost and performance basis (without PFAS) with domestic plastic and with Asian produced fiber products. SustainaPac’s high output US fiber forming plants will serve both as custom contract manufacturing sites for the food service packaging industry and to produce SustainaPac proprietary fiber-based food service packaging products.  For additional information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About PulPac
PulPac provides the packaging industry with a groundbreaking manufacturing technology for the making of economical, high-performance fiber-based packaging and single-use products. By pioneering the technology of cellulose molding PulPac enables their customers to replace single-use plastics with sustainable and cost competitive natural fiber alternatives globally. For additional information about PulPac, please visit www.pulpac.com or follow us on social media

Dry Molded Fiber
The Dry Molded Fiber process, invented and internationally patented by PulPac, is a manufacturing technology designed for the emerging circular economy.  By leveraging globally available, affordable, and renewable commodity cellulose fiber, Dry Molded Fiber technology allows for the production of high performance fiber-based packaging with highly competitive unit economics. Dry Molded Fiber also saves significant amounts of valuable water resources and energy, resulting in up to 80% lower CO2 footprint compared to alternatives.  Dry Molded Fiber processing is up to ten times as efficient as conventional fiber molding processing first used over 100 years ago.

Custom corrugated boxes and fiber tubes protect products and the environment and build brand image

By Cheryl Smith

The subject of packaging and shipping solutions has become an increasingly popular topic of conversation within businesses and among the public.

Before and during the pandemic, the rapid expansion of e-commerce has fueled demand for packaging, while labor shortages and shipping constraints have also made it harder to produce and deliver the containers used to ship and store everything from food and consumer goods to machine parts.

At the same time, consumers are increasingly aware of the need for more sustainable packaging. According to McKinsey & Company, 55% of US consumers are extremely or very concerned about the environmental impact of packaging. They are willing to pay more for eco-friendly products, and they express a desire to buy additional sustainably packaged products if more of them were available and better labeled to indicate green packaging.

As a result, businesses have responded in three important ways.

First, they have turned to suppliers that have a proven track record and ongoing capability of delivering packaging solutions when needed to ensure that the right shipping container is available when product comes off the production line.

2023 01 03 153925

Environmental Sustainability

Second, the demand for corrugated cardboard boxes and fiber tubes expands as consumers, government regulators, investors and employees push for environmentally friendly alternatives to plastics. Boxes and tubes are made from plant-based materials which can be sustainably harvested and replanted, and many boxes and tubes are manufactured from 100% recycled material.

The disposal of these paper-based packaging solutions is also far more sustainable. In 2021, 91.4% of corrugated cardboard was recycled compared to only 6% of the 40 million tons of plastic waste generated in the US. Moreover, the paper is biodegradable and does not contain any toxic chemicals or heavy metals, and therefore the small percentage of scrap or used boxes and tubes that do end up in a landfill will decompose without harming the environment. In fact, boxes and tubes buried in the earth will compost in a couple months, adding nutrients back into the soil.

Custom Packaging Solutions

The third reason for the increased interest in custom boxes and fiber tubes is their versatility and adaptability to perfectly fit the specific requirements of each application to achieve the optimal balance between the crush strength and weight/thickness to reduce the cost of materials and shipping.

Custom packaging comes in many shapes, sizes, and strengths to contain and protect products for storage or transport. The packaging should be designed to fit the product, rather than the other way around.

A perfect fit means eliminating the waste, reducing environmental impact and costs of producing, handling, and disposing of excess packaging and unnecessary void fill material — and of damaged product. The right fit also means higher packing density for more energy-efficient transport and more space-efficient storage.

Custom boxes and fiber tubes also enable important marketing advantages over stock packaging. Graphics and information can be printed on the interior and exterior surfaces to increase brand awareness and support point-of-purchase campaigns.

The two major categories of custom, sustainable packaging are corrugated boxes and fiber tubes. Both categories have the environmental benefits of fiber material, and both are extremely customizable to meet specific application requirements.

Custom Corrugated Boxes

Custom corrugated boxes can be designed in any desired size and in a wide range of board thickness. Designers utilize software to optimize the shape and size of the box to efficiently and safely package the product(s) contained within, and to ensure the boxes can be stacked securely on a pallet, without wasted space.

