Sirane prepares for new markets and applications

In reviewing the future of the packaging industry, Simon Balderson of Sirane sees a busy time ahead, with the development of new techniques and heightened show activity in the US, London and Paris

The UK's premier packaging solutions company, Sirane, is set for a busy few weeks this autumn; exhibiting in Chicago, USA, at the end of this month; leading the food packaging debate at the Packaging News London seminar on November 21 and at the same time taking part in the 2nd European Bioplastics conference in Paris.

'We are extremely busy all across the board,' says Sirane director Simon Balderson, 'and our role in explaining and developing new packaging techniques for new needs is in demand.

Enquiries and interest in the USA, for example, are such that when we exhibit in late October we will be investigating the setting up of a Sirane US manufacturing site, to service the US demand'.

Meantime for Europe, new Sirane sales and distribution agents have been established in France, Poland, Ireland and other countries: key new staff have been appointed to the Sirane HQ management team in Telford.

Since its foundation in 2003, the Sirane turnover has more than doubled through every year to a current figure of GBP7million, and Sirane now employ more than 90 people in the company.

This exceptional growth is based upon a continuous programme of innovation at the company and an in-depth understanding of what the packaging market needs.

Simon Balderson sees the current packaging business - at least in the UK - as being significantly affected by the environmental initiatives of the major retailers.

He notes that 'these are all similar, elegantly described by M+S as 'Reduce, re-use and recycle'.

Recycling means recycling back into the process stream as well as recycling back to nature (composting).

Reduction means less material and less packaging.

From a flexible packaging viewpoint, this would mean down-gauging.

However, flexible film manufacturers have been down-gauging for years to reduce cost and we are not going to see a sudden acceleration of this trend just because there is a new market driver.

This trend cannot go faster than the material and process technology allows'.

Balderson add that 'a more important outcome of the need to reduce packaging weight is to move from one type of packaging to another.

In this respect, the flexible packaging market is likely to benefit.

Moves away from cartons, trays, glass, metal and other package types into thin flexible plastics is a good way to reduce packaging weight.

We await to see whether this is going to be acceptable from the consumer viewpoint.

For example, selling meat in a vacuum bag rather than a lidded tray might save some packaging.

However, it does not look as good and the quality perception can be lower.

Rather more likely is growth in high quality stand-up pouches and new innovation in flexible packaging solutions to maintain the visual and quality appearance while minimising pack weight'.

Balderson also believes that 'the current need to recycle will dictate the types of material that can be used: 'There is already a good waste recycling stream for polyester and that for polyolefins is making progress.

There is not going to be a post consumer recycling stream for polystyrene, PVC or other polymers.

As such, we would expect to see moves to polyester, polyethylene and polypropylene at the expense of other materials.

For the same reason, we might expect multilayer structures to suffer.

However, there are not many options to replace these at the moment.

Barrier films to maintain shelf life of perishable foods (meat, cheese etc) cannot easily be replaced.

We might see a resurrection of SiOx coated OPP and polyester to meet some of these requirements but there is still an issue of sealability in many cases.

As such, we might see little change here in the short term'.

The new sciences of compostability and biodegradability are opening up new commercial possibilities and Balderson notes that 'we are seeing extensive growth in compostable flexible films.

However, it is from a very low base so volumes are still insignificant.

Even at the rapid growth rates that we are seeing now, it will take some time for these products to register on the radar screen for most companies.

Limits to growth in this area are the cost of the resin and the scarcity of material.

There is no sign of changes in these respects in the short term.

New capacity is coming next year and we would expect to see corresponding growth.

Lack of a composting waste stream in most regions will also limit growth in the early stages'.

In the degradable area Balderson notes that 'degradable films based on polyolefins with additives which break down the polymer are not proving popular.

The fossil fuel source and the fact that they disintegrate rather than compost (this is a definition of the European norm for compostability EN13432) seems to be the problem here'.

Finally, Balderson notes that 'it is important not to overplay the environmental drivers.

Although a lot of noise is made about the environment, most consumers are still looking for shelf appeal, shelf-life, safety, branding and convenience above all.

For this reason, cook-in packaging continues to grow fast along with most convenience food packaging.

There is lots of innovation in this area with packages having additional features allowing cooking and eating from the same package.

Examples include easy-open features, microwave susceptors and absorbency.

The move towards more convenience is also driving more snack food packaging.

And lifestyle changes resulting in smaller units are increasing the volumes in this market.

Sirane will be exhibiting its products and expertise at this year's largest food and beverage exhibition, to be held in Chicago, USA, October 24-27.

Back to top