SFA Packaging's JOZO NextCycle IML™ shaker wins the Plastics Recycling Awards Europe 2024! Designed to enhance the availability of high-purity rPP, the packaging is awarded "Product Technology Innovation of the Year".

From Partially Recyclable to Fully Recyclable

JOZO’s salt shaker range is a textbook example of continuous packaging improvement. Before 2021, the packaging was a combination of cardboard and aluminum (tube), polyethylene (bottom) and polystyrene (PE/PS cap). Seen the multicomponent construction, the shakers were considered partially recyclable.

Wanting to future-proof its packaging, JOZO turned to SFA with a vision of complete recyclability. The salt tubes were revamped into mono-material PP packaging decorated with IML, which assured recyclability as well as shelf appeal. The all-polypropylene packaging was assessed by RecyClass, the cross-industry initiative that advances plastic packaging circularity in Europe. Based on the October 2022 scoring methodology for white rigid PP packaging, the standard IML-decorated salt tube was classified B!

Upping the Game with NextCycle IML™

But this wasn’t the end point. In February 2023, RecyClass further intensified the DfR (Design for recycling) guidelines and requirements for packaging to be considered recyclable and – ultimately – circular.

“Driven by JOZO’s visionary commitment to sustainable progress and true to our mission of delivering 100% recyclable and circular packaging solution, we wanted to take it one step further to live up to constantly evolving packaging regulations. Together with MCC Verstraete and JOZO we looked at the options for further improvement. We started trials replacing standard IML labels by the NextCycle IML™ technology,” says Alexander Heinsdijk, Business Development and Marketing Manager at SFA Packaging.

Trials that soon showed to be successful in terms of printing quality, processability and, most importantly in this project: recyclability.

“As a next generation solution for sustainable rigid PP packaging, NextCycle IML™ labels are uniquely designed to separate from the container during the mechanical recycling process, while staying securely fastened with no impairment to its adhesive properties during its lifecycle,” says Nico Van de Walle, Product and Circular Economy Manager Global IML at MCC.

The NextCycle IML™ technology allows for the packaging to enter the recycling process without the label. In this case, recycling the JOZO tubes results in white recycled material. It’s the perfect balance between recyclability and shelf appeal,” Nico continues.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Along with a new, user-friendly dosage cap, JOZO’s new salt shaker tubes have been upgraded with NextCycle IML™ labels
• The NextCycle IML™ technology assures the IML packaging contributes to the plastic recycling process, resulting in high-purity rPP
• JOZO and SFA are pioneers in the IML landscape by embracing NextCycle IML™