Pakbec
Think Right, Act Right, Pack Right ..................Surveiller, Anticiper, Innover et Emballer
Wed, 22 May 2013 12:27:00 +0000
Convenience Food Packaging Changed Our Lives
Recloseable packaging and microwaveable plastic trays were named top packaging breakthroughs that most impacted peoples’ lives over the last 25 years in an on-line survey hosted by DuPont. Together the two categories of invention captured 48 percent of the votes. The online survey was available to industry professionals from April 9 through May 10, 2013.Reclosable packaging, which includes food-storage zipper locks and stand-up pouches, earned 27 percent of the votes. Microwaveable meals, enabled by “oven-able” packaging materials, captured 21 percent of the votes. Recycled content in consumer, industrial and community programs that support social goals earned 18 percent of the votes.“Over the 25 years, the DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation has attracted a wide variety of truly innovative packaging developments, making this anniversary event the perfect time to honor those past achievements,” said Shanna Moore, leader/of the DuPont Packaging Awards program. “In reflecting back on these breakthroughs, it’s hard to imagine what everyday life would be like today without them.”DuPont created the voting project after reviewing hundreds of past winners and identifying six breakthrough groups that impacted our lives. Descriptions of those breakthroughs – which range from packaging that has enabled our current “on-the-go” lifestyle to centralized processing and packaging of meat that reduced waste and kept meat fresh longer – can be found on line here.DuPont announced the breakthroughs that most transformed our lives during the company’s celebration of the winners of the 25th DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation in Wilmington, Del. Nearly 300 people voted on the breakthrough choices.Thu, 16 May 2013 23:39:00 +0000
LES PRIX GAÏA 2013 : L’excellence en Emballage Alimentaire
Je suis fier de siéger sur le Jury du Prix Gaia qui récompense l’excellence en emballage alimentaire.
Ce concours exclusif est réservé à l'industrie agroalimentaire et a pour objectif de récompenser l’excellence en emballage alimentaire principalement en matière d’esthétisme, de fonctionnalité du design et de compréhension du produit, tout en soulignant les défis de production.De plus, le concours valorise les entreprises qui font des efforts démarqués et qui commercialisent leurs produits dans des emballages qui respectent l’environnement.Le concours LES PRIX GAÏA est réservé aux entreprises qui œuvrent dans et/ou pour l'industrie agroalimentaire et plus spécifiquement celles qui sont dans les catégories ci-dessous:- Les transformateurs agroalimentaires
- Fabricants agroalimentaires
- Les designers graphiques indépendants
- Les studios de design graphique
- Les agences de publicité
- Les fabricants et imprimeurs qui œuvrent dans l'industrie de l'emballage agroalimentaire
- Les transformateurs agroalimentaires
Wed, 08 May 2013 23:44:00 +0000
Smart Packaging: Food Safety Enhancement, Shelf-life Extension and Food Waste Reduction
You find enclosed my talk entitled: " Smart Packaging: Food Safety Enhancement, Shelf-life Extension and Food Waste Reduction " given at the SIAL Canada, April 30, 2013 in Toronto, Canada.
Do not hesitate contact me (pak-bec@hotmail.com) if you wish a copy of the full presentation (55 slides)Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:54:00 +0000
Scandale de la viande de Cheval : la traçabilité en question!
Je vous invite à lire mon article publié dans le dernier numéro de la revue l’Actualité Alimentaire: Scandale de la viande de Cheval : la traçabilité en question!Le scandale de la viande de cheval, en mettant en lumière une filière d’approvisionnement aux multiples intermédiaires, soulève de nouveau le problème de la traçabilité dans l’industrie agroalimentaire. Dans cette quête vers plus de transparence, l’industrie agro-alimentaire pourrait s’appuyer sur l’emballage comme support privilégié de la traçabilité.
Depuis le début de l’année, la découverte de viande de cheval dans de nombreux plats cuisinés estampillées "viande de bœuf" crée l’émoi dans la filière bovine et chez les consommateurs européens. S’il n’y a certes pas de danger sanitaire, le "Horsegate" est néanmoins le révélateur de l’opacité qui entoure la production des plats cuisinés. Dans la filière viande, comme dans beaucoup d’autres filières alimentaires, l’approvisionnement s'est articulé autour d’une chaîne très complexe, alliant marchés internationaux de matière première alimentaire et une cascade d’intermédiaires. À chaque étape, il peut y avoir des défaillances. L’enquête doit encore déterminer à quel niveau il y a eu tromperie sur la marchandise.Le scandale de la viande de cheval dans les produits cuisinés révèle les failles d'un système agroalimentaire mondialisé devenu complexe et dominé par des logiques financières. Mais en entraînant des risques de rappels massifs ou de réputation et de mauvaise image de marque, ce genre de dérapages pourrait coûter bien cher aux industries agroalimentaires. Dans ce contexte, l’emballage, à l’instar des étiquettes intelligentes, peut offrir des pistes de solutions qui méritent d’être explorées.Nb: N'hésitez pas à me contacter (pak-bec@hotmail.com) si vous voulez consulter l'intégrale de cet article.Mon, 22 Apr 2013 02:06:00 +0000
A Global Flexible Packaging Market SWOT statement to 2016
Another remarkable article from the Converting Curmudgeon. Mark Spaulding is sharing with us UK-based PCI Films Consulting president Simon King SWOT statement from his keynote presentation on the“Global Flexible Packaging Market”.Strengths- The global flexible packaging market (at $71 billion in 2011) will grow by around 5.0% a year, reaching $90 billion in 2016. North America and Central/East Asia will be the top two regional markets with 25% and 24% shares, respectively.
- Flexible packaging is an industry relatively immune from global economic downturns.
- In 2016, 42% of the industry will be in Asian markets, which are growing at about 7% a year — the fastest growing region is Southeast Asia and Oceania, driven by high demand in India with 15-20% annual increases.
- The global arena remains “local” with regional converters supplying the vast proportion of local packaged-goods customers’ needs. Only 4% of flex-pack production is traded outside the region in which it is manufactured.
- Amcor, Bemis and Sealed Air are the top three product converters with 9%, 8% and 4% global market share, respectively.
