Page 42 - Plastics News November 2020

Coca-Cola partners with Danish start-up on Toppan launches full new eco-friendly
bio-based bottle packaging

C oca-Cola is partnering with Danish startup Paboco T that better retains the quality of meat, processed
oppan has launched new eco-friendly packaging
to develop a paper bottle with a plastics closure
seafood, and other primary products kept in frozen
and liner inside. Stijn Franssen, R&D packaging storage for long periods of time. Toppan's new
innovation manager for Coca-Cola EMEA, and his team packaging uses GL BARRIER, a barrier film developed
by leveraging original vapor-deposition and coating
are conducting extensive lab testing at The Coca-Cola
technologies, to reduce oxidation and therefore
Company's Brussels-based R&D centre to assess how
prevent discoloration, loss of flavor, and changes in
the paper bottle performs, holds up and protects its food texture for a longer period than is possible with
contents while refrigerated and in other scenarios. conventional packaging. These features reduce food
loss and waste and facilitate expansion of distribution,
“We also reflect on how our consumers will react to this
by preserving food quality in regions without suitable
paper bottle,” Franssen added. “Topics like when and infrastructure for frozen distribution. The new
where it could be sold and how it can be recycled are packaging has improved environmental performance
all considered. This is all part of our journey to find the and is available in a mono-material structure that has
reduced CO2 emissions and superior recyclability. The
most sustainable packaging solutions for people to
package also allows some food products
enjoy our drinks in a way that is right for them, and that conventionally subject to ultra-low-temperature
is right for our planet.” Michael Michelsen, business frozen storage at -50°C or lower (F4) to be stored at
higher temperatures of -18°C. This change cuts
development manager at Paboco, said the project is
storage costs by around 60%, also helping to lower CO2
still in its initial stages of development. “We're focused
emissions associated with power consumption for
on several different development areas, which all tie freezing. “This new packaging has the potential to
back to our vision of creating a 100 per cent recyclable bring economic and environmental benefits for the
food industry and wider society by maintaining food
and bio-based bottle,” he said. “This has potential to
quality for longer,” said Masa Tatewaki, Executive
be a real breakthrough in circularity for the industry,
Officer of Global Business in Toppan's Living &
unearthing huge potential in how packaging is Environment Division. “We will be expanding sales to
designed, produced and used by consumers.” Coca- food manufacturers, distributors, and wholesalers of
frozen foods and will take advantage of the technology
Cola is among a small group of 'pioneer' companies –
to develop more eco-friendly products that enhance
with expertise in beverage production and marketing, freshness retention to contribute to a safer and more
as well as packaging material, design and technology – sustainable society.” Full-scale sales of PE-based 'GL-
working to explore the paper bottle concept with LE-G' and BOPP-based 'GL-LP-G' will initially be
targeted at the US and European markets and
Paboco (short for The Paper Bottle Company).
complement the existing PET version.

NOVEMBER 2020 42 Plastics News