A technical team in the UK, led by flexible packaging films provider TCL Packaging, has developed a new packaging film that meets strict criteria demanded of chopped lettuce packers supplying McDonald’s restaurants.
The film developed is said to meet all the requirements of the McDonald’s supply chain and the brand’s commitment to renewable and recyclable packaging.
According to TCL, further interest is already being expressed for this new product from lettuce and salad packers in a number of European countries.
“The challenge, driven by McDonald’s environmental policy, was to move away from traditional PET/PE laminate films but continue to meet the stringent conditions for keeping iceberg lettuce fresh and ensuring packs are easy to open,” the company says.
The ability to improve packing speeds was also a requirement for the lettuce packers to meet demand.
“Part of the development work involved a number of subtle chemical changes and many trials of the film properties through the extrusion process to create a film that meets the technical requirements,” says TCL Packaging.
The outcome of the project is a new clear, recyclable, mono-layer PE-based material with easy peel properties. The film is said to run successfully at speed without any temperature issues.
Slitting the new film requires specialist conversion expertise, which is handled by TCL at its facility in Telford, Shropshire.
TCL Packaging was established in 1999 in Telford to supply quality printed packaging films to converters and food manufacturers. Its printed films are used on many leading consumer brands and retail supermarket products.