- Flex packs’ inherent source-reduction characteristics (thin materials, lighter weight) allow packaging-waste reduction over rigid formats.
Weaknesses- Flexs packs have a reputation for being hard to recycle — especially multilayer laminated structures that are often not accepted in curbside recycling programs.
- Higher raw-material costs and lack of suitable barrier properties of biodegradables and compostables mean that so far these materials have had little impact.
- Economic uncertainty has encouraged only short-term buying, just-in-time delivery by customers in some regional markets.
- Western Europe (and to a lesser extent, North America) is suffering from low value growth (1-2% a year) compared to other regions. Volumes are being sustained primarily by serving only defensive end-use markets.
- Mature flex-pack markets in Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, Singapore) are growing only 1-2% a year.
Opportunities- Global personal disposable incomes are rising, encouraging consumers to buy more packaged goods of all types.
- Standup pouches, the dominant format in Western Europe, are a vanguard of positive environmental and consumer-convenience trends for flex packs.
- High oxygen- and moisture-barrier, metallized laminates and coextrusions are likely to extend the value-added sector.
- Multinational brand owners are sourcing globally, driving inter-regional M&As among converters, or converters adopting strategies for a global presence.
- Investment in new plants, equipment in places such as Russia, India, Indonesia is boosting lower-cost, more-efficient production.
- Converters need to establish lower-cost production in countries where access to cost-conscious markets is free (Mexico, Poland).
- Promotion and possible investment in breakthrough pyrolysis systems are needed to boost this important new flexible-packaging recycling process for laminates and aluminum-foil structures.
Threats- Flex-pack converters must address environmental issues to cut packaging waste, promote growth in lighter weight products as cost-effective alternatives to rigid packaging.
- Sustainability has now become just as important as the above traits.
- Legislative pressures may force adoption of non-oil-based materials.
- For North America, low-cost imports from Asia are increasing, especially onto the US West Coast. Converters with Mexican plants are exploiting the low-cost base to competitively supply into the US. And growth in imports of pre-packaged products into the US from Mexico translates into reduced demand for US-made flexible packaging.
- The global flexible packaging market (at $71 billion in 2011) will grow by around 5.0% a year, reaching $90 billion in 2016. North America and Central/East Asia will be the top two regional markets with 25% and 24% shares, respectively.
Sun, 14 Apr 2013 21:05:00 +0000
Bioplastics pose no threat to food supply
The surface required to grow sufficient feedstock for today’s bioplastic production is less than 0.006 percent of the global agricultural area of 5 billion hectares. This is the key finding published today by European Bioplastics, based on figures from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and calculations of the Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites (IfBB, University Hannover, Germany).Minimal fraction of land used for bioplasticsEuropean Bioplastics market data depicts production capacities of around 1.2 million tonnes in 2011. This translates to approximately 300,000 hectares of land-use to grow feedstock for bioplastics. In relation to the global agricultural area of 5 billion hectares, bioplastics make use of only 0.006 percent. Metaphorically speaking, this ratio correlates to the size of an average cherry tomato placed next to the Eiffel Tower.No competition to food and feedA glance at the global agricultural area and the way it is used makes it abundantly clear: 0.006 percent used to grow feedstock for bioplastics are nowhere near being in competition with the 98 percent used for pastures and to grow food and feed.According to European Bioplastics, increasing the efficiency of feedstock and agricultural technology will be key to assuring the balance between land-use for innovative bioplastics and land for food and feed. The emergence of reliable and independent sustainability assessment schemes will also contribute to this goal.Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:23:00 +0000
Bisphénol A (BPA) et cancer : les preuves s'accumulent
Rarement – jamais peut-être – une agence de sécurité sanitaire aura rendu des conclusions aussi alarmantes sur un polluant à ce point omniprésent dans notre environnement quotidien. Au terme d'un travail de longue haleine ayant rassemblé les contributions d'une centaine de scientifiques, l'Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail (Anses) a rendu public, mardi 9 avril, un avis sur le bisphénol A (BPA) singulièrement inquiétant pour les générations à venir.
De toutes les substances chimiques de synthèse capables d'interférer avec le système hormonal ("perturbateurs endocriniens"), le BPA est celle qui entre dans la composition du plus grand nombre d'objets (plastiques, conserves, canettes, amalgames dentaires, etc.) ; il imprègne l'ensemble de la population occidentale.Selon l'agence française, "certaines situations d'exposition de la femme enceinte au BPA présentent un risque pour la glande mammaire de l'enfant à naître". En d'autres termes, les enfants exposées in utero à des taux de BPA rencontrés dans la population générale pourront avoir un risque accru de contracter un cancer du sein plus tard dans leur vie.Fri, 05 Apr 2013 23:33:00 +0000
Recyclable Coated Paper for Food Service Packaging
You find enclosed my talk entitled: "Recyclable coated paper for Food service Packaging" given at the Food Packaging CoRR Conference, April 4, 2013, Washington, DC, USA.Thu, 04 Apr 2013 11:25:00 +0000
Recyclable coated paper for Food service Packaging
I will be presenting at the upcoming FoodPackaging CoRR Conference, scheduled for April 4, 2013 in Washington, DC.My talk entitled: "Recyclable coated paper for Food service Packaging" will be focused on the application of recyclable barriers on paper for Food service Packaging Applications.
