Sustainability initiatives are driving innovation in closing and bagging equipment, such as baggers, closers, twist ties, clips, zippers, resealable closures, heat sealing and ultrasonic sealing. As consumers become more eco-conscious, there is a strong demand to use packaging materials that are compostable, biodegradable, light-weighted, recyclable or made with recycled materials.
According to the “Packaging Sustainability: A Changing Landscape” report from PMMI, Herndon, VA, advances in closing and bagging equipment include broader machine tolerances as sustainable materials use more post-consumer recycled content. This equipment also needs to handle a wider variety of materials such as reduced material weight and mono-materials. Bakery and snack producers must consider temperature tolerances and seal integrity when looking at using more sustainable materials, the report notes.