CKF Inc. has launched two operations to help grow the sustainable packaging market.
CKF began extruding its own rPET at its Rexdale, Ontario, facility in December 2022, and west coast production of its Earthcycle line of thermoformed molded pulp began in January 2023 at its plant in Langley, British Columbia, according to a news release. The move amount to a $10 million capital investment, the company said.
Earthcycle services growers, packers, and retail customers with FSC-certified, home compostable and widely recyclable packaging for the fresh fruit and vegetable markets. The west coast Canadian production, combined with the original Earthcycle production facilities located in Hantsport, Nova Scotia, makes CKF the largest global thermoformed pulp manufacturer for the market sector, according to the release.
The company said expanded production on the west coast improves access to Earthcycle for markets in California, the Pacific Northwest and export-oriented growing areas in Latin and South America.
With Canadian retail coalescence around rPET/PET as the top choice for packaging, CKF invested in an extrusion operation to help build the scale and standardization required for a sustainable, circular economy for rPET, according to the release. The extrusion facility supports CKF’s rPET packaging operations in Delta, British Columbia, and the recently acquired Packright Manufacturing Ltd.
“Our capital investments are evidence of the commitments that CKF has towards making packaging — whether it be moulded pulp or rPET — widely recyclable or home compostable and in turn helping our customers meet their sustainability goals,” CKF President Ian Anderson said in the release. “We are well positioned to offer North American and global customers a range of sustainable packaging solutions that meet the needs of their particular performance criteria.”
CKF will be displaying its entire line up of Earthcycle packaging for produce at its booth at the 2023 Fruit Logistica show (Hall 23 Stand A-30/31) in Berlin from Feb. 8-10. The company will also display its range of rPET and Earthcycle packaging solutions at the CPMA 2023 in April.