Agenda1. Paper-based Packaging : Trends and Market2. Enhancing barrier properties: Why Wax is on the Wane?3. Extrusion coating/lamination:1. Conventional resin2. Compostable resin (PLA)3. Film lamination4. Water-based coating: A bright future5. Eco-friendly and Innovative Paper-based Packaging6. Take home…Mon, 01 Apr 2013 01:09:00 +0000
Why Some Companies Successfully Innovate and Others Don't
The recession is over. But its end did not herald a return to business as usual. High rates of new product failure—once considered an inevitable cost of doing business—are now unacceptable. Today's thinner revenue streams, narrower margins, heightened competition, and more limited resources have, if anything, increased the already high levels of stress among corporate survivors and raised the performance bar set by business executives. That has prompted changes in the ways companies invest, manage, and innovate—changes designed to minimize risk.Among the good management habits of innovative, high-performance companies:Balance. Investments in breakthrough advancements were offset with spending on incremental innovations. While the rewards of home-run products are potentially very high, their associated risks are even higher. Winning companies don't bet all their chips on blue-sky projects.Prioritize. Focus on product development projects that align with both market needs and the company's overall business strategy. Struggling to satisfy customer desires is only beneficial when it advances your company's longer-range objectives.Analyze. Overcome the largest risk in product innovation—products that customers won't buy—by analyzing customer feedback quickly to ensure delivery of products the market is actually asking for. If a product idea is going to fail, or meet only 80 percent of customer expectations, it is a huge advantage to find that out as soon as possible, drop the idea, and move on to other, more appealing projects.Automate. Top performers delivered products on time by using technology to manage requirements, administer workflow, and prioritize development. Too many companies rely on slower, less reliable manual processes.There was also a flip side to the study's findings: challenges that consistently elude companies that are still struggling. Chief among them:Not listening. Failure to hear and consider the expressed needs of customers. Those diverse voices must be considered, reconciled, and balanced to develop a truly successful product.Not collaborating. Failing to share information and collaborate with customers, partners, suppliers, and other key stakeholders in exploring new ideas. For struggling companies, fewer than half their product ideas came from these sources.Misalignment. Too often senior management and product-line staff fail to communicate, which often results in their spending time and money on the wrong product priorities.Uncertainty. The lack of clear decision-making and confusion over product-line ownership leads to decisions based on internal politics, subjectivity, personal influence, and debate skills rather than product merits.Paperwork. Paper-based methods and other traditional innovation management processes slow down the development life cycle, especially for complex products.Poor execution. Struggling companies have trouble planning the resources needed to match market opportunities, difficulty managing multiple teams and regions, and a hard time managing the risks associated with new and existing products.Mon, 18 Mar 2013 01:30:00 +0000
Greening Fast Food Packaging
Dogwood Alliance’s report “Greening Fast Food Packaging: A Roadmap to Best Practices,” outlines eight key attributes of environmentally friendly fast food packaging, and provides guidance on how to assess environmental impacts in the supply chain. The report highlights leaders in the fast food industry. It also includes a survey to help assess a company’s current packaging.- Embrace Corporate Leadership on Sustainability
- Use Full Life Cycle and Supply Chain Approach
- Reduce Overall Packaging and Increase Efficiency
- Increase the Use of Recycled Fiber
- Eliminate Paper Originating from Controversial Forestry Practices
- Increase In-Store Recycling and Recovery
- Eliminate Toxic Inks, Coatings and Labels
- Reduce Carbon Footprint
The full report is available at DogwoodAllianceTue, 05 Mar 2013 14:29:00 +0000
Cascades – Industrial Packaging, to exhibit at the 2013 International Boston Seafood Show
The International BostonSeafood Show is North America’s largest seafood trade show, which is taking place on March 10-12, 2013 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.
Visit Cascades-IndustrialPackaging Booth #1180 to meet our friendly staff and learn more about our eco-friendly and innovative packaging solutions for the transport of fresh and frozen fish and seafood products.
Download Brochure: Speciality Container alternatives –Rethinking Processing and ConservationMon, 04 Mar 2013 20:41:00 +0000
Du Marketing Vert au Marketing Eco-responsable
Je vous invite à lire mon article publié dans le dernier numéro de la revue l’Actualité Alimentaire: Du Marketing Vert au Marketing Eco-responsable.On pourrait penser que "Vendre vert" aujourd'hui est plus facile que jamais. La preuve : tout le monde marketing semble avoir succombé à cette tendance. Surfer sur la vague verte n'est pourtant pas gage de ventes accrues, de nouvelles parts de marché ou de gains en termes d'images et de "branding".
Depuis plus de deux décennies, l’idée du développement durable s’est largement imposée. C’est tout naturellement que le marketing s’est emparé de nouveaux slogans apparus dans le sillage de ce concept phare répondant à l’intérêt grandissant d’un nombre croissant de citoyens-consommateurs pour la question environnementale. Cependant, le marketing vert n’a pas toujours su résister aux sirènes du « greenwashing ». Ce phénomène appelé aussi éco-blanchiment ou mascarade écologique, est le fait de tromper les consommateurs à propos des pratiques environnementales d’une entreprise ou des avantages environnementaux d’un produit ou d’un service.Le marketing vert a trop longtemps reposé sur de simples prétentions non démontrées, jouant d’images confuses, voire trompeuses. Autrefois, option de facilité, le « greenwashing » se révèle être une ornière dont il faut absolument sortir. Plus que jamais, clarifier les messages du marketing vert est une priorité. L’heure est à l’humilité, au réalisme et à l’authenticité pour les entreprises qui entendent mettre en avant leurs bonnes pratiques environnementales ou mettre en marché des produits véritablement plus respectueux de l’environnementNb: N'hésitez pas à me contacter (pak-bec@hotmail.com) si vous voulez consulter l'intégrale de cet article.Wed, 27 Feb 2013 02:00:00 +0000
Smart Packaging: Food Safety Enhancement, Shelf-life Extension and Food Waste Reduction
I will be presenting at the upcoming SIALCanada 2013, scheduled for April 30 to May 2, 2013 in Toronto, Canada.My talk entitled: " Smart Packaging: Food Safety Enhancement, Shelf-life Extension and Food Waste Reduction " will be focused on the applications of smart packaging in food industry.AbstractThere is a growing need to address the most pressing issues facing food supply, namely food safety, food waste and food access. Innovative packaging solutions could play a key role.The focus of smart (active and intelligent) packaging has moved from specific retailer and manufacturer driven benefits like shelf-life extension, traceability and food waste reduction, to include more consumer focused benefits such as food quality and safety, freshness and information. Active and intelligent packaging is the results of “thinking outside the box.” They are based on a deliberate interaction of the packaging with the food and/or its direct environment.Outline- Food supply hot issues: Food Safety, Food Waste and Food Access
- Packaging’s vital role
- Active and intelligent Packaging: Concept, Applications & Innovations
- Take home
- Food supply hot issues: Food Safety, Food Waste and Food Access
Thu, 14 Feb 2013 02:58:00 +0000
M&S Using Water-Saving Packaging to Transport Flowers
Retailer Marks and Spencer is using modified atmosphere packaging, which uses less water, to transport thousands of flowers over Valentine’s Day. The company, which already uses the special packaging to transport fruits and vegetables, said it will save 10,000 litres of water on Valentine’s Day by using this technology to deliver its £22 bouquets of Fairtrade red roses, reported the Daily Mail.Finlays Horticulture has used MAP bags to transport flowers to M&S customers since 2011, according to M&S. Once a bag is sealed, oxygen levels in the bag decrease and carbon dioxide levels increase naturally. The change in atmosphere reduces the respiration rate of the flowers, which extends storage time and reduces the need for water, said M&S.The MAP packaging has been designed to be airtight, which takes up less space and weight in delivery trucks, saving on fuel.Wed, 23 Jan 2013 04:11:00 +0000
Results of Recyclable Produce Box Pilots
For the pilots, Global Green USA teamed up with members of their Coalition for Resource Recovery (CoRR) to test alternatives to paraffin-coated produce boxes, which cannot be recycled and are a contaminant within bales of uncoated cardboard. Boxes were tested with a variety of wet cooling processes in California and New Jersey and the results show that many box products with recyclable coatings are robust enough to withstand vacuum cooling, hydro-vac, and hydro-cooling processes.
