In the packaging industry, sustainability is no longer an option, but achieving it inevitably involves additional costs.

Automation can provide a concrete solution: by improving the efficiency of production lines, it helps offset the costs required for sustainability, becoming a strategically.

This, of course, requires taking into account three key variables that determine the success of a project.

Integrating automation systems is not always straightforward: structural constraints and limited space often come into play, requiring creative and innovative solutions.

True success comes from finding the right balance between investment, productivity, and space optimization.

This is why at MH we support our clients with MH Scan Solution: our design approach that starts from the very beginning, considers all variables at play, and guides automation toward the best possible outcome.

Luca Fontana

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.

If you want a system that meets the highest hygiene standards and it is also sustainable, you should know that the initial investment will be significant. But there’s good news for you…

The higher upfront cost of a safe and sustainable packaging line for food products will more than pay off — not only through long-term cost savings, but also thanks to the strong reputational advantage you’ll be able to associate with your brand.

If you’re ready to move towards a more hygienic and sustainable design, don’t hesitate to contact us: request our MH Scan Solution, an in-depth diagnosis to analyze and optimize your packaging line.

Luca Fontana

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.

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.

Luca Fontana

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.

A few months ago at Cibus Tec, the fair dedicated to food and beverage technology, some topics were discussed that are of interest to the various players in the sector at this historical moment.

These themes include:

• Food Safety, characterized by increasingly stringent regulations;
• Environmental Sustainability: a constant commitment for food companies striving to develop effective strategies to reduce their environmental impact.

Over the past two years, the convergence of these issues has driven companies to innovate and introduce new products, often requiring novel packaging solutions. Current results are promising in terms of material reduction, use of environmentally friendly materials and proper disposal methods.

As a result, those of us involved in packaging need to be aware of the new challenges facing the food sector and be able to respond to market needs in a timely manner.

New types of packaging and regulations on food contamination have made our field of research extremely challenging, as in many cases these two aspects are not always easy to reconcile. On the contrary, recent developments in the sector have highlighted how the relationship between food safety and environmental sustainability can also become contradictory.

Consider, for example, the different approaches of EU countries to this issue: Italy is a pioneer in recycling technologies, while the European Union, pushed by the Nordic countries, wants to focus more on reuse, without taking into account that reuse raises a number of important issues related to the contamination of materials.

In addition to these problems, there are also issues that we have always had to deal with, such as optimising factory floor space, making processes more efficient, improving the management of complex lines, and so on.

Well, the issue is complex and therefore the answers to these problems are different. At M.H., we have addressed these issues by presenting a series of innovations at Cibus Tec, the success of which confirms that we are on the right track.

Given the complexity of the issue, our contribution does not end here. In addition to developing new products, we have initiated a book that will focus on current challenges and will be published next year.

M.H.’s Answer: Saniflex

One of the solutions that we have developed to meet these new requirements and that we presented at Cibus Tec is Saniflex.

Saniflex is our standard for the transport of naked products, specially designed to meet the most stringent requirements, and has been created taking into account certain typical situations that occur when there is a need to reduce the bacterial load of the production and packaging line.

First of all, the product handling structure must be completely washable in all its parts; therefore, there must be no areas that are difficult to access for the cleaning system. In addition to an open and accessible structure, the operator carrying out the washing must be able to disassemble the components requiring more thorough sanitisation without the use of tools.

Secondly, the materials that make up the handling systems must “withstand” the frequent washes that are usually carried out with rather aggressive chemical products in order to guarantee the reduction of the bacterial load.

In fact, when a customer expresses this need to us, we pay particular attention to the materials and mechanical components of the product to be proposed: for this reason, many of our conveyor belts can also be manufactured in stainless steel.

All these characteristics influence the technological aspects of the production process: packaging and handling machines must not only fulfil their primary function, but also preserve the organoleptic characteristics of the products.

Taking all this into account, we have created Saniflex, which is characterised by:

• the use of materials certified for direct contact with food;
• cavity-free components to simplify the sanitising process;
• all threads are covered,
• all fasteners and spacers are fitted with gaskets.

In addition, the system is designed to be easily dismantled without the need for tools, in order to simplify and speed up washing and sanitising operations as much as possible.

Saniflex is just one of the solutions proposed by M.H. to meet the current needs of the food packaging sector, but thanks to its thirty years of experience it is able to create any type of connection between packaging machines, including all the product handling accessories to feed the machines properly.

This includes elevators or descent systems to free up floor space and optimise material flow, unitising and sorting systems to handle the most complex lines, and specific accumulation systems to maximise line efficiency.

If you want to optimise your packaging process and would like a free consultation

Luca Fontana

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.