Mondi handles Diamant’s packaging needs with recyclable paper solution

Mondi has teamed up with German bike manufacturer Diamant to wrap and protect its branded mountain and trekking bikes.
Diamant is replacing its plastic bubble wrap around bike handlebars with Mondi’s pre-made paper Protector Bags.
The new system will protect bikes during transportation and reduce Diamant’s plastic packaging by around 85% per year.

Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, has entered the bike packaging market with its Protector Bags, providing a new sustainable solution for Diamant to replace plastic wrapping used around the handlebars of its Trek and Diamant brands.

Germany’s oldest bike manufacturer will now use Mondi’s recyclable Protector Bags that are made from renewable materials. The change means that Diamant will reduce its plastic use by 16 tonnes every year – around 85% of its previous consumption – as well as saving costs in logistics and transportation.

The pre-made paper bags do not require additional wrapping or taping, as they are ready to use with a tailored closure strip developed specifically for the bicycle industry. Created from two plies of paper, Mondi’s Protector Bags are strong and flexible, making them highly puncture-proof – and they protect the bikes during storage and transport with a softer interior glaze that is friction-resistant. Due to the air permeability of paper, the bags are also breathable. Additionally, handlebar grips made of rubber can emit moisture or gas that can evaporate easily with this new packaging.

Storage and transportation costs have been significantly reduced: the Protector Bags are delivered flat, meaning more can be carried on a pallet, providing a more cost-efficient stacking compared to plastic bubble wrap reels that transport excess air. In addition, Mondi produces the paper bags at its Trebsen plant in Germany, which is only an hour from Diamant’s factory, compared to the previous bubble wrap alternative, which was sourced abroad.

Geoffrey Ziegahn, Senior Engineer, Diamant, says: “Our development team worked very closely with Mondi to create these uniquely tailored bags, which will provide increased protection for the handlebars of all mountain and trekking bikes of our brands Trek and Diamant during transportation. This is a major step towards our sustainability goals: we aim to only use recyclable packaging by the end of this year and replace all plastic and bubble wrap with paper-based solutions. Mondi’s careful and thorough approach to the challenge has demonstrated how we can achieve this – we are saving transportation costs, storage space and are contributing to a better world by making this big change.”

Nadja Nickel, Sales Manager Protector Bags, Mondi adds: “This is a fantastic example of how our EcoSolutions approach can work for customers in a wide range of industries, and we are delighted to make our first foray into bike packaging with our Protector Bags. Diamant’s bikes need to be protected from scratches during transport. While the previous plastic bubble wrap protected the product, Diamant was looking for packaging made from paper. By going onto the factory floor and assessing all areas of manufacturing, storage and transportation, we were able to develop a bespoke version of our existing Protector Bags, which are easily sealed on site, provide all the protection needed, save the customer money and help them achieve their sustainability goals.”

Mondi’s Protector Bags are made from renewable resources, responsibly sourced and are created from two layers of durable kraft paper. They are flexible, cost-efficient and completely recyclable, and can be disposed of safely in existing waste streams throughout Europe.

Polymertal and UBQ Materials Partner to Create Lightweight, Sustainable Material With Metallic Functionalities

UBQ Materials, climate tech developer of advanced materials made from unsorted household waste, announced today that it is partnering with Polymertal, which develops cutting-edge metal plating processes for the creation of cost-effective metal-polymer parts. Through this partnership, Polymertal is releasing SPP-50XX, a new sustainable material with metallic properties that contains UBQ™, a substitute for durable plastics converted entirely from unsorted household waste, including all organics. The inclusion of UBQ™ in SPP-50XX’s base substrate enables this material to achieve a lower carbon footprint – as compared to aluminum, a favored lightweight metal, bringing roughly a 50% reduction in CO2e emissions, as verified by World Watchers.

A key challenge for sustainable materials in competing with lightweight metals like aluminum is to achieve the necessary toughness, thermal resistance andelectromagnetic shielding, features essential to applications across automotive, industrial and consumer product manufacturing.

Polymertal’s SPP-50XX will comprise 20% UBQ™ and 80% polypropylene. On top of this substrate, a layer of copper and nickel of varying thicknesses will serve as the metal plating. Surfacing a polymer substrate with a lean metal plating allows SPP-50XX to remain lightweight and exhibit key metallic properties, including durability, stiffness, heat resistance and electromagnetic shielding.

“We are proud to launch our sustainable materials series, the S series, including SPP-50XX and its climate-friendly thermoplastic, UBQ™,” said Ran Carmeli, CEO of Polymertal. “Countless applications require materials that are lightweight, withstand high-temperature environments, and are thermally and electrically conductive. SPP-50XX exhibits all these features, and the presence of UBQ™ brings sustainability earlier in the supply chain, making it even easier for manufacturers to reduce the overall carbon footprint of their end products.”