Boxes hold items wrapped with protective packaging or surrounded with void fill material for safe shipment. They can be sealed, closed, and stacked in a warehouse or shipping container.  Some specialty boxes ship hazardous materials or insulate products from excessive heat or cold.

Box types include Die Cut, Full Overlap Slotted Container (FOL), Full Telescopic Design Container (FTD) and Overlap Slotted Container (OSC). A variety of wax and varnish coating options are available. Additional customizations include partitions, eyelets, transparent windows, and die cut foam inserts

Fiber Tubes

Fiber wound tubes are also customized depending upon the specifications and requirements of each customer and applications. They are typically made of cardboard, but they can also be reinforced with other materials for added strength and resilience. Paper or paperboard sheet layers are wound together and bonded with an adhesive to form strong, hollow, and usually cylindrical shapes. Fiber wound tubes provide an excellent strength-to-weight ratio and are used in applications requiring high bend strength, crush resistance, and dynamic strength.

Tubes are available in various sizes; length, inside diameter, and wall thickness can be customized to fit specific products. The wall thickness of the tube can vary depending on the number of layers wrapped during manufacturing. The innermost layer or ply - the liner -, and the outermost layer - the wrap -, can consist of different materials (foil, film, etc.) or specialized paper. The specialized paper and materials can provide water resistance, graphics or labeling, or a specific color.

Tubes Serve as Containers and as Paper Cores

The high strength of fiber tubes makes them well-suited to two very different uses — as an exterior container for a very wide range of products or as the interior core around which sheets of material are wound.

As a container, tubes protect a wide variety of products during shipment, protecting them from damage, including long, heavy items such as pipes and baseball bats, and fragile items such as fishing poles. Tubes are often a good alternative to shipping items in a box with protective packaging or void fill. The range of applications is quite extensive, from small tubes with film barriers for potato chips to large tubes used to form concrete pilings.

Paper cores typically fall into two subcategories: In industrial applications, webs or sheets of flexible material (plastic film, paper, foil, textiles, etc.) are wound around paper cores with thick walls. These tubes function as a machine element and facilitate loading of the large rolls. The other subcategory is a thinner-walled variety of tube used for the packaging and dispensing of retail products, such as the core of aluminum foil, plastic wrap, paper towel and toilet paper rolls, as well as adhesive tape and labels.

Protect Products and the Environment

Custom boxes and tubes are more effective at protecting products than stock boxes, and they have far less impact on the environment compared to plastic packaging. A custom packaging solution means a perfect fit for your product, with less waste and more efficient packing and transport, resulting in cost savings, as well as a distinctive image that enhances brand image and supports marketing campaigns.

Dynamic inventory management system ensures timely delivery of packaging materials to keep manufacturing and distribution flowing

AGE Industries, Ltd, a leading supplier of innovative and custom packaging and shipping solutions for industry and government agencies, offers Just-in-time (JIT) delivery of corrugated boxes, fiber tubes, and packaging materials. During the current supply chain challenges, customers rely on AGE Industries’ dynamic inventory management system and efficient operations for timely delivery of packaging materials to keep manufacturing and distribution flowing.

AGE Industries offers a comprehensive one-stop shop for corrugated boxes, fiber tubes, and ancillary shipping items including stretch wrap, bubble tape, and labels. An in-house design and engineering team works with customers to develop custom solutions and ensure that exact specifications are met. 

Custom design solutions enhance the protection of products and reduce shipping costs, and custom printing increases brand awareness and supports point-of-purchase marketing campaigns. Options for custom boxes are limitless which allows you to tailor your packaging for its market.

2023 01 03 153352

With six manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Mexico, AGE Industries ships to any location in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Products can also be delivered to anywhere in the world by AGE Industries or one of its affiliated partners, providing customers with an integrated program for satisfying all their custom design and packaging needs.

For more information about the AGE Industries, Ltd, visit www.ageindustries.com.

About AGE Industries, Ltd.

Founded by Arthur G. Eltzroth in 1974, AGE offers innovative custom packaging and shipping solutions for private industry and governmental agencies. AGE designs and manufactures corrugated boxes, fiber tubes, and wood crating for Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and New Mexico in the United States. AGE Box de Mexico, based out of Reynosa, Tamps. Mexico, provides custom corrugated packaging and overall packaging solutions for Mexico. AGE meets WBENC, Tx HUB, and CMBL certifications.

