EAFA European Aluminium Foil Association No. 21 Spring 2005 Alufoil and Recart revitalise ALUFOIL is a key component in Tetra Recart, Tetra Pak’s packaging solution developed to challenge canned foods retail shelves and currently gaining in popularity for upmarket ‘fresh’ products as an alternative to the traditional can. Aluminium provides oxygen and light barriers to the pack- At the launch Sainsbury’s canned food buying manager aging material structure and ensures the 24 month shelf Les Rowse said, “Tetra Recart packs don’t need a tin open- life. “This is extremely impor- er to open, and fit better in the cupboard and fridge, but tant when the can is the stan- the real advantage is that tomatoes kept in these packs dard to which we are simply taste better.” Flexo print compared,” said Erik Lindroth explained, “What we offer our customers is the Polypropylene Lindroth, business possibility to revitalise slowing product categories and Duplex board Polypropylene development direc- brands through offering an attractive Alufoil tor at Tetra Recart platform of product innovation.” Polypropylene AB. “Aluminium is Among the other installations also necessary to are Bonduelle in France for veg- allow the induction etables, Hormel Foods in the US heat sealing of the for Stagg ready meals and Del pack. Fuerte in Mexico for vegetables. “It would be extremely There are a number of challenging to reach the line other customers at capacity of 24,000 packs/hour without alufoil,” he added. various stages of Tetra Recart now has four installations operational across implementation. the world for a variety of applications. The latest of these is for Sainsbury in the UK which, at the end of last year, intro- Continued on page 2 duced Tetra Recart for four varieties of chopped tomatoes and one new Premium chopped tomatoes offering. In a notable development, the first Tetra Recart line using a ‘Hot fill’ process is being operated by Sainsbury’s co- packer Columbus. This means that tomato products are not fully retorted but rather pasteurised at lower temperatures resulting in excellent product quality. INSIDE Keep Health & Wellbeing 2-3 cool at interpack Winners of Alufoil Trophy 2005 4-5 Visit EAFA in Hall 11, Material of choice stand D11 for Sustainability 6 To keep you refreshed at interpack 2005 this chewing gum blister pack is Japan’s innovative produced using a 20 micron foil hard excellence 6 temper from mfc aluminiumfolie merseburg. Hueck Folien produced and 30 years of pack printed the alu-blister foil using a PET developments 7 heat resistant lacquer with a PVC/PVAc copolymer primer and heat-seal coating. News & statistics 8 Health & Wellbeing Foil first for freshness and health The buzz words in the European food able for health products,” states market are convenience, snacking, Professor Felix Escher, Professor of health and wellbeing, where possible Food Technology at the Institute of married to consumer demands for Food Science and Nutrition at the pleasure and indulgence. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology The health and wellbeing trend is (ETH) Zurich. governed by a growing attention to Other major attributes include: health, an ageing population aligned G Light and strong with an increasing life expectancy, G It can be formed and converted into busier more stressful lifestyles, and complex shapes consumers taking control of their own G Excellent corrosion and temperature health rather than visiting the doctor Professor Felix Escher resistance or pharmacist. One of the most important attributes G High thermal and electrical The sector includes a number of dif- of packaging in the health & wellbeing conductivity ferent definitions, the most usual of market is that it should protect the G Recyclable without a decrease in which are: nutritive and medicinal properties of quality G Functional foods – these will have the product; and aluminium foil is G Good decorative possibilities had something added to the product well placed to fulfil these demands. All of these qualities make it a valu- such as vitamins and/or minerals For example, the earliest market for able material for the health and well- G Nutraceuticals covers functional nutraceutical products with health giv- being sector. foods but also includes vitamins and ing benefits was probably the single Applications include aseptic car- herbal remedies daily dose market created by Japan’s tons, pouches, wrapping, bottle cap- G Health – low fat, fat free, low-carbo- Yakult Honsha, and quickly taken up sules, blisters, laminate tubes, lids, hydrate, low salt, reduced sugar, and by Danone (Actimel, Zen, and trays and containers. any number of slimming aid products Danacol) and Unilever (Benecol). All According to a report from Aroq these products feature aluminium foil Limited (www.just-food.com) the cur- lidding and both product and foil con- rent global functional foods market