Today, sustainability is at the core of many companies’ strategies, especially in the food sector. Consumers are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of the products they buy, prompting manufacturers to look for greener and more innovative solutions.
However, when it comes to food packaging, the issue becomes more complex. It is not enough to choose new environmentally friendly materials; it is crucial to find the right balance between sustainability, safety and food preservation.
In recent years, the use of paper as a packaging material has grown significantly, driven by increased environmental awareness among consumers and increasingly stringent regulations that incentivise the adoption of more sustainable solutions. However, the transition is not without its challenges, especially when comparing the properties of paper with those of plastic.
Paper vs plastic: the technical challenges in food packaging
Despite its widespread use, paper is not the universal solution. This is because in secondary packaging, it performs well, but when it comes to directly protecting food, challenges arise.
First of all, paper does not provide the same level of protection from external agents as plastic does, particularly for foods with a high moisture content or animal fats, forcing many companies to combine paper with plastics or aluminium. This compromise makes the packaging less recyclable and often defeats the sustainability goal that is being sought.
However, there are also paper films with a barrier layer that are recyclable as a monomaterial. These, however, have severe limitations in terms of protection, being suitable only for products with specific characteristics and a very low level of residual moisture.
The problem then is clear: it is not just about sustainability, but about ensuring food safety. Packaging must ensure that the product reaches the end consumer intact and safe. Pushing ‘green’ solutions such as paper in packaging might seem like the right choice, but if this involves adding plastic barriers or aluminium, it risks making the packaging less recyclable and increasing costs without achieving real environmental benefits.
The evolution of packaging machines for sustainable production
With the increasing use of environmentally friendly alternatives such as paper or single-material plastics, but with thicknesses that are becoming increasingly thinner, packaging machines must also evolve to adapt to these new materials, which have very different physical characteristics to plastic.
Traditional packaging lines, designed to work mainly with plastics, need to be rethought to handle sustainable materials efficiently, without compromising packaging speed or accuracy. This requires careful adjustment of the machines to ensure an efficient production process.
At MH Material Handling, we offer targeted solutions to help companies optimise their production lines, integrating processes with sustainable material innovations, without sacrificing efficiency and precision. However, the introduction of environmentally friendly materials also requires specific attention to the handling of products along the packaging line.
For example, in order to guarantee an optimal production flow with reduced packaging, it is essential to limit contact with the side guides as much as possible. In some cases, the use of high-friction chains or belts can be the ideal solution to keep products stable on the conveyors. When direct handling is required, it is preferable to activate and move products from below, thus reducing the risk of jamming and maintaining smooth operation.
But at MH Material Handling we are also firm on one central point: although sustainability is a priority objective, food safety must remain first. There is no point demonising plastic or adopting ‘greenwashing’ solutions that push paper into packaging if this involves the use of plastic barriers or layers of aluminium that reduce the recyclability of packaging. True sustainability implies finding solutions that balance environmental friendliness and safety while ensuring product integrity and production efficiency.
As a concrete example, Saniflex is one of our solutions – developed for the transport of naked products – that meets the most stringent food safety guidelines. Saniflex arose from the need to respond to special situations requiring the reduction of bacterial load in production and packaging lines.
Saniflex is characterised by the following features:
- Fully washable structure, designed to be free of hard-to-reach areas during cleaning.
- Easy disassembly without tools, allowing the operator to quickly remove components requiring more thorough sanitisation.
- Use of materials that are resistant to frequent washing with aggressive chemicals, which is essential to ensure the reduction of the bacterial load.
- Stainless steel structure to ensure maximum resistance to intensive washing.
- Materials certified for direct food contact and cavity-free components to facilitate the sanitisation process.
- Covered threads and spacers with gaskets, designed to simplify washing.
Saniflex is designed to make sanitising quick and easy, minimising downtime by allowing components to be disassembled and reassembled without tools. This solution is particularly suitable for keeping the organoleptic characteristics of food intact, effectively meeting today’s food safety and hygiene requirements.
Saniflex is just one of the many solutions that MH Material Handling provides to meet the challenges of the food packaging industry. We also offer elevation systems to optimise space, sorting systems to handle the most complex lines, and accumulation systems designed to maximise production efficiency.
In order to support companies towards a truly sustainable transition, MH Material Handling offers the ‘MH Solution Scan’: a comprehensive analysis of packaging lines, designed to identify areas for improvement and suggest tailor-made solutions. With this tool, companies can increase sustainability without compromising safety or operational efficiency, making their production lines ready to face the challenges of the future.
Co-Owner M.H. Material Handling Spa – For almost twenty years he has been working in the field of product handling during packaging, supporting companies that want to optimize the entire line. Always up-to-date on industry innovations and new materials, he makes his experience available to clients with the ultimate goal of eliminating interruptions and inefficiencies in the packaging process. Voracious reader, overnight writer and content creator.
