Sun Chemical and Qualvis Packaging, Leicester, United Kingdom, have collaborated to develop a highly sustainable chocolate truffle carton for chocolate manufacturer Whitakers.
The concept enabled Whitakers to transform an existing truffle carton that featured 55 percent plastic into a highly recyclable lightweight fiber-based solution without plastic layer of the same dimensions.
The package uses Sun Chemical’s SunPak DirectFood Plus bio-renewable direct-food contact inks and SunSpec SunStar direct-food contact aqueous varnish on the inside of the carton.
The use of Sun Chemical’s inks and varnish reportedly eliminates the need for a plastic extrusion in between the ink film and the food product and enables replacement of the existing PET double clam shell housing the truffles with a fibre-based holding structure, while ensuring both a direct food contact safe environment for the truffles complemented by functional resistance and barrier properties to maintain the protection and integrity of the carton structure and its contents.
This, in combination with the highly bio-renewable properties of the inks reportedly decreases the overall carbon footprint of the product.
SunPak FSP EcoPace low-migration inks and SunCoat aqueous varnish are employed on the front of the carton, also contributing to the reduced carbon footprint achievement due to a very high bio-renewable content made possible by employing a new fossil fuel-free carbon black derived process ink. All inks are also cradle-to-cradle certified.
Furthermore, the board is an environmentally sourced material from premium paperboard company and Qualvis partner Holeman Iggesund.
The outer cellophane wrap has been replaced with a tear strip built into the carton design to keep the lid in place during transit and on the shelf at retailers.