is tinue to thrive as the market expands. estimated to be between US$7bn and “Aluminium foil plays a prominent US$63bn, depending on sources and role in modern food packaging. The definitions, but is expected to grow to mechanical physical and chemical US$167bn by 2010, representing properties of aluminium foil such as about 5% of total food expenditure in barrier effect, deadfold, and food con- the developed world. tact ability make it particularly suit- Continued from page 1 launch being extended last year into Bonduelle first introduced a range Germany, Austria, Switzerland, of beans packed in Tetra Recart in Benelux and France. Italy in 2003. Based on the excellent Introduced in 2002, when it was product quality (as good as home- awarded an EAFA Alufoil Trophy, cooked) and the convenient pack for- Tetra Recart is claimed to be the mat, the introduction resulted in an world’s first retortable carton package increase in market share for for food. Bonduelle in Italy and led to the It is capable of containing any kind of premium food that cans or jars usually accommodate and the com- Foil tops for lidding pany feels that it offers the value chain an alternative with genuine Foil-based lidding can’t be beaten advantages. when it comes to providing the barrier “In short,” says Lindroth, “we usu- properties needed for a variety of mar- ally summarise the benefits in five garines and dairy products like words: convenient, safe, efficient, desserts and yoghurts. competitive and innovative.” Laminated lidding materials from It is Tetra Pak’s declared aspiration Alcan Packaging have been chosen to support customers in developing for a number of applications in the product concepts and recipes that healthy foods markets, including Deli work effectively with the package, the Reform Active Margarine; Actimel market and other specific demands. Danone; Froop Müller and Zott Jogolé low-fat yoghurts. EAFA Infoil 21: Spring 2005 www.alufoil.org Health & Wellbeing Pouches answer call for freshness Huhtamaki Ronsberg foil laminated maximum barrier properties and are pouches are answering calls for fresh- hot filled using Form-Fill-Seal ness, nutritional value and healthy technology. eating in markets as diverse as chil- The Knorr range of dren’s snack foods from dried Activ Andros, Knorr Active soups contain soups, and even pet 30% of the food pouches from daily needs of IAMs. vitamins B, C The Andros and E per por- Pocket Pomme tion, plus Nature pouch essential fibre is designed to content and Cartons take on encourage chil- come in single dren to enjoy serve gravure ‘wellness’ mantel healthy snack- printed ing. PAPER/ALU/PE Soups, juice and dairy markets are no The 100g laminated exception when it comes to capitalising pouches feature pouches. on the quest for “wellness” products attractive 6- Even pets are and aseptic cartons are finding a num- colour joining in the ber of new applications. rotogravure healthy eating craze with a laminat- The 1000ml SIG Combibloc stan- graphics and a ed PET/ALU/PP retortable stand up dard with combitwist closure, for tamper evident pouch being chosen by IAMs for its example, is being used for a range of spout and cap closure. The Select Bites range and Nutro for bio-milk products from Candia, the PET/ALU/OPA/PE pouches provide Natural Choice products. leading brand on the French milk mar- ket. Absolute barrier for products that are rich in vitamins and minerals, and Sensitive yoghurt contain no artificial preservatives is absolutely essential and in aseptic The natural health-giving properties of applications the aluminium foil Aloe Vera are being used by Emmi for ensures the carton is both airtight and its one-off novelty Aloe Sensitive provides a barrier to light. Yoghurt and Aloe Sensitive Drink. Additionally, SIG’s premium image Both products have a fat content of slimline CombifitSmall carton with only 1.1% and contain 15g of Aloe easy open and reclose Combitwist Vera in the yoghurt and 25g in the screw cap is being used for Actilife drink. “Healthy Plus”, one of Migros’ strate- The yoghurt features a 38 micron gic private labels. alufoil lid lacquered with PS and The Comifit carton is also being printed in 4- and 5-colour gravure used for a range of Wellness active from Nyco Flexible Packaging. and vital drinks from Pro Health Vital The Aloe Sensitive Drink features a Drink GmbH marketed under the “fit laminated lid called Cap Steril for fun” slogan, as well as a range of which is manufactured from a 50 healthy vegetable soups with a “new micron foil laminated with 12 micron taste dimension” from the Campbell’s PET and gravure printed in two Erasco German brand. colours. Sun shines on sports enthusiasts Providing convenience, pleasure and from a PE/ALU/PET laminate, gravure indulgence as well as healthy creden- printed in six colours to give a high tials are these attractively shaped, quality effect at point-of-sale.