"The move to recyclable-coated boxes will divert waste from landfills and save money for the foodservice and retail industry," says Lily Kelly, interim director of CoRR and coordinator of the pilots. "It is an exciting time."Greens, vegetables, seafood, and meats are often transported in paraffin-coated cardboard, generating 1.45 million tons of solid waste that must be sent to landfills or burned. If these cases were designed for recycling and were recycled, CoRR believes retailers and restaurants could realize a net benefit of combined cost savings and revenue generation of $200 million nationwide. CoRR has worked since 2008 to accelerate the industry adoption of alternative recyclable-coated packaging and recycling it, which could reduce America's annual carbon emissions by 4.5 million mtCO2e—the equivalent of eliminating an entire coal-fired power plant with no loss of energy. (The Fibre Box Association estimates that 5% of OCC is wax-coated. EPA’s 2010 Solid Waste Facts and Figures, WARM Tool, and Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator were used to calculate potential greenhouse gas savings. Savings assumes 100% of the boxes and packaging generated is recycled. National restaurateur and grocers’ savings are based on a national average tipping fee of $44.09, based on the 2010 data in BioCycle’s State of Garbage report. A spot market price of $100/ton of OCC was assumed.)Food producers report finding recyclable boxes easier to use than paraffin-coated boxes, and have benefited from being able to recycle them on the farm. “This is good news for farmers and our customers," says Vince Consalo of Consalo and Sons, a produce distributor in Vineland, NJ, who helped to test the recyclable boxes in September. “Recyclability is a big selling point." Other participants in the pilot program also expressed satisfaction with the results, including Lakeside Organic Gardens in Watsonville, CA.The results are advantageous for grocers, who may soon be receiving more recyclable-coated boxes that they can bundle with their regular cardboard instead of paying to send them out with the trash. "Selling cardboard is a revenue stream for us, and it helps contribute to our Zero Waste Goals of 2020," says Dom D'Agostino of Ahold Intl., which operates several grocery store chains, including Stop and Shop and Giant. "If we could recycle coated cardboard, it would significantly help us meet these goals."Global Green USA's pilot series is slated to continue in 2013. "As a third party, our job is to document these tests and spread the word about what is recyclable and what works,” says Kelly. "Our next steps are to document increasingly tough use of the boxes—wetter cooling and longer distance traveled. We’re confident that these boxes can handle it, and we’re excited to document next year's story in video as well."Fri, 18 Jan 2013 16:26:00 +0000
The new, reusable (and recyclable) Starbucks® cup: Clarifications, Thoughts and Questions
I would like to share with you some Clarifications/Thoughts/Interrogations regarding the new, reusable (and recyclable) Starbucks® cup for hot beverages(source).
1- "When I talked with Jim Hanna, director of environmental impact for Starbucks, regarding the cups made out of 100% virgin polypropylene, he told me that one main reason the company turned to plastic was to cut down on paper waste. Starbucks uses about 4 billion disposable cups annually and the interior wax coating makes them difficult to recycle." MISLEADING: Starbucks disposable cups are made from paper coated with PE (polyethylene). Polycoated cups are recyclable and repulpable. Furthermore, most paper mills are able to process paper mixed with other materials such as polycoated paper. Pulper equipped with scavenger could remove plastic debris. Finally, polyethylene coating represents less than 6.6% of total basis weight.2- "The exciting thing about PP is that it's one of the most versatile resins out there," Hanna said. "From cradle-to-cradle, PP offers one of the best environmental stories; it's just a winner all around." MISLEADING: Starbucks reusable cups are made from polypropylene #5 Plastics. In fact, most polypropylene #5 plastics, unless they're reused, end up in the landfill since so few municipalities accept them.
3- What is the carbon footprint of reusable cup VS disposable cup?4- PP based reusable cups cost $1. However, a major price hike has hit the North American polypropylene market, sending prices up an average of 15 cents per pound since Jan. 1. Can we expect a cup price increase in the upcoming months?5- How about increasing Starbucks cups recycled fiber content? Cascades, developed recently a new grade of cupstock paper with 25% recycled fiber content.6- How about water-based coating for a fully repulpable and recyclable cups? (The idea is to replace Polyethylene by water-based coating)7- How long do the cups last? Reusable cups need a lot of carefulness/attention/love: not lose them, not crush them, and not forget to bring them…Wed, 16 Jan 2013 14:27:00 +0000
ThermaFresh Box: RETHINKING fresh fish packing containers
Cascades offers ThermaFresh, a new packaging innovation that is an ingenious eco-designed option to replace traditional fresh fish packing containers. By rethinking protective packaging, Cascades provides the industry with a high-performance, cost-effective solution for the packaging and distribution of fresh food.The ThermaFresh container is designed for shipment of fresh food both inside and outside the cold chain, and its thermal performance is equivalent to that of the traditional containers. The containers can keep the food at the required chill level (The components of the ThermaFresh container are a water-resistant corrugated box, a metalized film liner, and a honeycomb structural core. The thermal barrier uses the principle of radiant barrier technology. The Technicomb (honeycomb paperboard) construction traps the air inside, and the metalized film liner reflects the heat molecules; when both are combined, they provide significant thermal performance. Since the ThermaFresh container is Direct Food Contact compliant, no plastic bag is required for the shipment of whole fishes.
