SMURFIT Kappa has announced its TopClip solution will be utilised by beer brewer Royal Grolsch as a paper-based replacement for the plastic shrink wrap currently used on their multi-pack cans.
Grolsch is part of the Asahi food and beverage firm, which owns brands including Peroni, Mountain Dew and Schweppes tonic water.
The TopClip product eliminates the need for single-use plastic and is described as being 100% renewable, recyclable and biodegradable.
By replacing all the shrink wrap with the TopClip product in the Netherlands, Grolsch will reportedly remove 100,000kg of plastic annually.
The TopClip solution works by fully covering the top of multi-packs, protecting them from contamination and providing ‘excellent’ consumer handling and branding opportunities.
Joost Nawijn, packaging development specialist at Grolsch said, “In close cooperation with Smurfit Kappa, the inventors of the TopClip packaging, we are looking forward to marketing this sustainable packaging solution. An independent Life Cycle Analysis has shown that replacing the current plastic shrink wrap around the cans with the new TopClip packaging ensures a CO2 reduction of 36% compared to new plastic shrink wrap and 16% compared to recycled plastic shrink wrap.”
Arco Berkenbosch, Smurfit Kappa VP of innovation & development added, “We can’t wait to see this breakthrough solution in the hands of the consumers. TopClip has generated significant interest since we launched it at Smurfit Kappa’s global Better Planet Packaging Day last November. The alignment between Grolsch’s goal of becoming a zero waste brewery and our Better Planet Packaging initiative reinforces the fact that Grolsch is the ideal partner to be the first on the market with this solution. We are delighted to support Grolsch in launching their revolutionary multipacks and look forward to facilitating the eventual conversion of all multi-packs from shrink wrap to TopClip.”
