Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) is a new application for pressed paperboard trays. Now it has been enabled for the first time by combining Stora Enso’s expertise in renewable materials with tray production expertise by CC Pack. The new gas-tight tray provides a cost-efficient and sustainable alternative to plastic trays with high proportion of renewable materials and attractive look and feel of paper. The trays are produced with new tray pressing technology, and their material is barrier coated board Trayforma by Stora Enso.
“We are pleased to see a new renewable packaging solution entering the market as a result of this cooperation. The new tray with its high renewable material content is a sustainable packaging option for chilled food products, a market segment that has been dominated by plastic so far. This is a breakthrough and will certainly gain high interest among food companies who are looking for more eco-friendly alternatives”, says Henna Paakkonen-Alvim, Vice President, Innovations, Stora Enso Consumer Board Division.
“The increasing demand for sustainable packaging has led to an intensive search for a gas-tight board trays. We have invested lots of effort to develop this new packaging solution together with Stora Enso. The shape of the tray is optimised to ensure tight packs, which gives a shelf life up to 18 days, depending on the product packed. We thereby meet the needs for a wide range of chilled food products, such as fresh meat and chicken, processed meat, cheese and ready meals etc.”, says Åke Larsson, Managing Director at CC Pack.
The board trays are supplied together with a matching lidding material which provides a safe seal and a barrier adapted to the packed product’s needs. The trays are converted by CC Pack and the lidding material comes from Flextrus, both members of AR Packaging and situated in Sweden. AR Packaging is already running trials of the new trays with several major chilled food producers in Europe.
Part of the bioeconomy, Stora Enso is a leading global provider of renewable solutions in packaging, biomaterials, wooden constructions and paper. We believe that everything that is made from fossil-based materials today can be made from a tree tomorrow. Stora Enso employs some 26 000 people and our shares are listed on the Helsinki (STEAV, STERV) and Stockholm (STE A, STE R) stock exchanges.
AR Packaging is one of Europe’s leading companies in the packaging sector with net sales of approximately 600 MEUR, 3300 employees and 19 factories in eleven countries. AR Packaging is a group of the specialised companies A&R Carton, Flextrus, CC Pack, SP Containers and ÅR Packaging Digital. The head office is located in Lund, Sweden. The Group creates added value to customers through a broad product offering and deep knowledge of carton based and flexible packaging. AR Packaging has an objective to grow both organically and by way of acquisitions.
CC Pack as a market leader in pressed board trays in Europe. The majority of its business is exported to major food producers and brand owners in Europe. The company holds very high standards for food packaging production, high delivery capacity and effective resource management. The plant is situated in Sweden and has 45 skilled employees. CC Pack is a member of AR Packaging.
Flextrus is one of the leaders in flexible packaging in Northern Europe and supplies environmentally responsible materials for food and healthcare packaging. The company takes a step closer to its customers and participate in their development in a structured manner. Flextrus has 320 committed employees and operates four factories in Sweden and one in UK. Flextrus is a member of AR Packaging.