The smart, patented waterproof liner is crack-proof and the ThermaFresh container can resist rough handling. This considerably reduces spoilage and eliminates potential contamination which can occur through the distribution process.With this new alternative container, there is no additional disposal cost to the end user. The ThermaFresh container is easily recyclable and it can be bailed within the OCC (Old Corrugated Container) programs. Thanks to ThermaFresh, rethinking fresh food distribution packaging provides the industry with the cost effective, added performance it needed.Download Brochure“We start with the perfect water, which produces beautifully textured fish, but the other important thing is the way we pack it up. We have a system [of recyclable corrugated cardboard cartons and liners] that makes sure that the chef gets to experience the fish exactly as it was pulled from the water, and then customers get a great dining experience”. Dave Mergle, Skuna Bay's marketing director.
Source: Skuna Bay SalmonCascades has produced a video-animation exhibiting all of its eco-designed packaging innovations with respect to industrial uses, which is available on line at: Cascades Industrial PackagingWed, 09 Jan 2013 23:54:00 +0000
Innovation through Collaboration
Think about it: To stay ahead of the competition, we need to be number one at leveraging new technologies and products that increase value for our customers. We also need to anticipate and lead the way for new trends and innovations. We cannot achieve that goal by trying to do everything by ourselves. We need the expertise of suppliers, customers and partners to bring new ideas and solutions. By creating this space for external collaboration, open innovation accelerates research and product development efforts that will grow your business.Open Innovation: Concept and Key BenefitsThe main concept of open innovation is a radical departure from the traditional model of closed, in-house innovation. Open innovation embraces the idea that there are a lot of clever people doing clever stuff outside your own company. Tapping into that potential increases the effectiveness of innovation efforts by allowing the company and individuals to concentrate on things where they excel, while opening new outlets for R&D efforts alongside the company’s own business goals.The two key benefits of using open innovation are speed and the ability to capitalize on knowledge and labour regardless of where it resides. Open innovation fosters a faster exchange of ideas through innovation action networks and shared development. In addition, open innovation could be the best way to address knowledge and labour limitations.Successful open innovation is all about multidimensional collaboration. This means simultaneous downstream collaboration with retailers and customers, upstream collaboration with vendors, horizontal collaboration internally, and collaboration with other ecosystem partners as well as with outside communities of common interest, including freelance experts and academicians.
Getting to market faster is the name of the game. Innovation intermediaries such as NineSigma, InnoCentive and IdeaConnection play a big role in rapidly achieving success and increasing your open innovation capability—regardless of where you are today. These open innovation services help public, private and non-profit organizations “connect efficiently with the world” to find and develop new solutions, products, knowledge and partners that will accelerate and improve their innovation cycle.ConclusionEvery company is unique and must define what level of involvement and approach to open innovation will best fit its specific needs. We cannot simply copy another company’s approach. What we also know is that, without a significant cultural shift, open innovation too often remains within the internal R&D domain, focusing heavily on technical problems.Setting everything in motion with a strategy and learning through experimenting how to gradually make open innovation part of our culture are wise steps to take in order to achieve our highest goals!Tue, 08 Jan 2013 02:30:00 +0000
L’innovation, une affaire de collaboration
Je partage avec vous mon article sur l’Innovation Ouverte publié dans le dernier numéro de i-LEAD, le journal d’innovation de Cascades.
Pensez-y. Pour rester hautement concurrentiels, on doit être le premier à mettre de l’avant de nouvelles technologies et de nouveaux produits à valeur ajoutée. On doit aussi anticiper les tendances et les innovations ambiantes, et montrer la voie à l’industrie. Impossible d’y arriver seul dans son coin. Source d’idées et de solutions novatrices, l’expertise des fournisseurs, des consommateurs et des partenaires gagne à être mise à contribution. L’innovation ouverte a créé un espace pour la collaboration externe. Résultat : les efforts consentis en recherche et en développement de produits gagnent en efficience. Voilà de bonnes nouvelles pour l’entreprise.L’innovation ouverte : définition et principaux avantagesIl faut retenir que l’innovation ouverte s’éloigne radicalement des modèles d’innovation du secteur privé, qui fonctionnent en boucle fermée. L’innovation ouverte part de l’idée qu’une foule de gens brillants font des découvertes brillantes à l’extérieur de l’entreprise. En tirant parti de leur potentiel, on augmente l’efficacité des efforts investis en innovation. La société et les employés se concentrent ainsi sur leurs domaines de prédilection, et on profite de contributions en R&D sans compromettre les buts de l’entreprise.L’innovation ouverte a deux avantages principaux. Elle permet d’une part d’accélérer la recherche en facilitant la communication d’idées grâce à des réseaux axés sur l’action innovante et le développement partagé. L’innovation ouverte augmente d’autre part les profits liés au savoir et à la recherche. Elle fait éclater les limites spatiales et comble les manques de l’entreprise en savoir spécialisé et en main-d’œuvre qualifiée.Le succès de l’innovation ouverte réside dans la collaboration multidimensionnelle. Plusieurs niveaux de collaboration se font en simultané : en aval avec les fournisseurs et les consommateurs, en amont avec les commerçants, sur un plan horizontal avec le personnel de l’entreprise et globalement avec les autres partenaires de l’écosystème et les groupes externes qui partagent les mêmes intérêts, y compris avec les experts indépendants et le milieu de la recherche universitaire.
