Page 38 - Plastics News August 2022

INNOVATION IN PLASTICS

Lightweight Tube Innovation, Procter & Gamble's Air-Capsule Package, and A Lime-
stone-Based Plastic Alternative

reduction of 55% for the whole tube material that is inflated with air, is
versus standard tube formats. Being waterproof, recyclable, and weighs 40%
manufactured from HDPE (high density less than a normal shipping case. Procter
polyethylene) it is also a recyclable-ready & Gamble China joined the GRPG
solution in rigid packaging recycling (Green Recycled Plastics Supply Chain
streams certified by APR & Recyclass. Joint Working Group) to investigate
Albéa say that by designing a single waste separation recycling and plastic
open-and-close system and reducing recycling enterprises. The Air Capsule
the tube’s components to only two, Express was developed jointly with the
makes EcoFusion Top a first on the GRPG, who together carried out pilot
beauty market and a new milestone in trials for recycling of the Air Capsule
its product roadmap. This two-in-one Express as a way of promoting a greener

he packaging industry continues system will be available with various circular economy.
Tto see a lot of change of materials sleeve options such as Greenleaf for Alternative to plastic and paper for
driven largely by sustainability objectives. laminate tubes and the Thin-Wall limestone-based initiative
Plastic replacement is still top of the London-based LXD has announced
agenda for many brands and retailers as that they are now the official supplier of
they look to switch to solutions that may Limex materials in the UK, a material
offer a better environment footprint or that it says is a circular and sustainable
at least be better received by anti-plastic alternative to plastic and paper. LIMEX
focused consumers. is made predominantly from limestone
(calcium carbonate), with a small
Tube weight reduction achieved through amount of polymeric resin added as
head and cap fusion in one component
a binder. LXD says LIMEX contains
French tube manufacturer Albéa has 50-80% Limestone and the rest is
announced what it says is a market first technology for extruded tubes. polymeric resin or a plant-based resin
product with the launch of EcoFusion Air capsule packaging alternative to (Bio-Limex), and due to the low levels
Top. The solution is a fusion of the head conventional corrugated shipping cases of fossil-based plastic should not attract
and the cap in one component, yielding Procter & Gamble China has revealed the Plastic Packaging Tax. LXD say that
more than 80% weight reduction when a novel packaging solution called limestone extraction creates 1/50 of
compared to the classic flip-top + Air Capsule Express packaging. The CO2 emission compared with plastic,
head. This results in an overall weight development was recently shared by their while CO2 emissions are 58% of that of
R&D Technology General Manager, plastic when incinerated. LXD says that
and is being touted as an alternative to adding limestone to molding reduces
conventional corrugated board shipping costs associated with petroleum-based
cases for protecting fragile items in the resins and improves several physical and
last mile of delivery, and reducing the chemical properties of finished plastic
quantity of packaging. The Air Capsule product
Express packaging is made from a single

38 PLASTICS NEWS August 2022