Tunisia to abolish single-use plastic bags starting March 2020

Tunisia will ban single-use plastic bags at supermarkets and pharmacies starting next month, before phasing them out completely in 2021, its government has announced. The first stage of the policy will be implemented on 1 March, when stores will stop issuing plastic bags, according to the ministry of local affairs and environment. By 1 January …

Nestlé funds packaging innovation for food-grade recycled plastics

Nestlé has announced that it will invest up to CHF 2 billion to lead the shift from virgin plastics to food-grade recycled plastics and to accelerate the development of innovative sustainable packaging solutions. Building on its 2018 commitment to make 100% of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025, Nestlé will reduce its use of virgin plastics …

Unilever and Mr Green launch first fully recycled plastic packaging for Sunlight scouring powder

Unilever East Africa has launched its first fully recyclable plastic packaging for its Sunlight Scouring powder made using 100% recycled malleable materials. Developed as part of a partnership with Mr. Green Africa Trading Limited, the new 500 grams and one-kilogram packs will be on sale in Kenya and rest of the region. Unilever says the …

Young Saudi entrepreneur wins Shell’s top innovator prize for developing an affordable, biodegradable alternative to plastic

Soliman Al-Shoqabi received a prize of $10,000 as winner of one of the 2019 Shell Young Saudi entrepreneur Soliman Al-Shoqabi has taken home one of the 2019 Shell LiveWIRE Top Ten Innovators Awards, after participating in a global competition, which highlights and rewards businesses that demonstrate excellence in innovation as well as gives entrepreneurs a …

KHS presents the first recyclable juice bottle made of 100% rPET.

The German FFS manufacturer from Dortmund is and always has been focusing on developing sustainable containers with an attractive design, adopting a holistic approach to the manufacture, filling, labeling and packaging of PET containers throughout the entire filling and packaging line. Packaging MEA (PMEA): KHS is spearheading initiatives in the – in sustainability and digitalisation at the …

McDonald’s launches ‘Better M’ platform to improve recyclability in packaging

McDonald’s has announced a wide-ranging programme to remove and minimise plastic and improve recyclability in packaging across Europe. The plan comprises removal of McFlurry lids across every European country in which McDonald’s operates and the rollout of a new fibre-based lid across all cold drinks in France, as well as trials across markets for alternatives …

BOBST unveils high barrier solutions for recyclability performance

Bobst Business Unit Web Fed : Business Director Eric Pavone shares his views with Packaging MEA technology editor Vikram Fotedar at K 2019. Vikram Fotedar (VF): What is Bobst promoting at the booth? Eric Pavone (EP): It was a very exciting K 2019 for BOBST, as we announced the launch of several important new innovations, …

Borealis boosts its recycle aims

Borealis and Ecoplast celebrated the successful conclusion of a strategic investment at their plastics recycling location in Wildon, Styria/Austria. The company opened a new and highly advanced plastics recycling plant in Austria. In August 2018 Borealis acquired Ecoplast Kunststoff recycling GmbH in addition to MTM Plastics and MTM Compact, one of the largest European producers …

Metsä introduces a new plastic-free eco-barrier paperboard for food and food service end uses

Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group, is introducing a new plastic-free eco-barrier paperboard that can be recycled in paper or paperboard waste streams according to local recycling schemes. According to Metsä Board, consumers and brands around the world are looking for more sustainable alternatives to plastic packaging, with easy recyclability being key and the new …