“UBQ™️ can be combined with metals to create carbon-reduced products with important metallic properties for functional applications in tough environments,” said Albert Douer, Chairman and Co-CEO of UBQ Materials. “Through work with Polymertal, our novel material is helping manufacturers create products that are socially, environmentally and economically sustainable.”

Crescent Garden Introduces Planters Made with Waste-Based UBQ to Consumer Markets

UBQ Materials, climate tech developer of advanced materials, announced today that its novel bio-based thermoplastic is being incorporated into a new range of planters made by Crescent Garden, a premier provider of gardening containers and self-watering solutions.

The new range of planters with UBQ™, dubbed Crescent Too O+, are the first and only planters to contain the climate-positive material, and will be available to consumers and commercial gardeners. This is an important breakthrough for those in the horticulture field, where decisions are increasingly focused on what is good for the planet, in addition to what is beneficial in the garden.

“As a company focused on gardening and cultivating a healthier, sustainable environment, we have a deep understanding of why climate change needs to be addressed – and it starts with us, the producer,” said Harry Tchira, President of Crescent Garden. “Through our partnership with UBQ Materials, Crescent Garden is transforming sustainability in both the home and garden spaces with our plant-positive containers that also offer a positive impact on the world.”

A seamless substitute to oil-based plastics, UBQ™ is converted entirely from unsorted municipal solid waste, including organics such as garden trimmings, soiled cardboard, and food waste, that would have otherwise been directed to landfills. UBQ™ has already been adopted by leading industry enterprises and is used for manufacturing durable products with reduced or even positive environmental footprints.

This collaboration’s aim is to introduce more planet-positive variety to Crescent Garden’s containers without inhibiting beauty, function or value. The first styles to launch with UBQ™ inside are the Emma line and TruDrop container inserts, best-sellers that present opportunity for high-volume and high visibility within the portfolio.

The Crescent Too O+ planters will be launched at GAFA in Cologne, Germany, which is taking place from June 19 to June 21, and will be showcasing the UBQ products in its booth, Hall 10.1; Stand #F050 G051

Etilab Responds to Demands For Faster Delivery and Special Embellishments With Xeikon

With an upgraded dry toner press combined with the investment in a new advanced finishing line and color control software, the Polish printer can now offer shorter lead times of best quality labels

A manufacturer of highly processed labels, Etilab Sp. z o.o. specializes in digital printing technology centered around a Xeikon 3300 label press. The company recently took advantage
of the option to double the print speed of their Xeikon 3030, as volumes were growing fast, and more capacity was needed at the production facility in Żory. A new DC350 advanced finishing line has also been installed, giving Etilab larger scope for producing highly embellished digital labels.

Established in 2003, Etilab has invested significantly in organizational, production, and technological advances over the years to offer best-in-class self-adhesive labels to a wide range of customers, ranging from smaller local companies to global corporations from the construction, FMCG, and cosmetics industries in Poland and Germany. The company combines a personal approach and readiness to take on new technological challenges with a high degree of flexibility. Great emphasis is also placed on expanding the product offering with innovative solutions that meet current trends and market needs.

“Being a small company, we can respond dynamically to our clients’ needs and wishes,” said Sylwia Dudek, President of the Management Board. “We invest in great solutions to improve quality and productivity, while maintaining comfort and safety at work. The first Xeikon press we bought four years ago helped us enter the market with technologically advanced labels, printed on metallized film. The additional digital white color further allowed us to achieve interesting tonal effects, such as gold or partly shimmering graphic elements.”

The Xeikon 3300 digital press offers a resolution of 1200 dpi using dry toner electrophotography to print in five colors – typically CMYK + white – however the colors are interchangeable so there is the option to print orange, green, or special colors. The press can print on standard raw materials without primer, and due to the full rotation image transfer, there is no limit on the repeat length, giving Etilab’s customers more flexibility and freedom when creating impositions and gaps between labels. Companies that are just starting their adventure with label printing and have purchased even a basic model, have the option to increase the speed or printing width at a later stage. Etilab took full advantage of this option to double the printing speed of its first Xeikon press.

For food applications, it is important to note that Xeikon dry toners comply with the largest number of standards, including EU Reg. 1935/2004, Swiss Ordinance, and Nestlé Guidelines, and has FDA approval in the US. They are also environmentally friendly due to the absence of odors, VOCs and solvent emissions; and lightfast.

Michał Kuczkowski, Sales Manager at Xeikon, commented, “Etilab provides its customers with products that 3300 is perfect for this purpose and also allows the use of structured raw materials, such as those that are popular in the wine and spirits segment.”

