DS Smith Slovenia, a leading provider of innovative and sustainable corrugated cardboard packaging solutions, is working in partnership with Panvita Group.
The largest Slovenian chain of food processing companies in the region, Panvita is set to reduce plastic across its Ave meat product line by more than 1.6 million pieces of packaging a year.
The DS Smith Easy Bowl consists of a corrugated cardboard tray that is laminated with a thin layer of plastic and sealed using flexible materials. The packaging solution is designed to replace up to 85% of plastic with lightweight cardboard from renewable raw materials, and the tray is made from recycled paper and is itself recyclable.
The external corrugated cardboard tray and inner protective film are ideal for keeping meat, fish, and prepared meals fresh with barrier resilience while simultaneously enhancing food safety and shelf life. Simultaneously, the light and rigid structure of the design means that the amount of plastic used in the packaging and materials can be easily separated for recycling.
The Ave meat branded products are the first Panvita products to use the solution and can already be seen on store shelves and advertising billboards in Slovenia, and the DS Smith Easy Bowl has been developed in partnership with MULTIVAC, a packaging line company with thermoforming machines and tray sealers.
The robust barrier properties of the film can guarantee equal shelf life when compared with conventional MAP (modified atmosphere packaging) packaging for fresh food, and the diversity of shapes, sizes, and constructions possible for the solution allows for adaptability within existing production equipment. Manufacturers wanting to invest in the new product solution are therefore able to make an easy transition without compromising on production efficiency.
Michal Zawistowski, General Manager, DS Smith Slovenia: “DS Smith Slovenia is ready for a broader implementation of the DS Smith Easy Bowl not only in Panvita, but also in the Slovenian and European markets. We see DS Smith Easy Bowl as a sustainable packaging solution for a wide range of meat and other food products that are currently packed in styrofoam or plastic trays. We’re talking about millions of pieces of plastic packaging that could be replaced with sustainable corrugated cardboard solutions and reducing plastic consumption by 85%, depending on the dimensions and version of the packaging.
DS Smith Easy Bowl is setting new standards in the packaging industry in partnership with Panvita. We are proud to contribute to a more sustainable future as a part of our company-wide purpose and Now & Next sustainability strategy. We are proud to offer solutions that are technically sophisticated, adaptable, and sustainable.”
Toni Balažič, Director of the Panvita Group: “At Panvita, we strive for a sustainable future at every step of our production. With our excellent collaboration with DS Smith and the introduction of new packaging, we have taken an important step forward in our commitment to reducing environmental impacts.
This DS Smith Easy Bowl innovation aligns perfectly with our goals, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030, increasing the procurement of sustainably produced raw materials, and using at least 75% recycled packaging. We believe that with this action, we not only fulfill our sustainability commitments, but that we also encourage the entire industry to handle resources more responsibly and better protect the environment. With this action, we confirm our commitment to sustainability and pave the way for a healthier and more sustainable food chain.”
The DS Smith Easy Bowl innovation is the result of a two-year development process, and the solution addresses an increasing consumer awareness around the importance of reducing problem plastics in packaging, with a preference for replacing them with sustainable solutions.
According to research commissioned by DS Smith, 50% of European consumers are more actively separating and recycling waste than they were five years ago, and 50% are also proactively seeking out products that are made from recyclable materials. Furthermore, 62% of consumers questioned were willing to pay more for packaging with less, or no plastic.
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