Question: What are the latest trends with sustainable packaging solutions in the industry?
Answer: Equipment suppliers are working towards improved packaging efficiencies with decreased downtime, as well as, energy and material cost savings. Packaging machinery is expected to keep up with retailers’ green initiatives by offering equipment capable of handling a multitude of packaging formats and materials.
The shift away from foam trays has been the biggest game changer in the meat and poultry industry. Rolled edge plastic trays have been a popular alternative offering 100% recyclability, a number of tray color options including clear (especially popular among end consumers), and a much appreciated increase in tray strength. In addition, these trays better contain and protect the packaged product in comparison to foam trays.
The demand for sustainable packaging solutions has also prompted existing and new tray suppliers to develop compostable tray options.
In addition to recyclable trays, an application type growing in popularity in the US market for meat, poultry, and other foods is Vacuum Skin Packaging (VSP) on board, as it uses 70-80% less plastic than a standard #3 tray and offers an extended shelf life for the packaged product.
Question: How has the company responded to the trends?
Answer: Ossid’s Leak Resistant 500E Tray Overwrapper is the industry standard for overwrapping machinery and leak proof packaging equipment with over 1,000 installations worldwide. The Next Generation 500E machine was built based on customer feedback. The NextGen500E can easily package a wide range of tray types and sizes and uses 5-10% less film than non-gripper chain systems.
We are always open to receiving customer feedback to continue improving our current machinery and help develop new technologies.
Ossid has partnered with Italian OEM food packaging industry leader, Reepack, as the master North American distributor, providing all sales, service, and support. By adding Reepack’s high quality tray sealing, thermoforming, vacuum chamber, and flow wrapping equipment to Ossid’s existing offerings, we’re able to offer the best protein packaging solution for each customer’s unique needs. Reepack is focused on producing eco-friendly, energy efficient machinery.
Question: How have these solutions evolved in the last 10 years?
Answer: As consumers today are demanding their brands of choice be more responsible and better stewards of the environment, we understand that this extends to packaging as well. To achieve this commitment, Ossid works closely with its customers to provide packaging systems that accomplish their sustainability goals. Some of the more recent trends of sustainable packaging include the demand for ready meal convenience, food safety, less product waste, and recyclable trays.
Ossid keeps product innovation at the forefront of our efforts. Customer needs and preferences change, our packaging equipment is built with flexibility in mind. When Ossid released the Next Generation 500E Overwrapping Stretch Shrink Wrapper in 2018, the company had sustainability in mind. The machine can accommodate many different styles of trays and can be changed over in under 2 minutes. Designing and manufacturing new equipment is more expensive than designing flexibility into the current equipment. Ossid’s customers are requesting machines that can run recyclable, clear plastic materials, so we built that capability into the equipment.
Ossid designed the NG500E system with the capability to utilize alternative trays just as easily as opaque foam trays.
Question: What is unique about your solutions? What are the main benefits?
Answer: Ossid’s Tray Overwrapping product line contains our state-of-the-art gripper chain technology, which reduces waste and excess film by 5-10% when compared with other tray overwrappers on the market. The Ossid 500Si can run a multitude of tray sizes and types, including eco-friendly options, with ease.
Question: Why is there more an interest in sustainable packaging solutions today?
Answer: Today’s end consumers, especially the millennial generation, is increasingly more concerned with limiting their negative impact on the environment. Food packaging is a necessary evil. Consumers are asking and seeking alternatives for what more can be done to safely protect and preserve their grocery items, while feeling good about the reduced plastic and foam usage.
Question: What’s ahead for the segment? What does the future look like?
Answer: Increased focus and innovation around new package materials and styles utilizing more natural elements, such as corn-based resin film, and a transition to more compost or recycle-friendly components.
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Ossid provides superior tray overwrapping, flow wrapping, weigh price labeling, case scales, and horizontal thermoform fill & seal machinery. We are committed to designing and building solutions that protect product quality and fully meet our customers’ production needs.