Fish packaging that’s overproof and recyclable

Fish processing company V Hukkanen Oy is launching its Kalaneuvos marinated salmon strips in microwaveable and ovenproof Stora Enso DeLight modified atmosphere packaging. The board package replaces the aluminium tray that was used previously.

“The DeLight tray can be heated in the oven or microwave, so the food can be cooked conveniently in the package it comes in. Afterwards, the tray can easily be washed and recycled, in the same way as juice and milk cartons,” says Veijo Hukkanen, MD of V Hukkanen Oy.

The salmon strips are sold in grocery stores throughout Finland. In the near future, the selection will also include new salmon and rainbow trout products. According to Hukkanen, the environmental benefits, such as a smaller carbon footprint, recyclability and a material partly based on a renewable natural resource, were also important reasons behind the packaging reform.

The tray is suitable for sensitive products that require cold storage and a modified atmosphere package, as the package’s protective properties maintain the product’s freshness, and its suitability for the oven, microwave and freezer make it multifunctional. “The solution developed for V Hukkanen is the first ovenproof modified atmosphere package that we are launching in the market,” says Jalliina Järvinen, Head of Stora Enso DeLight Solution.

According to Hukkanen, one of the package’s most important features is the possibility to include printing on the bottom and sides of the package; for example, cooking instructions and information about the package and the product. The Kalaneuvos product description is placed on a label on the lid, which is removed before the product is cooked in the oven or microwave.

In a conventional oven, the product is cooked at 200°C for 20 mins, and the microwave cooking time is approximately 4 min (720 W). The marinade does not leach into the surface of the package, so the package stays clean in the consumer’s fridge and right up until it reaches the dinner table.