How to package, label fresh produce sustainably

There is a new trend in the packaging of fruit and vegetables. Single-origin recyclable packs made of paperboard or cardboard are gradually replacing the typical plastic trays, which usually have an additional pillow pack, or are wrapped in stretch film or netting.

According to Multivac Marking and Inspection, one of the leading manufacturers of labelling systems and direct web printers, its full-wrap labelling offers a sustainable and high-quality solution for plastic-free packaging concepts.

“It requires just one wraparound label to securely seal the packs and also provide the product presentation at the same time,” the company stated. “The packs are not only impressive at the point of sale with their attractive presentation, but also guarantee a high level of acceptance with consumers, who are increasingly reaching for recyclable packs.”

Packaging concepts with board trays, which meet the current requirements in terms of recyclability, are generally however cost-intensive and less efficient. This is because a cardboard sleeve usually has to be applied manually to the pack, or alternatively only low cycle rates can be achieved, if the application of the banderole is automated in an intermittent packaging process. If complex folding cartons are used, these often have to be closed manually and frequently provided with an additional label.

Efficiency, cost-effectiveness through automation
With its L 310 full-wrap conveyor belt labeller, Multivac can now offer an efficient solution for the attractive presentation of fresh fruit and vegetables in trays, which are stable and straight-walled without any product protrusion, or alternatively in trays with side flaps, if there is some degree of product protrusion.

The cardboard trays are automatically labelled and sealed on the run with self-adhesive labels made of paper, and the trays are either fed in manually or transferred directly from an upstream module. This provides significant cost savings and higher cycle rates, when compared with time-consuming, manual packaging solutions. The cycle output of the L 310 is up to 90 packs per minute. Labels with a width of up to 500 mm and a weight of up to 170 g/m² can be run - and if required, an additional label can also be applied to the bottom of the pack during the same process.

The labeller can be equipped with a zero downtime function for even more efficiency and process reliability, as well as with label/print monitoring at even the highest throughput. A wide selection of printing technology is also available for printing all the production-related data.

Flexibility for shapes, materials and convenience
“Since the full-wrap labels are stabilised by the backing material, virtually all shapes are possible. The range of shapes extends from curves and cut-outs right up to specially tailored shapes to match the product or pack,” explained Michael Reffke, product manager at Multivac. “The labels can also be used as a carrier handle; it is possible to integrate perforations into the full-wrap labels, if the materials have a weight of 130 g/m² or more.”

Standard self-adhesive labels made of paper or renewable materials are used to ensure that the pack is completely plastic-free and recyclable. But labels made of PP or PET can also of course be used for full-wrap labelling. When compared with cardboard sleeves, full-wrap labelling enables very light label material to be used, and this in turn has a positive effect on the CO2 balance along the entire process chain.

“If full-wrap labels are used instead of cardboard sleeves, the weight of the banderole can even be halved,” Reffke added.

Powerful options create incentives to buy
As regards appeal at the point of sale and the usable area for product promotion, full-wrap labelling surpasses conventional packaging solutions by far. And when it comes to the subject of sustainability, the intelligent combination of a paper fibre-based pack plus a paper fibre-based full-wrap label is of great advantage. This is because today more than ever, consumers prefer sustainable packaging concepts – particularly for natural healthy products such as fruit and vegetables.

Multivac, previously called MR Etikettiertechnik, was founded in 1972 in Enger, Westphalia, and has been part of the Multivac Group since 1993. The company's wide product range extends from standard labelling and printing solutions to labellers and marking systems, which are specifically developed for individual customers.

The range of products is complemented by inspection systems for weight checking, detection of foreign objects and visual inspection of packs and labelling. All these units can be integrated into complete packaging lines, and they contribute significantly to meeting the regulations and legal requirements for the quality management of packaging lines.