The packaging industry continues to come up with innovative ways to fill customers’ packaging needs, whether it’s a produce traceability solution from Yakima, Wash.-based Kwik Lok Corp., plastic-free bags from Fresno, Calif.-based Giró Pack Inc. or ways to sustainably transport liquid products from Alpharetta, Ga.-based CHEP U.S.
The Food Safety Modernization Act is top of mind at Kwik Lok Corp.
“Kwik Lok is leading the way in preparing for FSMA regulations,” said Karen Reed, global director of marketing and communications.
FSMA requires tracking and tracing from the packinghouse to the POS for produce items such as leafy greens, herbs, fruit and tomatoes, Reed said.
“Kwik Lok goes a step further, extending this traceability all the way to the consumer’s home,” she said. “Kwik Lok’s innovative solution delivers superior traceability by providing detailed track and trace information from the lot level down to the item level.”
The company ensures comprehensive tracing across the entire supply chain through its solutions and partnerships, she said.
Kwik Lok will demonstrate its latest technology at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce and Floral Show in October in Atlanta.
Giró Pack Inc. offers a selection of mesh bag solutions ranging from optimized plastic to plastic-free alternatives under the Ecogiró brand, said Asya Asenova, retail and key account manager.
“The optimized plastic range eliminates any excess plastic in the bags to minimize environmental impact,” Asenova said. “Plastic material is much lighter and stronger than other materials like paper or cardboard.”
Plastic also has a much lower carbon footprint than similar bags made from alternative materials, she said.
“In addition to minimizing thicknesses and widths of materials used, Giró favors making the entire bag from a single type of plastic to facilitate recycling,” Asenova said.
With recycling in mind, the company developed GirClip, a plastic clip that replaces the metal clip to create a mesh bag with a single component: polyethylene.
In the plastic-free category, Giró Pack offers a complete range of bags made from cellulose that can easily biodegrade and comes from renewable sources, she said.
“Giró’s cellulose mesh, called Gircel, is obtained from wood pulp certified by the Forest Stewardship Council to ensure sustainable forest management,” Asenova said.
The company has plastic net bags with either a metal clip or a plastic clip and thermally glued bags from both plastic and cellulose.
CHEP U.S. works with its customers to come up with innovative solutions to their unique business needs, said Drew Merrill, senior vice president of sales, marketing and customer experience. But the 48-by-40 wood block pooled pallet and CHEP Pallecon intermediate bulk containers are a couple of its core product offerings in the U.S.
“Recognized by many manufacturers and retailers by its blue color, the CHEP pallet is designed to evenly distribute loads to reduce product damage, provide load stability up to 2,800 pounds and improve handling with four-way entry and free span racking — all while reducing environmental impact through 100% sustainably sourced timber and CHEP’s circular business model,” Merrill said.
CHEP’s Pallecon provides manufacturers with a safe and sustainable way to transport their liquid products, he said.
CHEP’s solutions aren’t limited to its familiar pallets, crates and containers, though.
Merrill said the company is receiving increased interest in automation “to integrate pallets and containers more seamlessly and increase throughput.”
“Through transportation collaboration, one of our total supply chain solutions, we are able to deliver increased revenue and cost savings to customers, while shrinking their carbon footprint,” he said.
CHEP also continues to explore new digital solutions with its customers “using data to drive the smart movement of goods and setting the groundwork for the future of the supply network,” he said.
CHEP is working to “elevate the packaging industry’s role in the supply network from a traditional supplier position to a collaborative, well-connected partner that can drive efficiency and innovation at scale,” Merrill said.
