Helping Grocery Retailers Reduce Plastic Packaging
Retailers may now use less plastic packaging for produce thanks to two innovative packaging alternatives introduced by UK packaging expert Xact.
Grocery retailers will be able to eliminate millions of pieces of single-use plastic from their supply chains each year with the help of the Rev Elephant, which was created specifically for cardboard punnets with wings, and the Rev Condor, which was created for taping bunches of loose fruit.
One significant UK retailer has already realized the advantages of the Rev Elephant, a high-speed, high-productivity closing machine, to assist it in switching from a plastic film/tray wrap combination to recyclable cardboard for one of its fresh produce ranges. The grocer’s UK outlets are currently implementing the cardboard punnets, which are 100% recyclable with domestic paper trash collection, following a successful trial. This will help it meet its ambitious sustainability goals.
When compared to competing cardboard-based alternatives, which are typically 80 packs per minute, the Rev Elephant is the fastest machine on the market, operating at speeds of up to 250 packs per minute. It applies food-grade hot melt glue to seal the containers and prints the variable data directly on the punnet (an additional self-adhesive label is also an option).
The compact packing assures no harm to fragile product and the container is entirely optimized, preventing empty areas inside the package. It is suitable for a variety of fresh produce and non-food packaging lines, including automated and manual loading.
“Our Rev Elephant machine is a game-changer for the grocery industry. Up to approximately three times faster than other solutions on the market, the machine enables retailers to meet demand both in terms of pack quantity and quality. We have a proud track record in helping food producers and retailers tackle complex problems and is it hugely rewarding to have helped one of the country’s leading grocers deliver on its plastic reduction promise,” Rachel Bastow, Marketing Manager at Xact, explained.
The Rev Condor is another new release from Xact’s Rev portfolio. An automatic taping device called the Condor is perfect for securing bundles of loose, fresh food and lowering the amount of unsustainable packaging used in the industry.
The machine can automatically tape 40–45 loose products per minute and has a double-independent taping mechanism. With 620m of dispenser capacity per channel (44 minutes of working time), it provides retailers with a quick, dependable, flexible, user-friendly, intuitive, and sustainable alternative to other packaging formats. To ensure that the items blend seamlessly into a company’s portfolio, the tape itself can be produced from PP, paper, or biodegradable materials and tailored according to a retailer’s branding.
“These two new additions to our Rev range mark a significant step forward in the move towards making the UK grocery industry more sustainable. They are proof that fresh produce can be packed effectively, at speed, without affecting product quality, and with a lower environmental impact. We are very much looking forward to partnering with more retailers to bring the benefits of these game-changing machines to the wider sector,” Rachel Bastow concluded.