Displaying items by tag: packaging

Europe: The European Parliament voted in favour of multiple amendments to the European Commission’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) on 22 November 2023. The amendments remove, modify or make non-binding the PPWR’s 2040 reuse targets. Meanwhile, 2030 targets were made adjustable to recycling rates. Total packaging volumes are still required to drop by 5% by 2030 and by 15% by 2040 in each member state.

Sustainability lobbying organisation Environmental Coalition on Standards (ECOS) described the introduction of recycling rates into a lower schema of waste targets as ‘comparing apples with pears.’ ECOS attributed the amendments to a ‘barrage’ of false claims, scaremongering and lobbying from industry players.

ECOS programme manager Mathias Falkenberg said “This decision will not sufficiently address rising plastic and packaging waste or the pollution crisis. The European Parliament has just weakened a perfectly feasible solution to tackle throwaway culture without offering an alternative. It is very frustrating that the European Commission’s progressive prevention and reuse agenda has not received full support from the Parliament today.”

ECOS founded the Alliance for Low-Carbon Cement & Concrete (ALCCC), an association of companies focused on alternative building materials production, in May 2023.

Mexico: Cooperativa La Cruz Azul subsidiary CYCNA de Oriente has commissioned a 518,000 bag/day paper bag plant next to its 1.1Mt/yr cement plant in Palmar de Bravo, Puebla.

The Reto Diario newspaper has reported that Cooperativa La Cruz Azul chair Victor Manuel Velázquez said that the paper bag plant will help to maximise the group’s impact in the local community.

Germany: Global Cement is attending Interpack 2023 in Düsseldorf. The trade fair for the packaging sector is taking place at the Messe Düsseldorf from 4 – 10 May 2023. It covers packaging materials, packaging machines and related process technology for the food, beverage, confectionery, bakery, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, non-food and industrial goods sectors. Over 2700 exhibitors are present at the event with representation from more than 60 countries.

Europe: Cemex has launched its latest packaging design for its Vertua reduced-CO₂ product range at the Low Carbon World exhibition in Paris, France. The new design incorporates products' scores across five 'sustainability attributes:' emissions reduction, energy efficiency, conservation of water, recycled content and design optimisation. Cemex will now deploy the design across Europe by June 2023.

Cemex's Europe, Middle East and Africa regional president Sergio Menendez said “Cemex is attuned to the need to focus on all aspects that can make a product more sustainable - not just achieving a lower carbon footprint. With the updated classification system for Vertua, customers can now more easily identify which of our products leverage the cutting-edge technology and innovation that will enable them to overcome the challenges they are currently facing in construction and renovation." Menendez concluded "The enhanced Vertua brand represents a more ambitious and stronger approach: from a group of low carbon products to a family of products and solutions that encompass more sustainable attributes and contribute to our company vision of building a better future.”

Tunisia: Les Ciments de Bizerte recorded a full-year consolidated turnover of US$40.1m in 2022, corresponding to a drop of 5.4% year-on-year from 2021 levels. The producer's clinker production fell by 24% year-on-year to 538,000t. African Manager News has reported that the company faced a forced stoppage during the year due to a disruption to its raw materials supply. Meanwhile, its costs increased amid rises in the price of petcoke, electricity, diesel and packaging materials.

India: Bharathi Cement plans to build a US$17m automated terminal and packaging plant at Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. United News of India has reported that the facility will package the company’s bagged and bulk cement and supply the South West Tamil Nadu and Kerala markets.

On 23 April 2022, the subsidiary of France-based Vicat despatched its first rake of cement aboard custom-built tank and box container cars to Coimbatore from its Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, cement plant. Vicat’s India CEO Anoop Kumar Saxena said that the first-of-its method of bulk cement transportation will reduce the company’s logistics costs and carbon emission and increase the service level for customers.

Costa Rica: Société Générale de Surveillance has awarded Holcim Costa Rica its Positive Packaging certificate for 100% packaging energy recovery in 2021. The company offset the 1500t carbon footprint of its packaging production for the year by sorting and co-processing 14,000t of paper as fuel. It sourced the paper from its customer cement bag return scheme and through municipal recycling services run by fellow Holcim subsidiary Geocycle Costa Rica.

Holcim Costa Rica sustainability coordinator Catalina Mora said “Waste management is a global challenge, so this project has a direct impact on our contribution as a company to the vision of sustainability for the country.”

Vietnam: SCG Packaging plans to invest US$354m to establish a new 370,000t/yr packaging plant in Vinh Phuc province. The Tuoi Tre newspaper has reported that operations at the plant will commence in early 2024. The product will be Vina Kraft Paper brand bags. The Siam Cement Group (SCG) subsidiary will finance the expansion through cash and debt.

Bangladesh: LafargeHolcim Bangladesh has unveiled its Supercrete Portland limestone cement (PLC) bag redesign. The new bag features the tagline ‘Top quality, proper construction’ in Bengali. The Switzerland-based LafargeHolcim subsidiary produces the cement with limestone from Meghalaya, India. It says that its product is the only PLC on the Bangladeshi market.

Puerto Rico: Colombia-based Grupo Argos subsidiary Cementos Argos has combined the distribution capacities of its Dorado and San Juan cement terminals at the Dorado site. It recently upgraded the terminal with a new mixing system and 3000 bags/hr packaging system, up by 100% from 1500 bags/hr previously. New sensors have improved safety, while efficiency and reliability have both also increased. The company said that the consolidation has enabled it to expand its portfolio of products on offer at the major Caribbean hub.

Caribbean and Central America regional vice president Camilo Restrepo said, “At Argos, we ensure the high reputation Argos Colombia is maintained wherever we go. We are convinced that this transformation in Puerto Rico will only serve to benefit our clients. We have the assets, the capabilities, the talent and all the passion to satisfy the island's needs, all while strengthening our export vocation in the Caribbean, making this operation an important commercial maritime hub.”