Amcor to support Cadbury Australia’s move to 50% recycled plastic across core chocolate portfolio wrappers

Nottinghamshire-based Surepak Limited is ceasing to trade despite appointed administrators at PKF Smith Cooper being hopeful of a sale following the interest of 96 parties. Surepak Limited’s financial concerns became apparent during the global energy crisis when its electricity costs increased by more than 425%. This increase, coupled with the loss of two significant contracts, decreased the company’s turnover by c.£1m, due to customers’ packaging requirements changing and the relocation of a customer abroad. The Nottinghamshire-based organisation sought a buyer after sole director Stuart Yorston filed for administration on 9th February 2024. This was to safeguard the company’s business, assets, and employees from a winding-up petition served by a creditor, which was due to be heard on 14th February.

UPM Specialty Papers, Lantmännen Unibake and Adara have co-created a new fibre-based packaging that replaces plastic bags as primary packaging for frozen baked goods. To minimize the use of fossil-based materials, the companies joined forces to create a solution where the plastic bags were eliminated by using UPM Asendo™ barrier paper as an inner liner in the corrugated cardboard box; the barrier paper layer ensures food safety and freshness. “The partnership with Lantmännen Unibake and Adara opened the opportunity to unite our expertise across the food packaging value network to create a renewable and recyclable packaging solution for frozen bread. Lantmännen Unibake and a third-party food industry development company conducted thorough testing and analysis on the impact of packaging materials on the taste of the frozen bread; as a result UPM Asendo was chosen as the inner liner for the cardboard box. The food safe UPM Asendo barrier paper layer has proven to offer the grease and moisture resistance needed while ensuring food safety,” says Kirsi Lahtela, Product Manager, UPM Specialty Papers.

Smurfit Kappa has announced it is investing $22 million to expand its corrugated plant in Culiacan, North-West Mexico. It demonstrates the company’s continued commitment to the Mexican market with expanded capacity, capabilities and products offerings for local customers in the fresh produce segment. The investment will modernise and expand the plant, with the installation of high-tech state of the art machinery and the construction of a new 10,900m2 building that will include a new corrugator and an automatic Rotary Die Cutter (RDC) that will be fully operational by the end of 2021. The facility will produce corrugated boxes made with a moisture barrier that helps resist condensation. These new offerings will also result in more sustainable operations at the facility with reduced use of paper that is 100% recyclable and can be reused at Smurfit Kappa mills.