News

Nestlé has announced an investment of up to CHF 2 bn Swiss francs to pioneer the shift from virgin plastics to food-grade recycled plastics and accelerate the development of innovative sustainable packaging solutions. Building on its 2018 commitment to make 100 % of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025, the food and beverage giant says it will reduce its use of virgin plastics by one third in the same period whilst working with others to advance the circular economy and clean up plastic waste from oceans, lakes and rivers.

In the first three quarters (1 March to 30 November 2019) of the current 2019/20 fiscal year, Südzucker AG posted group consolidated revenues of € 5.028 (previous year: 5.192) bn. While the sugar segment’s revenues fell sharply, the fruit segment’s held steady at last year’s level and the special products and CropEnergies segments’ rose. Group EBITDA rose from € 373 (previous year: 345) m due to the first-time application of IFRS 16 on 1 March 2019 and the associated recognition and depreciation of leases already recognized in other operating expenses for accounting purposes.

After nine months group operating result was comparable to last year’s level at € 113 (previous year: 116) m. Although the sugar segment reported losses as expected, the third quarter was significantly better than the same period during the previous year. While the decline in results continued in the fruit segment, the increase in results was again stronger in the special products and CropEnergies segments.

Mondelez International has launched its Cadbury energy bar in new packaging made from 100 % recyclable sustainably sourced paper that will be trialled and tested exclusively in New Zealand. The trial will test the durability and effectiveness of paper packaging in transport plus gather feedback from consumers. It is the first time the company has used a paper material that does not include laminate, foil or plastic for fully sealed flow-wrap packaging. Many existing paper based food wraps have a thin plastic film to protect the product, but the Cadbury energy paper acts as a barrier to protect food and ensure freshness.

The move follows a similar technical breakthrough in confectionary packaging by Nestlé who announced in summer that its YES! snack bar range will be wrapped in recycled paper for the first time, claiming “a world first” in recyclable packaging. Cara Liebrock, Managing Director, Mondelez International New Zealand, said: “We are committed to making 100 % of our packaging recyclable by 2025”.

Raisio Group is targeting the expansion of its international oat business, with investments of EUR 8 m funnelled into increasing capacity at the company’s oat mill in Nokia/Finland. This will allow the company capability to produce gluten-free oat products at its mill. The popularity of oats is notably sustained by a burgeoning consumer appetite for plant-based proteins.

“Thanks to the investments, our oat mill is now in top working condition,” says Pekka Kuusniemi, President and CEO of Raisio. “We increased the mill capacity and our ability to manufacture different oat products to meet the growing demand in Finland and the rest of Europe. The oat boom is just beginning in Europe now, so the growth perspectives are quite interesting”.

ADM has acquired Yerbalatina Phytoactives, a Brazilian plant-based extracts and ingredients manufacturer. The move is a bid to enhance ADM’s portfolio of ingredients from natural sources that bolster health, to stay abreast of trends in health and wellness.

ADM’s increasing expansion since 2017 into this space is a direct response to the growing consumer demand for fortified foods, beverages and supplements. This acquisition expands ADM’s already significant footprint in Brazil.

Vikram Luthar, President of ADM’s Health & Wellness business, says: “Yerbalatina’s wide array of natural botanical extracts – including organic-certified ingredients – combined with their R&D capabilities and market expertise, are exciting additions to our pantry as we continue to build our leadership position in science-based microbiome solutions for human and animal health”.

Ice cream mega-brand Magnum has launched a new line of Ruby chocolate-covered mini ice creams in the US. The Magnum Ruby Minis release makes Magnum the first brand in the US to launch an ice cream featuring the fourth type of chocolate.

The ice creams are available in packs of six bars at select retailers now and will be rolled out to grocery stores nationwide by February. The launch comes after the US Food and Drug Administration granted a Temporary Marketing Permit to Barry Callebaut – Ruby’s supplier – in November 2019, allowing the marketing of Ruby as the fourth type of chocolate, after dark, milk and white, in the US.

Pegged as the fourth type of chocolate, Ruby is the first new chocolate in 80 years, following white, dark and milk chocolate. Made with the recently discovered Ruby cacao bean, Ruby cacao expresses a special berry fruitiness and pink colour.

At ProSweets 2020 in Cologne (2 to 5 February 2020, hall 10.1, booth D28/E29), Paradise Fruits by Jahncke will debut its latest range of freeze-dried Crunchy granulates. Developed by the company’s Freeze Dried division, Crunchy granulates are manufactured through a specially adapted freeze-drying process that allows customers the option of a one-component recipe made of 100 % fruit, or a combination with yogurt or additional carriers, the company notes.

The launch comes as specialty for chocolate and confectionery, functional or “better-for-you” snacks and baked goods that include natural ingredients, such as whole or cut fruits. The granulates are available in bespoke shapes and cut into sizes making them ideal for use in these applications. They are the natural choice for manufacturers looking for a lightweight, nutritious and delicious ingredient to add flavour, colour and texture. The pure fruit recipe retains many of the natural flavour and colour characteristics offered by fresh fruit, but in a format more suitable for snack and confectionery applications.

Flavour combinations in the Paradise Fruits Crunchy range include Strawberry & Basil, Raspberry & Thyme, Mango & Rosemary, Orange & Chilli, Mango & Matcha Tea and Strawberry & Tomato. Exotic blends with apricot, mango, banana and passionfruit and non-fruit flavours, including cappuccino and salted caramel, are also available.

Cepi, the European association representing the paper industry, has announced a new alliance called 4evergreen. The aim of the alliance is to boost the contribution of fibre-based packaging in a circular and sustainable economy that minimizes climate and environmental impact. The alliance will increase awareness about the benefits of fibre-based packaging materials, advocate for EU legislation supporting product design for recyclability and call for the development of optimized collection systems and appropriate recycling infrastructures.

The rise of environmental awareness and consumer concerns, as well as the increase of packaging focused regulation, such as the Single Use Plastics Directive, have helped companies to accelerate the development of alternative packaging materials including fibre-based packaging with a view to helping consumers make more climate-friendly choices.

4evergreen was created as a forum to engage and connect industry members from across the fibre-based packaging value chain, from paper and board producers to packaging converters, brand-owners and retailers, technology and material suppliers, waste sorters and collectors.

“The 4evergreen alliance is important because it was born from an initiative of consumer product industry leaders who recognize the huge potential of fibre-based packaging in a circular economy”, said Susanne Oste, VP Innovation and Sustainability at Sappi. “Their customers want sustainable packaging and fibre-based products provide the most climate-friendly solution available. Sappi is proud to play a part in this industry alliance. We have been investing heavily for more than ten years in cutting edge research into real solutions for the problems that confront our customers. A recent success is the launch of the only fully recyclable confectionary wrapper on the market today.”

The Italian packaging machinery industry continues to grow, its total turnover exceeding the record figure of 8 bn Euros registered in 2019. According to the preliminary figures published by the Research Department of Ucima (Italian packaging machinery manufacturers’ association), the sector has seen 1.8 % growth this year.

Specifically, the Italian market has grown by a further 3.2 % to a total of 1.713 bn Euros following last year’s excellent results, partly achieved thanks to the government’s Industry 4.0 incentives. Exports, which account for 78.6 % of total turnover, also rose by 1.4 % to 6.293 bn Euros. The available disaggregated data reveal particularly high levels of performance for exports of Italian technologies to three macro regions: Asia (+12.7 %), EU (+6.5 %) and Africa/Oceania (+3 %).