A pack developed by Berry Global for Diplom-Is, a prominent Norwegian ice cream manufacturer, has garnered the prestigious International Ice Cream Consortium (IlCC) award for the best packaging solution. This decision was largely influenced by the introduction of a novel non-carbon black color, which enhances recyclability, along with strategic design modifications that streamline production efficiency and minimize waste.
Through its collaboration with Berry, Diplom-Is has taken a pioneering step by adopting non-carbon black, significantly simplifying the recycling process for plastic containers used in the Royal ice cream line.
“Our switch to non-carbon black has resulted in up to 130 tonnes of plastic annually going from being unrecyclable to becoming easier for recycling*,” states the company’s Packaging Developer, Almantas Dubra.
In contrast to traditional carbon black options, the new non-carbon black containers are compatible with Near Infra-Red (NIR) scanners, vital for effective waste sorting. This advancement allows these containers to be accurately identified for recycling. Berry utilizes a high-quality non-carbon black masterbatch infused with specialized pigments to optimize NIR technology for enhanced detection and sorting capabilities.
Moreover, as part of its commitment to innovative food and drink packaging solutions, Diplom-Is, in partnership with Berry, has implemented design enhancements for its 0.9-liter Royal containers. These modifications address the issue of boxes occasionally sticking together during production, which has notably reduced plastic waste within Diplom-Is’ operations.
“We are constantly striving for improvement, and our work on the Royal portfolio exemplifies this,” says Almantas Dubra.
To explore more about Berry’s non-carbon black packaging solutions, visit: https://www.berryglobal.com/en/news/articles/non-carbon-black-masterbatch-increases-recycling-capabilities
