Confectionery packaging all wrapped up

Recycled cartonboard and compostable film helped Fair Trade alliance Alce Nero produce a more environmentally-friendly package for its chocolate.

 

When an Italian consortium of organic producers and farmers looked to introduce more environmentally-friendly packaging, it called on Swiss converter Fratelli Roda to provide the answer.

 

Alce Nero, part of Alce Nero Mielizia SpA, and its members share a common ethos for regionality, innovation and the environment. The choice to farm organically has characterized the organization since its inception in 1978. Today, it represents farmers, beekeepers and Fair Trade producers.

 

Its chocolate bars are made with cocoa from plants grown in Costa Rica by partner organization Cooperativas Sin Fronteras, a network of small Fair Trade producers in the South American country. Once harvested, the beans are roasted and made into the finished product by Chocolate Stella of Switzerland’s Chocolate Bernrain Group.

 

Fratelli Roda works extensively with the confectionery market, especially with those supplying chocolate, but also those specialized in the high-quality sweet and savory markets.

 

For the outer packaging of the Alce Nero chocolate bars, Fratelli Roda, which is an FSC-certified operation, used a recycled carton material called GD2, which gives a secondary use to carton waste.

 

To manufacture GD2, Fratelli Roda recycles 99 percent of its carton waste, revaluing it and finding applications for it.

 

The recycled carton was then printed using offset and coupled with a UV varnish suited for food packaging. Embossing was also used on the Alce Nero logo.

 

To meet the requirements of the food sector, Fratelli Roda works within the hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) management system, in which food safety is addressed through the analysis and control of biological, chemical, and physical hazards from raw material production, procurement and handling, to manufacturing, distribution and consumption of the finished product.

 

Luisa Colombo Crivelli, marketing manager at Fratelli Roda said: ‘From a printing point of view, confectionery market players often request packaging with special effects, like embossing, special varnishes, and the use of gold or silver colors to embellish their packaging.

 

‘From a technical point of view the company needs to be certified to print for companies working in the food sector; we follow the HACCP system of control.’

Within the recycled carton outer sleeve, the chocolate is wrapped in Innovia Films’ compostable NatureFlex material to further reduce its environmental footprint.

 

NatureFlex films are certified to meet the American ASTM D6400, European EN13432 and Australian AS4736 standards for compostable packaging. Produced from wood-pulp that is sourced from managed plantations, the bio-based content of NatureFlex films is typically 95 percent by weight of material according to ASTM D6866.

 

NatureFlex films have inherent deadfold and anti-static properties, high-gloss and resistance to grease and oil, good barrier to gases, aromas and mineral oils and a wide heat-seal range, according to Innovia Films.

 

Nicoletta Maffini, marketing manager at Alce Nero, said: ‘We decided to move from standard plastic to a biodegradable and compostable alternative to wrap our chocolate bars.

 

'Metallized NatureFlex from Innovia Films was a perfect fit for us due not only to its environmental attributes but also its excellent barrier properties to keep our organic Fair Trade chocolate in premium condition.’

 

Giorgio Berton, technical services and development specialist at Innovia Films, said: ‘Our metallized NatureFlex film is used to good by Alce Nero as it fits in with their brand image, protects the product and is compostable.’

 

Crivelli added: ‘Everything we produce we try to do in a way that minimizes the negative impact on the environment.’

 

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