CPP recognised as gold standard in packaging proficiency
26 March, 2015The Certified Packaging Professional (CPP) designation is set to become the must-have achievement for packaging professionals, thanks to a new partnership announced by the Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) and the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP).
2015 APPMA Industry Excellence Awards winners announced
26 March, 2015The winners of the 2015 APPMA Industry Excellence Awards were announced to a crowd of 380 at the Crown Towers on 25 March. The biennial awards are designed to recognise innovative and outstanding packaging and processing solutions.
Additives don't help plastics biodegrade
25 March, 2015Several additives that claim to break down polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene are ineffective in landfill and composting, a new study has found.
Messages in a 'smart bottle'
26 February, 2015A collaboration between Diageo and Thin Film Electronics, the connected smart bottle aims to enhance the consumer experience by using printed sensor tags that can detect both the sealed and opened state of each bottle.
Biodegradable wood-fibre bottle in development
02 February, 2015Carlsberg, the Technical University of Denmark and packaging company ecoXpac have announced plans to develop the world's first fully biodegradable wood-fibre bottle for beverages.
Nanotech mango boxes to reduce post-harvest fruit losses
02 February, 2015Mangoes: much-loved by consumers, but so difficult to transport. An international team of researchers has developed special packaging that will help ensure mangoes reach their destination in prime condition.
2013 BPA study has gone to the dogs: oral exposure doesn't increase BPA levels
29 January, 2015Oral exposure to BPA does not lead to higher than expected levels of BPA in the blood, a new study has shown. This counters a 2013 study which found that placing concentrated BPA solutions under dogs' tongues led to higher levels of an active form of BPA in the blood.
Guide to food packaging security
15 January, 2015 by Pierre Pienaar FAIP*Packaging security is critical to food, keeping food fresh as well as safe to eat. Packaging security encompasses everything from consumer tampering to bioterrorism to product counterfeiting.
Could bisphenol S be more harmful than bisphenol A?
13 January, 2015Bisphenol S (BPS), which is often used to replace bisphenol A (BPA) in consumer plastics, may in fact be more harmful than BPA itself, new research suggests.
Cardia secures seven new patents
07 January, 2015Cardia Bioplastics secured seven new patents in 2014 for its Cardia Compostable, Biohybrid and PPC-starch resin and finished products from Patent and Trademark Offices in Japan, Australia, New Zealand and China.
Kitchen pests chomp through plastic waste
08 December, 2014The larvae from the Plodia interpunctella, otherwise known as pantry moths or Indianmeal moths, have gut bacteria that can degrade polyethylene, the most common plastic.
Economical, eco-friendly polystyrene alternative in development
05 December, 2014The VTT Technical Research Centre in Finland is working to develop an affordable and environmentally friendly alternative for polystyrene from PLA (polylactide) bioplastic, which is derived from organic sources.
Bioplastics production capacities to grow by more than 400% by 2018
05 December, 2014Global bioplastics products capacities are predicted to grow by more than 400% by 2018, according to François de Bie, the chairman of European Bioplastics.
New active packaging makes shelf life longer and more accurate
04 December, 2014Researchers have developed an active packaging that protects perishables with a layered plastic that not only keeps out oxygen and moisture but also extends the shelf life of foods by absorbing oxygen that may be present in packaging.
A sustainable, recyclable alternative to waxed cardboard
10 November, 2014Waxed cardboard is not the most sustainable of materials: the coating is petrochemical based and it renders the cardboard unrecyclable. However, a new waterproof coating that is both recyclable and renewable could soon be on the market.