Le but du jeu est la mise en marché accélérée de produits innovants. Les intermédiaires du domaine de l’innovation comme NineSigma, InnoCentive et IdeaConnection jouent un rôle central à ce titre. Peu importe la position actuelle de l’entreprise, ils l’aident à atteindre ses objectifs le plus rapidement possible et à augmenter ses capacités d’innovation ouverte. Véritables services d’innovation ouverte, les intermédiaires établissent la communication entre le public, le privé et les organismes à but non lucratif. Ils facilitent la mise au point de solutions et de produits, le partage de connaissances et la recherche de partenaires qui sauront améliorer et accélérer le cycle d’innovation de l’entreprise.L’innovation ouverte : pas exactement une panacée pour Procter & GambleL’innovation ouverte se veut une méthode efficace pour avoir accès à des idées venant de l’extérieur de l’entreprise. Pour rester rentable à long terme, le projet d’innovation doit reposer sur un processus structuré et reproductible qui ne repose pas uniquement sur l’innovation ouverte. Les efforts investis en innovation doivent être constants. L’exemple de Procter & Gamble montre bien la nécessité de conserver un équilibre stratégique. P&G a fait appel à des partenaires externes pour augmenter sa cadence en recherche et développement. Il en a résulté une décentralisation du département de R&D et un investissement en recherche devenu fonction du profit immédiat : on privilégiait les résultats immédiats, donc modestes et graduels, plutôt que la recherche de longue haleine, qui mène à des découvertes révolutionnaires.ConclusionChaque entreprise est unique. Son niveau d’engagement et son approche en innovation ouverte varient en fonction de ses besoins spécifiques. Il ne suffit donc pas de copier-coller l’approche d’une concurrente.On a remarqué que sans le profond changement de culture nécessaire, l’innovation ouverte reste trop souvent confinée au département interne de R&D. Son objet se limite alors essentiellement à des questions techniques pointues.Un conseil : prendre la vague stratégique et apprendre de ses expériences. C’est la clé pour intégrer peu à peu l’innovation ouverte à la culture d’entreprise et atteindre les objectifs les plus ambitieux!Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:52:00 +0000
Emballage Alimentaire: Un Partenaire Actif !
Je vous invite à lire mon article publié dans le dernier numéro de la revue l’Actualité Alimentaire: Emballage Alimentaire: Un Partenaire Actif !
Les emballages actifs entrent en interaction avec l’aliment ou s’adaptent à son environnement pour préserver, le plus longtemps possible, et de façon optimale, ses qualités organoleptiques et nutritionnelles. Les possibilités offertes par les emballages actifs sont prometteuses. Certaines de ces applications sont déjà commercialisées, mais plusieurs d'entre elles en sont encore au stade du développement.La conservation prolongée des produits et la réduction au niveau des pertes dues à la dégradation des aliments procurent des avantages économiques considérables à l’industrie de l’alimentation. Au Québec, on s’en tient à quelques absorbeurs d’oxygène ou d’humidité et aux emballages sous atmosphère modifiée. Le marché est encore balbutiant et le principe de précaution, adopté dans plusieurs pays, demeure un frein majeur au développement des emballages actifs.L’avenir des emballages actifs dans l’industrie alimentaire semble être conditionné par la réduction de leur prix, combiné à une plus grande acceptation de ces produits par tous les acteurs de la chaîne, et surtout augmenter la durée de vie de l’aliment sans compromettre ses propriétés organoleptiques.Nb: N'hésitez pas à me contacter (pak-bec@hotmail.com) si vous voulez consulter l'intégrale de cet articleWed, 02 Jan 2013 00:44:00 +0000
Five Packaging Trends That Will Shape 2013
Here is my list of 5 packaging trends to watch closely in 2013:
1) Bio-Based Plastics: Recyclable PET made from renewable resource is projected to offer significant growth potential over the longer term, particularly as large corporations, especially those in the soft drink industry, are investing heavily in the development of this material.2) Smart Packaging: The focus of active and intelligent packaging has moved from specific retailer and manufacturer driven benefits like shelf-life extension, traceability and food waste reduction, to include more consumer focused benefits such as food quality and safety, freshness and information.3) Stand-up Pouches: Packaged food makers are thinking outside the bottle and can. Flexible packaging, especially stand-up pouches provide Maximum Flexibility, Sustainability and Convenience.They are an innovative marketing approach to stimulate the sales of a stagnant brand or increase the acceptance and success of a new product introduction.4) Retail Ready Packaging (RRP): continues to gain traction in North America as a greater number of retailers start to consider implementation, and others broaden the scope of existing initiatives into additional categories5) Packaging and social media: Getting found by customers. The new age of inbound marketing is about providing value and earning customer loyalty instead of simply pounding a message into consumers heads and hoping it will stick.Best wishes for a healthy, wealthy, sustainable and innovative New Year 2013!- Biobased Plastic future
According to a recent Smithers RAPRA study (2012), worldwide consumption of all polymers reached about 259 million tonnes in 2012, with bioplastics representing 0.4% at 890,000 tonnes. So why haven’t bioplastics captured a larger market share? There are four reasons:1.2. Time-line to market acceptance not realistic;3. Bioplastic companies marketing efforts not given enough field support and4. Difficulties selling to an uninformed customer base and an uninformed end-user base.
With abundant feedstocks of sugarcane, corn and biomass, it is not surprising that activity remains strong in Brazil and the US. According to The Freedonia Group, global demand for biodegradables and bio-based plastics will more than triple to exceed 1m tonnes, worth $2.9bn, in 2015. US demand for bioplastics is forecast to climb at a 20 percent annual pace through 2016 to 550 million pounds, valued at $680 million.- Smart packaging: active and intelligent packaging
Increasing health awareness, rising food and safety concerns and improved purchasing power in emerging economies will drive growth in the global active and intelligent food and drink packaging market. The terms active packaging and intelligent packaging refer to packaging systems that help extend shelf life, monitor freshness, display information on quality, improve safety and increase convenience. Recently this has been updated to include intelligent functions (sensing, detecting, recording, tracing, communicating and applying scientific logic) in order to extend shelf life, enhance safety, improve quality, provide information and warn about possible issues.