For more information, contact AGE Industries at 817-641-8178 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

PA Consulting and PulPac are calling upon pharma, consumer health and FMCG industries to join the Blister Pack Collective to bring the world’s first Dry Molded Fiber tablet pack to market - minimising the use of plastics for over-the-counter and prescription drugs and vitamins.

With 100,000 tonnes of plastic produced globally for medicine packaging every year, PulPac, the Swedish R&D and IP company behind Dry Molded Fiber, and PA Consulting (PA), the consultancy that’s bringing ingenuity to life, have launched a Blister Pack Collective to use PulPac’s technology to provide a recyclable and sustainable fiber alternative with minimal use of plastic to traditional non-recyclable PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) blister packs.

Dry Molded Fiber uses renewable pulp and cellulose resources to produce low-cost, high-performance fibre-based packaging. The proprietary manufacturing process uses less CO2 and almost no water to create highly versatile tablet arrays that match the design and tablet count of commodity PVC, providing a like-for-like, scalable solution for pharma and consumer healthcare companies to use.

Philip Fawcus, Dry Molded Fiber Technical Lead and Sustainable Materials Expert at PA Consulting, commented: “PulPac’s Dry Molded Fiber technology combined with the ingenious PA team has allowed the shapes, functions and features of current plastic blister packs to be translated into cellulose – a huge step for the industry as they seek sustainable packaging options.”

PulPac's revolutionary fiberforming technology, Dry Molded Fiber, presents a competitive packaging alternative for brands seeking to do the shift away from single-use plastics. PulPac's revolutionary fiberforming technology, Dry Molded Fiber, presents a competitive packaging alternative for brands seeking to do the shift away from single-use plastics.

With an initial proof of concept to demonstrate viability, industry collaboration is now required to accelerate development.

Sanna Fager, Chief Commercial Officer at PulPac, commented: “The innovative tablet blister packs designed by the PA team demonstrates a viable fiber-based concept of a circular solution in cellulose that can solve a global challenge. Leveraging the benefits of our Dry Molded Fiber technology – instead of single-use PVC – these packs would be circular in paper-streams and still be functional, scalable, but most importantly affordable. Industry players that seek to be a force for sustainable change in the packaging industry are very welcome to join the collective in support of this transition to sustainability with rapid adoption and global impact.”

Jamie Stone, Dry Molded Fiber Design Lead and Sustainability Design Expert at PA Consulting, said: “It will take innovation and collaboration to tackle the climate crisis, and our partnership with PulPac epitomises this. Using our collective strengths, we have found a solution to tackle one of the huge plastic waste issues across industries reliant on tablet blister packs. We now need industry to join us and help accelerate the development of this ingenious solution and help remove tonnes of problem plastic waste from the planet.”

Organisations interested in pioneering the world’s first fiber-based blister pack and accelerating the industry transition from PVC should sign up here.

About PulPac
PulPac provides the packaging industry with a groundbreaking manufacturing technology for low-cost, high-performance fiber-based packaging and single-use products. By pioneering the technology of cellulose molding PulPac enables their customers to replace single-use plastics with a sustainable and cost competitive alternative globally. For additional information about PulPac, please visit www.pulpac.com or follow us on social media.

About PA
We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future. As strategies, technologies and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity. Our diverse teams of experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough use of technologies to progress further, faster. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results. An innovation and transformation consultancy, we are over 4000 specialists in consumer and manufacturing, defence and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government and public services, health and life sciences, and transport. Our people are strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers and technologists. We operate globally from offices across the UK, US, Netherlands and Nordics. Discover more at paconsulting.com and connect with PA on LinkedIn and Twitter

Dry Molded Fiber
Dry Molded Fiber, invented and patented by PulPac, is a manufacturing technology designed for the circular economy – using renewable pulp and cellulose resources to produce low cost, high performance, fiber-based packaging, and single-use products. Dry Molded Fiber gives up to 80% lower CO2 footprint at similar cost as plastic. It is up to ten times as efficient as conventional fiber molding invented over 100 years ago. The dry process also saves massive amounts of valuable water resources. In addition, energy savings are significant - as the molded products need no drying.

Page 2 of 20

By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage. Site Terms and conditions