As part of the expansion, Etilab has invested in the Xeikon Colour Services Pro 2.0 software suite to ensure
color predictability and repeatability. This Cloud-based solution delivers automatic color control on the fly by using a built-in spectrophotometer and generating reports after printing to maximize predictability, repeatability, and profitability. The XCS Pro software enables Etilab to guarantee accurate brand colors, save on waste during production, and eliminate the risk of jobs being rejected due to color variations.

Dow’s Recyclable packaging solution is certified to reduce 35% life cycle carbon emissions

Dow’s recyclable packaging solution, enabled by INNATETM TF Polyethylene Resins for Tenter Frame Biaxial Orientation (TF-BOPE), is now officially certified in China to reduce carbon emissions by 35 percent compared to traditional unrecyclable packaging materials, supporting brand owners in achieving their carbon reduction goals.

TÜV Rheinland, a leading global testing service provider, has certified that the all-PE recyclable packaging created with Dow’s INNATETM TF-BOPE emits 0.0194 kg carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e)during its lifecycle, while traditional stand-up pouch packaging made with polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) composite materials emits 0.0297 kg CO2e.

The verification and validation process included site visits to Fujian Kaida, the packaging manufacturer in China, and Luhai, a Chinese integrated waste management company, as well as product document reviews and interviews with operational, technical and EH&S subject matter experts from Kaida and Luhai to calculate carbon emissions of this recyclable packaging from cradle to grave.

“This certification is testament to the value of Dow’s recyclable packaging solutions in supporting customers to achieve their carbon reduction goals,” said Bambang Candra, Asia Pacific Commercial Vice President of Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics. “Adopting recyclable packaging is a step in the right direction to advance a sustainable future, and we strive to continue working closely with our partners to promote the circular economy for plastics.”

This recyclable packaging solution has been adopted by Liby for the laundry pods. By replacing all its unrecyclable flexible packaging with Dow’s recyclable packaging solution by 2025, Liby estimates that 4 million kg CO2e can be saved every year.

Indian Plastics Federation presents India’s leading and Eastern India’s largest International Plastics Exhibition” INDPLAS’22” in Kolkata.

Eastern India to be the next hub of growth for plastics industry be a part of the growth by exhibiting and visiting the largest plastics show in Eastern India “IndPlas 2022, Kolkata

Expand your Horizon to Eastern India where the next growth is be a part of “IndPlas 2022, Kolkata

Indian Plastics Federation Announced its 9 th Edition of IndPlas 2022 in person after Covid 19, the largest plastics show in Eastern India at Kolkata

Indian Plastics Federation (IPF), is one of the oldest plastics industry body in India, today. Indplas’22 – the largest sector-specific business-to-business (B2B) international exhibition in the eastern region. INDPLAS’22 is the 9 th edition of “INDPLAS” series of International Exhibition on plastics that will bring entire plastics industry under one roof and is being planned on a BIGGER, BETTER AND CONVENIENT VENUE.

The plastics industry in eastern India is growing at the rate of 9.3% per annum as against 14.8% of India. This shows the tremendous growth potential in eastern region especially West Bengal, the eastern Indian states of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Assam mark the entry of potential markets for growth of plastic Industry of India. The per capita consumption of eastern Region is 3.2 kg versus national average of per capita consumption of 9.1 Kg. said said Mr. Pradip Nayyar, Chairman, IndPlas 2022

To support the growth opportunities in plastic industry in eastern India, Indian Plastics Federation (IPF) is organising it’s triennial exhibition “IndPlas’22” in Kolkata from 25 th November – 28 th November 2022. The Exhibition will be held at the new built Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan which is situated in the heart of the city adjacent to ITC Royal Bengal Hotel with world class facilities with a covered area of 2.00 lac sq. feet and host of other business facilities including ample power, multistoried car parking, food courts, conference halls and a well-equipped business centre. The ground will be a paradise for both visitors and exhibitors,

“The region will also have strategic advantages in the near future as both upstream and downstream is coming up in the region coupled with lower labour cost and investor-friendly approach by most state governments of the region. The Assam Gas Cracker Project and Brahmaputra Cracker & Polymer Limited would prove to be the potential game-changers and in shifting the focus of plastic industry to eastern states of India and become the hub for future growth, said Mr. Sisir Jalan, President, Indian Plastics Federation

The pandemic is almost over and the economy is ready to bounce back. Our honourable Prime Minister has already set the target of USD 5 trillion economy by 2025. The industry is
ready to transform itself to Industry 4.0 through automation and digitalisation. This is the time to EXPAND YOUR HORIZON.

