The plastic-free, transparent film biodegrades over a 12-month period
Packaging manufacturer Coveris has revealed a plastic-free sandwich skillet that is more easily recycled within the UK infrastructure.
Coveris is one of the UK’s largest food-to-go packaging suppliers, manufacturing sandwich skillets across its three cartonboard sites in Cambridgeshire for a range of retailers, from supermarkets to foodservice operators.
The skillet uses sustainably sourced materials including a plastic-free, transparent film that biodegrades over a 12-month period, in combination with recyclable cartonboard, resulting in a more environmentally-friendly packaging solution for sandwiches.
With like-for-like shelf life and high clarity film properties, sandwich manufacturers, consumers and retailers will continue to experience the functionality, presentation and product freshness benefits associated with traditional skillets.
According to the British Sandwich & Food-to-Go Association, over 3,500,000,000 sandwiches are purchased from UK retail or catering outlets each year. With many of these eaten on-the-go and recycling and waste infrastructures varying from region to region, the recyclable elements of sandwich packaging that reach the appropriate waste processing channels can be limited.
Gary Rehwinkel, UK president at Coveris, said, ‘Millions of sandwiches are consumed everyday all over the UK with varying and often confusing opportunities for the disposal of packaging. We encourage consumers to recycle Coveris’ plastic-free skillets where possible but in the absence of recycling bins, skillets can be placed in bins for general waste disposal and break down within a year, supporting better sustainability and greater simplicity in the supply chain.’