Robust growth is anticipated for intelligent packaging, propelled by rapid advances for time-temperature indicators (TTIs) and the emergence of other smart packaging systems offering product differentiation at less costly prices. Smart technology could be able to detect food germs and to trigger colour changes in the packaging to alert the consumer if the contents have gone bad.According to a recent study by MarketsandMarkets, the global market for active and intelligent packaging technology in food and beverages is expected to grow to $23.474 million in 2015, at an estimated CAGR of 8.2% from 2010 to 2015.- Flexible packaging: Stand-up Pouches: Maximum Flexibility, Sustainability and Convenience
Consumers’ nomadic life-styles and the growing number of single and senior households favor a trend toward single and small-portion packs. Flexible packaging, especially stand-up pouches constitute the ideal solution.Flexible packaging has been shaking up the packaging industry for many years now, especially in the food packaging market, where flexible materials are introducing a wide range of new design concepts to minimise waste (both in terms of conservation and cost), attract consumer attention and maintain the freshness of the products within.
The market of flexible packaging is expected to see annual growth to over 22 million tonnes by 2016.within the flexible market the stand-up pouch has continued to evolve and offer suppliers, brand owners and consumers, solution that looks set to dominate and expand its influence on the flexible packaging markets over the next few years. According to The Freedonia Group, demand for pouches in the US is projected to increase 5.1 percent per year to $8.8 billion in 2016, driven by faster gains for standup pouches stemming from sustainability, functional, and marketing advantages over alternative packaging media.- Retail Ready Packaging
Over time, and under pressure from retailers seeking to improve in-store efficiencies, RRP has emerged as a system designed to reduce the amount of handling required to place products on the retail shelf whilst providing the consumer with easy access to products. Numerous benefits have been identified for these RRP systems, including:- both consumers and store employees indicating better product recognition
- 'one-touch' shelf replenishment
- streamlined restocking
- less product damage and more attractive, neater shelf appearance
A new study has revealed that retail-ready packaging (RRP) demand is expected to reach 32.1 million tons, worth $63.4bn, by 2017. In 2011, the demand totaled 27 million tons of material, worth over $54bn. According to Smithers Pira's study, titled 'The Future of Retail Ready Packaging to 2017', corrugated board accounted for three-quarters of the total volume of materials used in 2011. Within the segment, die-cut display containers make up more than half the market, decline-wrapped trays constitute 17% of demand and modified cases constitute 5%. RRP demand will be primarily driven by the development of supermarkets, especially in underdeveloped economic regions.- Packaging and social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest…
It is clear that marketing is changing on a fundamental level as the internet continues to revolutionize how we find, buy, sell, and interact with brands and their products or services. The days of annoying consumers with intrusive advertising and marketing tactics are fading. Traditional Marketing was about pushing messages out. Today it’s about pulling people in. Inbound marketing is a marketing focused on getting found by customers. The new age of marketing is about providing value and earning customer loyalty instead of simply pounding a message into consumers heads and hoping it will stick.
From a recent Canadean report “Global Packaging Industry CEO Business Outlook Survey 2012-2013”, advertising budgets, “email and newsletters,” “social media and networking sites” and “public relations” are expected to register the highest investment, identified by 47%, 44%, and 36%, respectively. Conversely, “television,” “outdoor,” “radio” and “newspaper” advertising is expected to decline.- Biobased Plastic future
Fri, 28 Dec 2012 18:18:00 +0000
Bioplastic in 2013: Trends to watch
In the past, words like "affordable", "recyclable", "durable", "reliable" or "good processability" did not leap to mind when talking about bioplastics. But all that's changing - and changing fast. And as bioplastics continue to reinvent themselves, they are starting to make their mark on the plastics market and industry.So, what are the major developments to keep an eye on in 2013?Drop-ins.jpg)
One of the most important developments from the past few years has been the emergence of what are known as drop-ins, or materials produced from monomer building blocks from biomass feedstocks, that can directly replace conventional petroleum-based plastics. The carbon content of plastics produced on the basis of these biomonomers comes from renewable sources, such as plants or biowaste.Drop-ins offer a rapid route to market through existing infrastructure and knowhow. Also, new routes are increasingly opening up, bringing the economic production of biomonomers that have the advantage of fitting easily into existing production chains, increasingly within reach.Potentially all grades of polyethylene, polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride can currently be made via biobased routes, as can various polyamides and polyesters. In fact, a market study from the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Hanover showed that biobased commodity plastics, with a total of around 1 million tonnes, would make up the majority of production capacity in 2015.The race to develop 100% bio-PET, for example, accelerated this year with Coca-Cola's push to produce a 100% bio-bottle. 100% bio-based PET was successfully produced on lab scale this year; more breakthroughs in this area are expected in the year to come. In fact, according to a European Bioplastics forecast, the next few years are likely to see the largest growth in the production of biobased polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate. The production capacity for biobased PET will continue to grow through 2016, reaching just over 4.5 million tons, or four-fifths of total bioplastic production capacity.And, as the technology matures, the affordability of these drop-in materials, for which users must currently still pay a premium, will steadily improve.FeedstocksThe feedstocks used today to produce bioplastics are mainly starch or sugar derived from corn, potato, sugarcane and beetroot; in other words, from food crops. The use of arable land and edible crops to produce plastics is increasingly perceived as an undesirable development that could increase food prices and contribute to food shortages.The coming years will see a shift from these so-called first generation feedstocks to second-generation feedstocks such as cellulosics. Cellulosic feedstocks, which consist of crop residues, wood residues, yard waste, municipal solid waste, algae or other biomass, sidestep the conflicts in land use.They can be converted to sugars via various technologies, including enzymatic hydrolysis and biomass pretreatment. Already, cellulosic feedstocks are being used to produce, among other materials, cellulose acetates and lignin-based polymers. However, for cellulosic feedstocks to really