The exhibitions are boosters to the economy. India is the third largest global market for the plastics. The surging economy and supportive government policies have made India a
polymer super power, but the best is yet to come and we are here to unravel the opportunities and capitalise on them.

The exhibition is supported by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, New Delhi, West Bengal Industrial Development Corp. Ltd, Assocham, Plastindia Foundation and all major
plastics associations of India.

The polymer industry has taken giant stride forward in spite of the pandemic. Common perceptions on plastics have now changed. PPE kit, disposable masks, syringes for vaccination, etc. have all helped humanity in these testing times. Consumer behavior also has changed in general. We now need to accelerate and make up for the lost opportunity and cater to the wants of the consumers.

Eastern India as a market is in fact outpacing the rest of the country in terms of growth of the polymer industry. To add, the consumption pattern is witnessing a very rapid change. We, thus, envisage a very healthy 12% CAGR for polymers in the coming years, a significant opportunity for the industry. To be specific, the woven and non-woven fabric, toys and pipe industry are poised for a stellar performance in this part of the country.

INDPLAS’22 will present an opportunity to interact with current and potential entrepreneurs who wish to enter the plastic industry. It also offers one the chance to understand the policies and focus area of the local government. It provides an ideal platform to plan their marketing strategy for this region.

Industry 4.0 standards, new polymer manufacturing technologies, polymer recycling and the upcoming government initiatives will be the focus area that one would witness at INDPLAS’22.

DSM Engineering Materials launches 100% bio-based Stanyl with halved carbon footprint and same high performance to empower customer sustainability

DSM Engineering Materials announces the launch of a new, more sustainable version of its flagship product Stanyl: Stanyl B-MB (Bio-based Mass Balanced), with up to 100% bio-based content. Using the maximum possible levels of biomass-waste feedstock, it enables DSM Engineering Materials to halve the carbon footprint of this product line and, in turn, of the Stanyl® B-MB-based products of its customers. This industry-first launch of a 100% bio-based high-temperature polyamide underlines the business’s ongoing commitment to helping customers fulfil their sustainability ambitions by making planet-positive choices and supporting the transition to a circular and bio-based economy.

DSM Engineering Materials announces the launch of a new, more sustainable version of its flagship product Stanyl®: Stanyl® B-MB (Bio-based Mass Balanced), with up to 100% bio-based content. Using the maximum possible levels of biomass-waste feedstock, it enables DSM Engineering Materials to halve the carbon footprint of this product line and, in turn, of the Stanyl® B-MB-based products of its customers. This industry-first launch of a 100% bio-based high-temperature polyamide underlines the business’s ongoing commitment to helping customers fulfil their sustainability ambitions by making planet-positive choices and supporting the transition to a circular and bio-based economy.

Global production of bio-based products roughly doubled between 2015 and 2020, but to conserve the planet’s natural resources and stay below the critical 1.5 degrees of global warming, the materials industry urgently needs to accelerate the shift to sustainable feedstocks. Seeing this need, DSM Engineering Materials has committed to providing bio- and/or recycled-based alternatives for its entire portfolio by 2030.

Stanyl B-MB – now available with up to 100% bio-based content – is a fully ISCC+-certified mass-balancing solution, and delivers exactly the same characteristics, performance, and quality as conventional Stanyl. In addition, production of Stanyl B-MB now generates a carbon footprint up to 50% lower than the fossil-based original. In practice, this means a 3.3-ton CO2 reduction per ton produced – equivalent to charging 420,000 smartphones. Not only does this industry first further support the ‘Sustainable sourcing’ pillar of DSM Engineering Materials’ SimplyCircular™ initiative, but it also raises the bar for biomass-balanced solutions in the industry. DSM Engineering Materials therefore continues to lead the way on driving carbon-footprint reductions and boosting customers’ environmental success.

Roeland Polet, President DSM Engineering Materials: “With both consumers and regulators demanding more sustainable materials, the launch of 100% bio-based Stanyl B-MB is an important step forward for our industry. We are fully committed to developing sustainably sourced products with a reduced environmental impact. With the same specifications and performance but with a 50% lower carbon footprint, this new portfolio will enable our customers to fulfil their sustainability goals and contribute to a planet-positive future – so what they design today, we can all value tomorrow.”

Stanyl B-MB continues Stanyls 30-year legacy of meeting customers’ most stringent performance requirements. The only aliphatic polyamide in its class, Stanyl redefined polyamides when it was introduced, and is still the most widely used high-temperature polyamide today. Its excellent high-temperature mechanics, superior flow and processing, and distinguished wear and friction resistance make it ideal for high-temperature applications in automotive, electronics, electrical, and consumer goods industries, such as USB connectors, automotive and industrial actuator gears, powertrain timing chains, bearing cages, and food contact conveyors.