In response to an “escalating problem” of transit packaging theft and loss reported by its bakery client, Allied Bakeries, leading UK plastics recycler and compounder Luxus has begun research into developing special additives at its in-house Technical Centre.
Luxus has been supplying the UK baking industry with its specialist closed-loop recycling service for ‘end of life’ bread baskets for some years.
The Lincolnshire-based company’s sales manager James Ballantyne says: “It had become increasingly apparent that despite our efforts to reduce carbon and save cost for bakeries by re-engineering their old bread baskets to re-enter their supply chains, that the major cost to bakers still remained unchanged – replacing the baskets once they have been lost or stolen."
The company’s aim is therefore, Ballantyne says, to address the “three Cs” for bakers – carbon, cost and now crime – by introducing aids to prevent theft.
“We are currently trialing the development of new technically advanced additives for Allied Bakeries as an anti-fraud measure for bread basket theft,” he says.
“The new additives will be used for the manufacture of traceable bread baskets to both deter and aid detection of theft."
The addition of unique additives will ensure that the bread baskets are less desirable to secondary materials markets and are easier to detect, he says, while maintaining the same level of material performance.
According to bakery industry joint venture Bakers Basco, which was established in 2006 to tackle this very issue: “The theft of bread baskets and dollies has been a problem for numerous years. Replacement rates range typically between 40% and 100%.”
Ballantyne concludes: “Being able to prevent loss and improve recovery rates will not only reduce costs but significantly improve supply chain efficiencies, saving our clients significant sums each year.”
