The new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which entered into force on 12 August, can become an opportunity for innovation in the fruit and vegetable sector, striking the right balance between the circular economy, product preservation and production efficiency. This is the vision of Sorma Group as the new European regulation on packaging and packaging waste begins to be implemented.
As a technical partner of reference in post-harvest processing and packaging, Sorma Group is ready to support producers and large-scale retailers in the transition to the new rules, with packaging and labelling materials and technologies that comply with legal requirements while also adding value to the market.
“PPWR represents a challenge, but also an important opportunity to rethink packaging, optimise processes, reduce waste and differentiate in the market,” explains Silvia Albanese, marketing specialist at Sorma Group. “Our role is to work with our partners to identify concrete solutions that promote the circular economy without sacrificing productivity, packaging quality, product enhancement or shelf life.”
Materials and technologies aligned with PPWR
For several years, the group has been investing in solutions that are in line with the objectives of European packaging legislation, particularly in the areas of mono-material packaging, packaging weight reduction and sustainable materials.
One of the most recent examples of innovation is Sorma Clipless, presented at the latest edition of Fruit Logistica. This mesh pack is made from HDPE2 polymer, both in its structure and in its label, and contains no staples. Using a single material encourages more responsible behaviour from the end consumer, allowing the entire pack to be disposed of as plastic without the need to separate its components.
Clipless also combines sustainability with improved performance, streamlining the packing process and ensuring greater strength compared with traditional mesh packs.
RELATED NEWS: The sector warns of the impact of the PPWR and calls for clear rules
Sorma Group’s Research and Development department also works continuously on packaging engineering to reduce packaging weight and volume while maintaining effectiveness. One example is the work carried out on the Vertbag net, where weight has been gradually reduced from the initial 70-80 g/m² to the current 40 g/m², while film thickness has fallen from 70 to around 45 microns.
Material research is another key area, through the progressive expansion of cellulosic materials and recyclable plastics for nets and films. These materials are selected to improve sustainability without compromising the performance required during packing, transport and shelf display.
Sorma Group already offers a wide range of solutions developed according to these principles. Its Research and Development department continues to work on materials and configurations capable of further increasing packaging sustainability, while maintaining high standards of performance and reliability.
A challenge that goes beyond simple technologies
For fruit and vegetable producers, the challenge is not only to find the right packaging, but also to comply with the regulation in terms of production, organisation and bureaucracy. In these areas, Sorma Group’s unique capabilities enable the company to offer comprehensive and integrated support.
A first issue concerns the cost of adapting production lines to meet the packaging requirements of the new regulation. In its innovations, Sorma focuses on the compatibility of new packaging with existing machinery, a practice that allows its partners to manage investments in innovation efficiently. Backward compatibility is a key design objective, as it enables a gradual and economically sustainable transition, making use of existing investments and limiting the environmental impact of replacing lines.
Bureaucratic requirements also have a significant impact on company organisation, as they require businesses to generate new technical documentation and declarations of conformity. As an integrated technical partner —with a service covering machinery, packaging and labelling— Sorma acts as a single point of contact for gathering this material, simplifying the work of fruit and vegetable producers.
In an increasingly complex regulatory environment, understanding the entire packaging process allows companies to comply more quickly with the new rules, reducing the risk of errors and meeting regulatory and market requirements with greater confidence.
