Graphic Packaging International Adds Innovative Paperboard Punnet To Sustainable ProducePack™ Portfolio

Rhea-AI Summary

Graphic Packaging International has launched the ProducePack™ Punnet, a recyclable paperboard alternative to traditional plastic trays for fresh produce. This innovation supports consumer demand for sustainability and food safety while reducing plastic use by up to 100%. The ProducePack is compatible with existing sealing machinery, requiring minimal investment for packers. It ensures equivalent shelf life to plastic and offers customizable options for various markets. Elodie Bugnicourt, the sustainability manager, highlighted a 90% reduction in plastic compared to polypropylene trays and greater circularity due to higher recycling rates.

Positive

• Launch of ProducePack™ Punnet offers a sustainable alternative to plastic packaging, catering to increasing consumer demand for sustainability.
• Product reduces plastic usage by up to 100%, contributing to environmental goals.
• Compatible with existing machinery, minimizing investment for packers switching to paperboard.
• Provides equivalent shelf life to plastic, reducing food waste.
• Customizable features for various applications enhance branding opportunities.

Negative

• None.

ATLANTA, April 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fiber-based packaging leader Graphic Packaging International ('Graphic Packaging') is pleased to announce the launch of its ProducePack™ Punnet, an innovative paperboard alternative to plastic punnet trays for fresh fruit and vegetables. This new product, available for all commonly used punnet sizes, is fully recyclable and reduces plastic by up to 100 percent, depending on application.

As a result of the pandemic, consumers now place significantly more value on food safety and hygiene and see sustainability as increasingly important as we emerge from the crisis, according to a recent McKinsey survey¹. ProducePack Punnet offers growers and retailers the opportunity to cater to increased consumer demand for hygiene while also prioritizing sustainability.

Designed with optimum operational efficiency in mind, ProducePack Punnet can be top-sealed at speeds equivalent to traditional plastic punnets. The sustainable solution works with existing machinery and tooling for plastic trays, meaning that minimal investment is required for packers looking to make the switch to paperboard.

For brands and retailers, the pack has been proven to offer equivalent shelf life to plastic for certain produce items while reducing the potential for food waste. A range of board and barrier options is available, which have all been selected to ensure the package remains robust in cold storage and throughout the supply chain. ProducePack Punnet can be supplied formed or flat, the latter offering CO₂ reductions in transit due to higher punnet tray volume per truckload.

In line with Graphic Packaging's Design for the Environment (DfE) approach, its features can be customized to suit various markets and potential applications. From tomatoes to berries and more, the unique solution ensures sustainability is at the forefront at each stage of the manufacturing process. ProducePack Punnet can also be graphically printed to maximize branding opportunities without the need for additional labelling.

Elodie Bugnicourt, sustainability manager at Graphic Packaging International, said: "ProducePack Punnet delivers a 90 percent reduction in plastic when compared to polypropylene or polyester trays, and a 100 percent reduction if a barrier coating is not necessary for the application. It is expected to provide carbon footprint reduction versus standard fossil plastic trays and a much greater circularity with an average paperboard recycling rate of more than double that of plastics, on average, in most countries. The interest we received in ProducePack was extraordinary following its launch earlier this year. ProducePack Punnet now extends the range to new applications such as berries, enabling our customers to reap the environmental benefits of paperboard packaging in a wider variety of fresh produce applications." 

Ricardo De Genova, Graphic Packaging's SVP, global innovation and new business development, added: "As growers and producers look to move towards recyclable fiber-based solutions, they can count on our expertise to deliver value-added innovation as well as like-for-like functionality versus traditional plastic trays. Aligned with our Vision 2025 and DfE methodology, this launch is another example of how we can partner with customers to accelerate the transition to a more circular economy."

ProducePack Punnet is available for commercialization now. For more information on ProducePack Punnet, please visit graphicpkg.com.

1. McKinsey, Sustainability in Packaging, Inside the Minds of Global Consumers, 2020

About Graphic Packaging International

Graphic Packaging International, LLC, a subsidiary of Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE:GPK), headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is committed to providing consumer packaging that makes a world of difference. The Company is a leading provider of sustainable paper-based packaging solutions for a wide variety of products to food, beverage, foodservice, and other consumer products companies. The Company operates on a global basis, is one of the largest producers of folding cartons and paper-based foodservice products in the United States, and holds leading market positions in coated recycled paperboard, coated unbleached kraft paperboard and solid bleached sulfate paperboard. The Company's customers include many of the world's most widely recognized companies and brands. Additional information about Graphic Packaging, its business and its products is available on the Company's web site at www.graphicpkg.com.

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SOURCE Graphic Packaging International

FAQ

What is the <b>ProducePack™ Punnet</b> launched by GPK?

The ProducePack™ Punnet is a sustainable paperboard alternative to plastic punnet trays for fresh fruits and vegetables, fully recyclable and reduces plastic use by up to 100%.

When was the <b>ProducePack™ Punnet</b> announced by Graphic Packaging?

The ProducePack™ Punnet was announced on April 20, 2021.

What are the benefits of the <b>ProducePack™ Punnet</b> for consumers?

The ProducePack™ Punnet caters to consumer demands for hygiene and sustainability while providing equivalent shelf life to plastic packaging.

How does the <b>ProducePack™ Punnet</b> reduce plastic use?

It offers a 90% reduction in plastic when compared to traditional plastic trays and can achieve up to 100% reduction with specific applications.

What is GPK's strategy regarding sustainability?

GPK's strategy focuses on sustainable packaging solutions and aims to transition to a more circular economy through innovations like the ProducePack™ Punnet.