ELLIOTT Absorbent Products has developed a new range of sealed edge pads for fresh meat and fish, described as having the ‘lowest carbon footprint’ of any high absorbency pad on the market.
The UniDry range, which is already being used by three UK supermarkets, is said to use 50% less materials than traditional pads, allowing customers to make reductions in their packaging and cut emissions from transport and storage.
The Littleborough-based company explained that UniDry, which has been in development for several years, utilises a proprietary ‘Infinity Core’ that gives blood and water absorbency of between 7.5 litres and 26 litres per square metre.
The firm revealed that tests showed that UniDry uses half the cellulose and plastic required to make traditional pads and due to its ‘ultra-thin’ construction, the product is easier to transport and store.
Matt Hankins, MD of Elliott Absorbent Products, said, “UniDry is a major innovation, we are doing more with less and providing customers with a product that improves absorbency and shelf-life and boosts their sustainability performance. Existing airlaid pads are bulky and dusty with poor yields. The UniDry range will replace airlaid and SAF pads for absorbencies between 7,500ml – 25,000ml (water/free swell).”
The company added that absorbency tests with a major supermarket show that compared to a traditional pad, UniDry was 45% more absorbent when used with a typical 600g lean beef joint, 90.5% with a 1.3kg piece of topside, and 278% more effective with a 135g venison steak.
Mr Hankins added, “These results are outstanding. We have already had lots of interest from UK meat processors and supermarkets who are keen to upgrade. We aim to expand our customer base across Europe and beyond where there is a huge untapped market.”
UniDry is available in both pads and reels, white as standard with other colours available on request. The range has full EU migration conformance and is manufactured at Elliott’s UK factory.
