The Advanced Packaging Association (APA), in partnership with Finnish meat industry leaders, highlights the vital importance of packaging functionality in meeting sustainability objectives under the EU’s new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). While the PPWR establishes ambitious recyclability targets, it raises pressing concerns regarding essential materials like polyamide (nylon), a crucial and highly functional element in food and drink packaging.
Polyamide is instrumental in ensuring food safety, extending shelf life, and minimizing food waste. Additionally, it enhances packaging automation and operational efficiency due to its excellent mechanical properties and compatibility with high-speed processing systems. Eliminating polyamide could result in unintended environmental repercussions, such as increased food spoilage and a larger carbon footprint.
“Effective packaging is the silent guardian of our food supply and sustainability ambitions,” stated Paul Neumann, chairperson of APA. “To enable real progress, we must ensure that innovation in recyclability goes hand-in-hand with the essential functions that keep food safe and reduce waste. Only by integrating both can we deliver solutions that benefit people and the planet.”
Finnish meat industry innovators, including renowned companies Atria, HKFoods, and Snellman, have been developing advanced food and drink sustainable packaging solutions for years, significantly reducing plastic usage while ensuring product safety and quality. “Every meal has a long journey from farm to fork. Smart packaging solutions help us protect that journey, ensuring food reaches the plate fresh and safe. Minced meat packaging is a prime example, where we have successfully reduced plastic use by 70% compared to earlier plastic trays, while still upholding food safety,” remarked Jarmo Marttala, Packaging Development Manager at Atria.
Alongside the APA, they advocate for a regulatory framework that preserves these innovations in food and drink packaging.
Watch the joint video to discover how a thin layer of packaging can make a significant impact.
For more information about the APA, visit: https://advanced-packaging-association.org/
