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TricorBraun WinePak has launched a successful zero-waste program which has incurred no expense and has redirected 1020.91 tons of waste to recyclers, according to Jad Darsey, TricorBraun’s director of sustainability and plastics.

Twenty-three colleges and universities in New England have joined an EPA effort to cut the amount of food that goes to waste. This doubles the participation of EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge in 2013, since eleven New England colleges and universities were already participating in the challenge. In 2011, these schools recovered a total of 4,538 tons of food.

Ultrasonics Sealing Solutions provider, Herrmann Ultrasonics, in Bartlett, IL, has succeeded in the sealing of composite films for the chips and snack industry. This breakthrough is the result of the development of a new and proven ultrasonic tool design.

Stäubli introduces the partnership with a leader in Load Sharing Software to release the Robot Industry's most comprehensive Load Balancing Software Package. This package is available on all Stäubli Robots but is particularly well suited to the TP80 Fast Picker line. This is the perfect solution to sorting, and pattern making, with variable infeed and the requirement for a stable out flow for post processes.

It has been said that small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy. In fact, small and medium-sized businesses account for 46% of private-sector output in the U.S. economy. Undoubtedly, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) have tremendous influence on not only the economy, but also innovation. Recognizing the unique value of SMBs, PMMI recently announced the SMB FastTrack, which will debut at PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2013 (Sept. 23-25; Las Vegas Convention Center).

Product protection is a must for food and beverage packages, and companies are working hard to make sure that their products are safe and protected for the end-user. Tamper evident bands, sleeves and seals are designed to prevent the improper opening of a product, which could cause damage to the product and brand reputation.

According to a report from the American Pet Products Association regarding industry statistics and trends, Americans are pampering their pets by purchasing items for them that go well beyond the bare necessities. Pets now receive gourmet and organic food options with special consideration for allergies, dietary restrictions or a special healthy diet.

X-Rays get a power boost: Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (www.thermoscientific.com) has upgraded its popular Thermo Scientific Xpert C400 X-ray system for detecting metals and other foreign objects in food. By adding an X-ray source with twice the power of the original model, the system is better suited for thicker, denser products and high speed production. The system targets a broad range of food applications including challenging wet and semi-frozen products, as well as metalized packaging structures that do not lend themselves to metal detection.

The international community agrees: food waste is a problem of global proportion. The widespread inefficiencies caused by food waste highlight the need for packaging that prevents spoilage and extends shelf life, while still protecting the flavor and quality that consumers count on and providing the convenience they need. The metal can is an ideal format to help brands achieve these goals, proving its value as a waste prevention tool.

More than a third of the food produced in the world – 1.3 billion tons per year ¬– never finds its way into anyone’s stomach. It can rot in the field, go bad during processing, spoil at the grocery store or get tossed in the garbage by the consumer. For food producers, processors and manufacturers with the foresight and ingenuity to tackle this problem, there is more than a cautionary tale here – there is real business opportunity.

In recent years, private label has increasingly gained ground in the marketplace with the majority of U.S. shoppers (86%) purchasing some type of store brand regularly . Store brands now account for one out of five items sold in US supermarkets, drug chains and mass merchandisers . In particular, product categories like salty snacks, soda, cookies and paper goods are gaining ground on their national brand counterparts. The trade-off is that the price/value point is no longer enough of a differentiator and private label brands must step up their game in an effort to meet rising shopper expectations. Addressing this progression partly means understanding shopper preference, but it’s also important to remember that consumer curiosity (and brand loyalty) is sparked through creatively designed brand packaging that leads to shelf interaction.

Doritos, a brand from PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division, partnered with branding and design firm Hornall Anderson to update its identity and packaging to create global harmonization and unleash the power of the iconic brand.

Fans get full access to their favorite band, beer with exclusive digitial content, opportunities to win a VIP trip to the Southern Ground Music & Food Festival

Pearls® Olives to Go! are no-mess, easy-to-open, single-serving cups filled with California-grown, large pitted black ripe olives. This consumer-friendly, breakthrough packaging will transform shopper attitudes toward olives, turning them from an occasional condiment into a lunchbox and snacking essential.

Mars Chocolate North America will debut an expanded collection of American Heritage Chocolate products—now including four different formats—available in colonial-inspired, commemorative packaging. The debut will take place at “A Celebration of Chocolate on the Bay,” an event hosted by the San Diego Maritime Museum being held this weekend. American Heritage Chocolate is an authentic historic line of products—based on a recipe from the 1750s—that celebrates chocolate’s important role in the lives of Americans during the 18th century.

In Canada, consumers recognize the syrup can immediately and, embodied in its classic design, the package has changed little in appearance, reinforcing the connection made between that packaging and the syrup itself. To such an extent, in fact, that to a Quebecer, taking maple syrup from a can is simply how it’s done, and alternative packaging formats fail to perform as strongly in the market.