Johnny Appleseed Organic has come out with ClimateGard™, a no-kill fertilizer for gardens. ClimateGard was designed for gardeners, small farmers and home gardeners who care about the earth, where their food comes from and want to aid in climate change reversal. Unlike most organic fertilizers, ClimateGard's no-kill formula sources essential micronutrients, humic acid, silica, living bacteria and fungi from ethical, sustainable sources. The fertilizer’s blend of solar-processed poultry manure, fossilized seabird guano, bat guano and sunflower hull ash provides essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, iron and magnesium.

ClimateGard also comes in an organic cotton bag with a compostable inner liner. The company uses pallets made of recycled plastics, which cuts down contribution to the waste stream. Using this product along with practicing Climate Farming, Johnny Appleseed Organic aims to revolutionize the growing of chemical-free food while promoting environmental well-being. The product is available on the company’s website in both 7.5 lb. and 15 lb. bags.

The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE) and its members SIG Combibloc, BillerudKorsnäs, Elopak, Stora Enso and Tetra Pak, have set the industry’s vision for the future: to deliver the most sustainable packaging for resilient food supply systems which is renewable, climate positive and circular.

Through the European platform’s new Roadmap, the industry commits to take action on all parts of the industry value chain, from sustainable sourcing to climate impact and recycling. Increasing the collection and recycling of beverage cartons to reach a 90% collection rate and at least a 70% recycling rate by 2030, and the de-carbonization of the industry’s value chain in line with the 1.5° C aligned science-based targets are included in the 10 commitments.

In line with the vision of ACE members, beverage cartons will be made only from renewable and/or recycled material; fully recyclable and recycled; made entirely from sustainably sourced raw materials; and the packaging solution with the lowest carbon footprint.

Annick Carpentier, director general of ACE, says that the industry has set high standards for the next 10 years. “We look forward to fostering a dialogue with EU decision-makers to ensure that the necessary regulatory conditions are in place to support the industry’s journey towards beverage cartons as the sustainable packaging choice for today and tomorrow.”

Beverage cartons are a recyclable low-carbon packaging solution that protects food and beverages, allowing for safe use and transport while also preventing food waste. With the commitments and targets set in the 2030 Roadmap, the industry will strive for its packaging to continue to actively contribute toward the ambitions of the EU Green Deal, specifically climate neutrality, circularity, biodiversity and resilient food systems, while not compromising the health and safety of consumers.

ACE members will report on the Roadmap’s overall progress on a regular basis and develop, add and adapt metrics should they not currently exist, also in partnership with others. The industry Roadmap is on ACE’s website.

Multivac now offers full-wrap labeling for products such as pizza, tortillas, pita bread and other flat products. The labels can be used with Multivac’s L 310 full-wrap conveyor belt labeler. The flexible model, with its driven, extra-narrow transport conveyors, makes the C labeling and D labeling of packs possible at speeds up to 120 packs per minute. The label width is up to a maximum of 500 mm. The labeler can also be equipped with an integrated printer, as well as a zero downtime function and label/print monitoring for maximum output, efficiency and process reliability at even the highest throughput.

MULTIVAC offers a wide range of label materials and adhesives, so that the packs can be labeled perfectly on the machine. In addition to PP and PET labels, the range includes sustainable materials made of paper or from renewable sources. Due to the light label material, it also contributes to improving the CO₂ balance, since the transport weight of the packs is reduced through the entire supply chain to the consumer.

Calyx Containers, a cannabis packaging company, has come out with solutions that are ecologically responsible and efficient for processing and storing cannabis from seed to sale. These containers are 100% recyclable, sustainable in landfills and reduce overall carbon footprints. Calyx emphasizes innovative manufacturing processes with reductions of waste and increased efficiency. The containers’ plastic begins to break down as soon as it enters biologically active landfills, as opposed to going through a decomposition cycle that would take significantly longer with untreated plastic. The company’s molds are recyclable right down to the cap of the container, allowing for consumers to simply recycle the entire container rather than having to sort and filter, recyclable vs. non-recyclable parts, as is with standard plastic products.

The square cannabis containers fit securely into custom-molded, stackable trays. The tray slots support inventory in transport and form a stable grid of containers for easy unpacking and efficient filling. The result is a much faster processing time that saves companies time, effort and waste. FE