Page 5 - Processing And Packaging News Today

UK-based Ivy Farm, which produces cultivated meat, began as a spin-off from Oxford University. Now, says its new CSO, Dr. Harsh Amin, commercialisation is in sight.

A recent report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an organisation working to develop a circular economy, emphasises the importance of reusable and returnable packaging in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, compared with the use of single-use plastics, when upscaled. However, without this upscaling, some reusable packaging, such as food cupboard packaging, doesn’t reduce GHG emissions.

The European Parliament has voted in favour of banning BPA and ‘forever chemicals’ in food packaging, and MEPs want to eliminate ‘less necessary’ packaging such as very lightweight plastic carrier bags. But the plastic industry is concerned the vote is a ‘missed opportunity’ to incentivise investments in circular plastics packaging.

The quality of non-alcoholic beer is on the up. So too is the number of consumers opting for alcohol-free tipples for different drinking occasions, observes Chr Hansen, who is expanding its offerings for the non-alcoholic brewing industry.

This week in our NPD Trend Tracker, we have new products from Baileys, which is releasing a nut mix for the Christmas period, and Brixton Brewery, which has teamed up with ManiLife to create a peanut stout. Furthermore, Freedom Brewery, Milliways and Quaker Oats all unveil packaging redesigns, and Beyond Meat expands to Romania. Image Source: D-Keine/Getty Images

Among the legislation announced alongside the King’s Speech on Tuesday was a ban on the export of UK livestock for fattening and slaughter. The decision, if it gets through Parliament, will have a keen impact on both animal welfare and animal agriculture in the UK.

Although efforts show progress on plastic pollution is possible, the world is ‘not on course’ to eliminating plastic waste and pollution, stresses the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

Finnish start-up Aircohol is working to decarbonise the alcohol industry by producing drinks from carbon dioxide released during alcohol fermentation. The result? A crop-free liquor with up to 50% reduced carbon footprint.

Austrian start-up inoqo, which uses AI to help grocery retailers and food and beverage brands to reduce the environmental impact of their food supply chains, has announced a tie-up with Norway-based online grocery delivery provider Oda.

Food companies can potentially cut their volumes of waste up to 75% using insect bioconversion, whilst at the same time creating valuable new revenue streams, FoodNavigator hears.