environment
Don’t forget to put packaging to the test, says Campden BRI
As the spotlight continues to shine on retailers’ and manufacturers’ efforts to meet the environmental targets set out by phase two of the Courtauld Commitment, Campden BRI is urging companies to carry out stringent tests to ensure packaging is fit for purpose. “Courtauld Commitment 2 has moved the packaging waste issue away from solely weight-based […]
Retailers lead recycling breakthrough
Shoppers will soon be able to recycle thin plastic packaging such as bread bags and cereal liners thanks to an agreement between the country’s biggest supermarkets and the On Pack Recycling Label (OPRL) scheme. Stores which collect plastic bags for recycling will now accept clean plastic film packaging in the same facilities, the British Retail […]
Higher price hopes for Cumberland sausage makers
Cumberland sausage has been successful in its bid to be made only in Cumbria, following an EU ruling that comes into force this month. It now ranks alongside the likes of Champagne, Parma ham and Greek feta cheese in having Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status under EU law. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural […]
Fish and shellfish safety research plan
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) in Scotland is commissioning five pieces of research that it says will help gather evidence to improve the hygiene standards of fish and shellfish consumed in Scotland. The areas of research are to include a review of the processes in place throughout the processing chain that are designed to control […]
Coca-Cola and Heinz in landmark packaging partnership
The Coca-Cola Company and Heinz have announced a strategic US partnership that will enable Heinz to produce its ketchup bottles using Coca-Cola’s innovative PlantBottle packaging. The PET plastic bottles are made partially from plants and have a lower reliance on non-renewable resources compared with traditional PET plastic bottles. The partnership is an industry first, and […]
Business news, Food safety, Ingredients, Packaging, Sustainability
Spotlight on CFP
EU Commissioner Maria Damanaki met with the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) Seafood group recently as part of an industry alliance pressing for radical reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The alliance, which includes FDF, WWF and retailers, has put together a common position calling for more sustainable fisheries management policies and the elimination […]
Palsgaard invests in new emulsifier facility
Danish food ingredients supplier Palsgaard has revealed that it’s to build an emulsifier factory in Asia. “Preliminary investigations and negotiations are now at such an advanced stage that we feel comfortable to announce our plans,” says company chairman Birger Brix. “In order to satisfy the increasing needs and demands of our customers for high quality […]
Food and drink manufacturers ‘performing strongly’
The food and drink manufacturing sector is still performing strongly, despite uncertainty among companies about the state of the economy, according to a new survey. The business confidence survey of Food and Drink Federation members shows a strong performance in the third quarter of the year – with almost 60% recording increased sales and only […]
Mankind must overcome GM fear, warns chief scientist
Mankind must overcome its fear of GM crops if it’s to survive a global hunger epidemic within the next 40 years, says the government’s chief science adviser. According to Professor Sir John Beddington, issues such as swelling population levels, energy shortages and climate change will force widespread starvation if modern farming techniques aren’t embraced. “If […]
New smart packaging reveals if food is unfit to eat
An intelligent food wrapping that changes colour if the contents are going bad has been created by scientists at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland – and could be in the shops within two years. The smart plastic packaging detects when meat, fish or salad leaves have passed their use-by date or have been left […]
Faerch Plast cuts CPET tray weight
Danish food packaging manufacturer Faerch Plast has reduced the weight of its CPET (crystalline polyethylene) containers by an average of 11% since 2008, putting it on track to meet its environmental objective of ‘achieving a general weight reduction of produced items of 30%’ by 2013. “Clever design together with improved production processes has helped us […]
Milestone for world-first recycling label
A world-first on-pack label which lets shoppers know which packaging can be recycled has signed up its 100th company. The milestone triggers the start of a public awareness campaign aimed at slashing the amount of recyclable packaging heading to landfill. Birdseye, Innocent, Henkel, GlaxoSmithKline and WH Smith have joined a string of major brands and […]
Meat and milk from cloned animals ‘unlikely’ to be bigger safety risk than conventional food
Meat and milk from cloned animals is ‘unlikely’ to be a bigger safety risk than conventionally produced food, according to UK government advisers. But the experts have highlighted a serious gap in research on the effects of eating food from cloned animals, and warned that consumers will demand that it is clearly labelled. The Advisory […]
Sterile robot cleans up
The new VP-G2 Sterile Robot developed by Denso is now available from UK-based AA Robotics. With a maximum payload of 2kg, the robot has been specially designed for use in cleanrooms where there is a requirement for sterile manufacturing, processing and packaging. Four different models of the VP-G2 robot are available depending upon the environment […]