labelling

How many times have we all grabbed a knife to open a pack of food, spilt it across the kitchen because the pack was too hard to open, been unable to read the text on the pack (even with glasses on) and then vowed to never buy that brand again? Now imagine if you were … Continue reading Accessible packaging design is the key to helping consumers →

The Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) released their provisional program today for the biennial 2020 AIP Australasian Packaging Conference which will cover a broad range of topics relating to the theme PACKAGING: FIT FOR THE FUTURE and include 60 speakers from nine countries across two days. The event will be held on the 1 and … Continue reading Provisional programme released for AIP Conference →

As the challenges of food safety intensify throughout the world, so does the need for global traceability. Consumers put their trust in the food they eat, and the supply chains that deliver those products. Yet, supply chains are becoming more complex, and with that complexity comes risk. Digital supply chains Brands are faced with difficulties … Continue reading Having a trusted foundation for global food safety →

Reducing the use of packaging materials is one of the aspects that will help lead to a sustainable future. When re-designing plastic trays for ANZ’s fresh red meat sector, Sealed Air Australia ventured beyond “reduce” and found a way to “eliminate” the need for absorbent pads. Sealed Air’s Kevin Taylor is the APAC portfolio leader … Continue reading Why send 750 million soiled absorbent pads to landfill if there is a better way? →

Food labelling – it can be a minefield. In an era of food allergens, many imported products, as well as a bevy of health and safety regulations, food and beverage manufacturers have their work cut out for them to make sure they create products that meet a wide range of food regulations. It’s something not lost … Continue reading The importance of food and beverage labelling →

Plastic is an incredible material. It can be airtight and watertight, moulded to any shape, clear or coloured, shock-resistant, lightweight, and is chemically stable. Unfortunately, these last two features also mean plastic pollution poses a huge environmental problem. In theory, plastic is highly recyclable. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), typically used in drink bottles, can be recycled … Continue reading Bans are effective, but not the endgame in solving the plastic problem →

Craft brewing has taken off in Australia over the past five years. Driven by consumer demand for something a little different outside the main brands. These usually one- or two-person bands are making inroads into traditional markets right across the country. From Perth to Sydney, Adelaide to Brisbane, micro-breweries aren’t just putting down roots in … Continue reading Gas the key to fledging micro-brewing industry →

With Australia producing 7.3 million tonnes of food waste across the supply and consumption chain, and a Federal Government National Food Waste Strategy to halve food waste that goes to landfill by 2030, now is the time for packaging technologists to review pack designs that could minimise food waste and losses. According to the National … Continue reading The role that resealable packaging plays in minimising food waste →

Crispy roasted crickets were recently served in a sushi restaurant in London, re-igniting the discussion about integrating insects into consumer diets. However, less thought has been given to what industry will have to do to handle these new food types. Here Darcy Simonis, industry network leader for ABB’s food and beverage segment, explains how manufacturers … Continue reading Developing new processes for new ingredients →

Sister companies, Caspak Australia and Caspak New Zealand, who specialise in flexible packaging, have merged their operations and brands. While financial management of the companies will remain country-based, the merger will result in streamlining and increased efficiencies of both businesses. The merger will see the companies operate as a single entity in order to pool … Continue reading Caspak streamlines Australasian businesses →

Nestlé has officially inaugurated the Institute of Packaging Sciences, the first-of-its-kind in the food industry. The new Institute enables Nestlé to accelerate its efforts to bring functional, safe and environmentally friendly packaging solutions to the market and to address the global challenge of plastic packaging waste. Speaking at the inauguration, Mark Schneider, Nestlé CEO, said, … Continue reading Nestlé inaugurates packaging research institute →

Fine Food Australia opened to large crowds at Sydney’s International Convention Centre (ICC) with a massive range of products and services on display. This included a huge contingent from China, as well as other Southeast Asian nations such as Taiwan and Thailand, while the European contingent included representatives from Turkey, Italy, Spain and Germany. As … Continue reading Huge bounty from local and overseas vendors at Fine Foods Australia →

Western Sydney could become a national base for the production of meat grown from animal stem cells under an ambitious plan supported by the NSW Government. NSW Minister for Jobs, Investment and Western Sydney, Stuart Ayres, said North Parramatta startup VOW has been supported with a $25,000 Minimum Viable Product grant from the NSW Government … Continue reading Western Sydney to put lab-grown meat on the menu →

Coca-Cola Australia has launched a new campaign to thank Australians for recycling. It follows the announcement earlier this year that seven out of 10 of Coca-Cola’s range of drink bottles in Australia will be 100 per cent recycled plastic by the end of 2019. In April, the company announced its largest ever investment in recycled … Continue reading Coke campaign to reiterate recycling commitments →

The ground-breaking XPlanar system from Beckhoff offers boundless potential for streamlining production machines and plant design. It utilises planar movers that float freely over floors of planar tiles that can be arranged in any kind of pattern. What characterises the new XPlanar drive system is that it is based on the principle of flying motion. Like the … Continue reading Xplanar streamlines drive systems for the modern era →

Driven by impulse, consumers often make decisions based on a product’s aesthetic appearance, making label design a key competitive advantage in food manufacturing. Find out more. Your average Australian supermarket carries approximately 40,000 different products. When every product is vying for consumers attention, how do you ensure your product cuts though the noise and stands … Continue reading Looks matter when it comes to taste →

A  food safety certification and training organisation says the record spike in food recalls within Australia – up 45 per cent in 2018, compared with 2017 – is more than just back luck. It is likely a result of poor training, poor controls, and a lack of accountability – or a more concerning underlying problem … Continue reading Recalls on the rise: five signs of a lagging food safety culture →

TE Connectivity (TE), a maker of connectivity and sensors, has released the SP self-laminating polyester label as an  labeling solution for applications that can withstand temperatures from minus 40˚C (minus 40˚F) up to 150˚C (302˚F). TE’s SP is a thermal transfer printable, low-profile translucent polyester film with a permanent acrylic adhesive. It is supplied with … Continue reading Self-laminating polyester labels a solution for identifying cabling exposed to high heat →

Approximately 1.8 billion people worldwide bought products online in 2018 and it’s predicted this will increase by another 350 million by 2021. However, this does not mean brick-and-mortar store are dying. What’s becoming clear is that with rapidly advancing technology, consumers are demanding an increasingly interactive shopping experience. As a result, businesses are having to … Continue reading Enhancing your brand with interactive labels →

Food allergies are atypical immune system responses to certain foods (normally proteins). According to research published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, in Australia about 10 per cent of children and two per cent of adults have food allergies. To help these people avoid known allergens, food and beverage products sold in Australia … Continue reading A plain English approach to dealing with food allergies →