New Innovations in Plastic Packaging

This summer Avantium closed a $50 million deal to create a polyethylene furanoate (PEF) bottle. PEF is a material made from plant-based 2nd generation feedstock. This new bio-based resin could bring changes to the plastics packaging market as Coca-Cola, Danone, Alpla, and others have invested in Avantium’s commercial scale plant.

Some of the benefits of PEF include its sustainability factor as well as some performance advantages. According to packaging expert Gordon Bockner, PEF has a superior gas barrier when compared to PET packaging and also has better tensile strength which allows for improved light-weighting and superior thermal stability without heat-setting. However, Bockner also notes that PET packaging still remains strong in the US and that although a 100% bio-PET molecule does not yet exist, it may in the future.

At Mark-10, we have extensive experience working with the packaging industry, satisfying numerous applications including t-peel, 90-degree peel, tensile, top load, cap torque, and may others. To learn more about Mark-10 solutions for the packaging and other industries, visit our website. We can also be found on Twitter and LinkedIn where we post more industry news and company updates.

Growth in the Sustainable Packaging Market

As consumers become more environmentally conscious the demand for sustainable packaging is expected to grow. A new report from Smithers Pira forecasts that the market will reach $244 billion by 2018 with large growth in paper packaging, followed by metal, glass, and plastic.

In addition to consumers, governments are also calling on manufacturers to become sustainable concepts to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Companies like Unilever are already making this move with the launch of its Dove Body Wash bottles, which will contain at least 15% less plastic. The bottle will use MuCell Technology for Extrusion Blow Molding and uses gas injection to create gas bubbles in the middle layer of the plastic bottle which will reduce the density of the bottle and thus the amount of plastic required.

To help packaging companies ensure that their sustainable packaging still holds up to regulations and consumer expectations, Mark-10 offers a full range of force and torque measurement products. Configure a system to address applications such as cap opening force, cap torque, top load, peel, burst, compression, and many others. To learn more, visit our website and follow Mark-10 on Twitter for more company updates and packaging industry news.