News

Sharp Interpack has invested £2m in new machinery to produce an improved range of soft fruit punnets that uses less material and more recycled content.

The SP(E) fruit containers are made from R-APET plastic, which contains up to 60% recycled post-consumer waste.

According to the company, the containers are also 87% stronger than its existing SP range, peaking at 172N in compression and load-bearing tests, compared with 92N.

In addition, they have ribbed sides to give rigidity and robustness, without adding to their weight.

"Basically, we're producing stronger punnets using less material," said Mark Tollman, Sharp Interpack's European business manager for produce and bespoke packaging.

At 23g, the punnet and lid are lighter than competing products, meaning less waste is sent to landfill. Every additional gramme of plastic is the equivalent of one tonne of waste going to landfill for every 10 million punnets, the firm said.

Users of the existing SP range include Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons.

"We'll be adding further new ranges in February," added Tollman.

Sharp Interpack, which has sites at Aylesham, Bridgwater and Yate, is also committed to manufacturing in the UK, which reduces the number of lorries on the roads.