Food & Beverage Asia June/July 2022

44
PROCESSING AND PACKAGING
years that work with PET, PP, PP-
EVOH-PP and other recyclable and
recycled products. For packagers
looking to close the loop on truly
recyclable food packaging, FFS
systems offer the opportunity to
switch to PET plastics and meet
new packaging standards while
leveraging existing technologies.
FFS MACHINERY SUPPORTS
SUSTAINABILITY
Synerlink’s form-fill-seal machines
convert plastic film into customformed
cups, fill them with the
product, seal the packages and
cut the packages to order. They
are designed to allow packagers
the ability to customise materials,
package shapes, lid designs,
labels and more at high speeds.
However, FFS machines can
also support companies that
want to reduce their carbon
footprint and cut plastic waste.
• FFS machines already use
recyclable materials: FFS
machines can adapt to PET,
PLA, rPET and other recyclable
plastics, allowing companies to
switch to the best solution for
each product or target market.
• PET cups require less material:
PET cups can be made with
thinner walls than other plastics,
which means PET cups can be
produced using less material.
Less plastic going into the cup
means less waste to manage.
THE PUBLIC RECYCLING
CHAIN IS THE MISSING
SUSTAINABILITY LINK
Closing the recycling loop will
require having plastic collected,
sorted, recycled, and re-used
post-consumer, and today’s waste
management systems are not built
to that standard. Getting the right
materials into the right recycling
loop will involve cooperation
between packaging producers and
waste management systems. Some
producers who do not currently
need a new packaging solution are
working with their communities to
build a better recycling environment.
FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE PET
PACKAGING
The current regulatory uncertainty
can leave packagers with questions.
Does it make sense to choose a
solution now or to wait for further
developments? Do we gamble on
new technology or make new use of
proven technology? Some answers
depend on the customer and the
market. However, the advantages
of FFS with PET are clear. FFS
is fast, flexible, and hygienic. It
allows packagers to use earthfriendly
polymer film materials and
to create effective, eye-catching
packaging with less plastic, PET is
more transparent and sturdy, and
the material is recyclable, and it
allows packagers to create custom
packaging with thinner material.
The features of FFS and PET match
up with the efficiency needs of
customers and the sustainability
needs of consumers, creating a
solution with staying power. And
there are additional benefits to
adapting sooner rather than later.
Packagers face both a challenge
and an opportunity to make different
choices. Companies that reduce
post-consumer waste and contribute
to a circular economy for plastics
will have a distinct advantage over
those who delay. Many single-use
plastics are already banned in the
United Kingdom and throughout the
European Union, and restrictions
are being added by communities
worldwide. Consumers are becoming
more sensitive to their own carbon
footprint and are better educated
about the impact of their purchasing
decisions. Customers who want to
enhance the sustainability of their
supply chains and their product
lifecycles will prefer vendors that
support those goals. Companies that
adopt more sustainable technologies,
like FFS with PET, can create both a
market advantage and a better world.
FBA
FOOD & BEVERAGE ASIA JUNE / JULY 2022