come into their own, more, and more, sophisticated biorefineries are needed that can perform the process steps needed to produce various bioproducts. Once these are in place, a stream of non-food crop based fermentable sugars will become available for energy, chemicals and polymers.End of lifeA direct consequence of the development of biobased drop-ins is that non-biodegradable biopolymers will show the largest growth in the coming years. Whereas biodegradability and/or compostability used to be the characteristic property of bioplastics, more and more biopolymers are now being developed that instead are built to last. As a result, new or better end-of-life solutions will have to be put in place.More landfills are not an option. An issue that needs to be addressed is that of disposing of the biopolymers being developed from new biobased monomers and polymers, such as furanic polyesters or high-heat resistant PLA. Separate collection and recycling systems are needed to ensure these do not contaminate existing waste streams. More research is needed into the possibilities for chemical and mechanical recycling of these materials. These are all issues that are on the agenda for the coming years.Additives, modifiers, blends
Another area that will continue to develop strongly is that of biobased additives and modifiers. These are not only relevant for engineering durable biopolymers with enhanced performance properties, but also for developing less hazardous alternatives to conventional modifiers.Concerns about the safety of the phthalates used as plasticizers in PVC and Bisphenol-A in polycarbonate, among other things, have and will continue to drive the search for more health and environmentally friendly solutions. Increasingly, biobased formulations are also being used to modify conventional materials, as these have been found to enhance the performance of these materials in various ways while at the same time improving their carbon footprint.Metabolix, for example has developed a series of PHA-based polymeric modifiers that demonstrate very good miscibility with PVC, and improve its mechanical and environmental performance characteristics. Mitsubishi Chemical produces a polycarbonate in which the Bisphenol-A is has been replaced by isosorbide, a biomonomer that can be safely used in food applications. Isosorbide-based copolyesters are extremely promising materials that offer enhanced performance properties. PLA, blended with PMMA, enhances the processability and other properties far beyond those of conventional acrylic resins.These are developments that may be expected to open up hitherto unimagined possibilities for biopolymers in the future.GeographyA striking finding of a report released in October this year by European Bioplastics was that increasingly, new bioplastic production facilities are being built in Asia and South America. In fact, in 2016, Asia is predicted to be home to 46.3% of the global bioplastic production capacity. South America is projected to have nearly as much capacity in place, with just over 45%. A main driver is feedstock availability. Specifically, Thailand has expressed the ambition to become bioplastics production hub of Southern Asia, and is taking concrete steps in the form of investments and joint ventures to realize this, while in Brazil, Braskem, already the world's leading producer of bio-PE, has targeted 2013 as the year to bring its bio PP facility on stream.Europe and North America excel at research and development, but are lagging in the production department. Andy Sweetman, chairman of European Bioplastics, pointedly remarked at the Bioplastics Conference in November of 2012 that it is time for decisions to be made if Europe wishes to profit from the growth in the bioplastics industry - a comment that also applies equally well to North America.It's something to keep in mind for 2013.Wed, 26 Dec 2012 01:37:00 +0000
Le Bilan 2012 : Médias Sociaux, Emballage Fonctionnel-Pratique-Actif-Intelligent et Écoresponsable
2013 est à nos portes, c’est l’heure du bilan!
Mes nouveaux engagements (Directeur Technique et développement des affaires Chez Cascades-emballage industriel) et mes nombreux déplacements m’ont laissé moins de temps pour bloguer. Je dois aussi partager ce temps consacré au web 2.0 avec les nouveaux médias sociaux, Twitter (ici), le Groupe que j’ai créé sur LinkedIn: PAPER-BASED PACKAGING et le nouvel arrivant Pinterest (ici). En 2013 Pakbec fêtera son 5ème anniversaire.Je vous présente mes meilleurs vœux pour 2013. Que cette nouvelle année soit emballante, active, innovante et éco-responsable!Conférences et présentationsL’année 2012 fût riche en conférences et présentations. Voici un condensé de mes diverses communications:1) Paper-based Packaging: Functional and Sustainable Coating. You can download here this talkgiven at The 2012 TAPPI PLACE Conference, May 6-9, 2012, Seattle Washington, USA.2) Papier Recyclé et Sécurité Alimentaire: Migration des huiles minérales. Cliquez ici pour télécharger cette conférence que j’ai donnée dans le cadre du séminaire sur la Migration des substances d’emballage dans les aliments organisé par l’Association de l’emballage (PAC) (Montréal, 1 mai 2012).
3) Peut-on survivre sans emballage? Cliquez ici pour télécharger cette conférence que j’ai donnée dans le cadre des 48 heures de la communication pour le développement durable (Eastman, 16 et 17 février 2012). Marie-Eve Cloutier de Gaia Presse a très bien résumé cette conférence. Vous pouvez consulter ici l’article intitulé : « Survivre Sans Emballage! », NON. Lutter Contre le Suremballage, OUI
Par ailleurs, toutes mes présentations sont disponibles sur SlideShare.Articles de vulgarisationJ’ai été invité à rédiger quelques articles de vulgarisation avec une chronique régulière dans le magazine ActualitéAlimentaire.
1. Emballages alimentaires : protéger le consommateur ou l’aliment? (ici) Actualité Alimentaire - Mars 2012.
2. Comment exploiter les médias sociaux au sein d'une stratégie marketing? (ici) Actualité Alimentaire - Mai 2012
3. Gaspillage alimentaire : L’emballage à la rescousse ! (ici) Actualité Alimentaire - Juillet 2012
4. Les nanotechnologies dans les emballages alimentaires: menace ou révolution? (ici) Actualité Alimentaire Septembre - 2012
5. Sécurité alimentaire : Les emballages actifs et intelligents à la rescousse!!! (ici) Alimentaire Novembre - 2012
Je contribue également au blogue Vert de Nature de Cascades :2. Fibres recyclées : comment concilier écologie et sécurité alimentaire? (Cliquez ici)Et finalement, j’ai publié un article dans le “ Converting Quarterly” intitulé: Five sustainability trends that will shape packaging in2012J’ai eu le plaisir d’encadrer, Richard Lapointe, étudiant à l’Université de Sherbrooke durant son mémoire. Il s’agit d’une excellente revue de littérature sur les bioplastiques : terminologie, diagnostic clair et exhaustif sur la situation actuelle ainsi qu’une bonne critique des ACV et de la vraie valeur ajoutée des bioplastiques dans les emballages. L’essai est disponible sur le site du centre universitaire de formation en environnement (CUFE) de l'université Sherbrooke. Vous pouvez télécharger l'intégrale de l'essai ici.Enfin cette année j’ai eu la chance de vivre une expérience très enrichissante en ayant l’honneur de siéger au sein du jury Les prix GAIA: Le meilleur en emballage et mise en marché en alimentation.
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