Færch Plast looks to the sky with new modular packaging range

A new range of recycled, stackable plastics packaging for the airline food industry offers new, innovative and closed loop option for aeronautical dining, says a European packaging manufacturer.

Færch Plast A/S has launched a ‘Modular Packaging’ range of lightweight, stackable containers for the airline industry that it says offers cost, environmental and handling benefits compared to existing designs.

Specially developed to fit into in-flight tray sets, the functional packs are ideally suited to a wide range of meal options, and can be produced from APET (Amorphous Polyethylene Terephthalate) or CPET (Crystalline Polyethylene Terephthalate). They also meet stringent on-board weight and space restrictions.

Færch Plast’s high clarity APET packs are suitable for cold foods with a temperature resistance of -40 °C to +70°C, whilst CPET trays can be used in temperatures from -20°C to +220°C and provide many additional benefits for airline caterers. 

Unlike aluminium, meals packed in CPET containers can be inspected by food industry metal detection equipment and offer excellent sealability to eliminate leakage and provide product integrity and safety. They are suitable for freezing and pasteurisation, are not easily dented, retain their shape for improved handling and passenger safety, and provide major impact resistance.

This uniform design allows the CPET containers to be easily de-nested for more efficient and cost effective automation of the food manufacturing process.

In line with Færch Plast’s environmental commitment, the ‘Modular Packaging’ range is produced from PCR (Post-Consumer Recycled) material and meets all EU and FDA food contact regulations.

As a result, Færch Plast says the new range offers a closed loop process for the manufacture of food trays from post-consumer recycled PET or rPET. Food grade rPET flakes are purchased from the top European plastics recycling companies and further cleaning, as well as careful control of the extrusion and thermoforming process at its seven state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities across Europe helps ensure maximum recycled content.