SYMINGTON’S, which has been using Greiner Packaging’s K3 cardboard-plastic packaging solution for its Naked instant noodles since 2021, has now moved its Oatburst instant porridge brand to Greiner’s K3 r100 self-separating variant.
Invented by Greiner Packaging over 40 years ago, and designed for recycling, the K3 cardboard-plastic cup features a tear-tab which allows consumers to separate the cardboard outer wrap from the lightweight plastic cup to enable recycling.
With the latest development, K3 r100, the materials separate themselves before they reach the near-infrared detection (NIR) system at the recycling facility, designed to lead to proper detection, sorting and recycling. K3 r100 enables cardboard and plastic to be assigned to the correct material streams during the initial sorting process, before being recycled.
“The K3 r100 product innovation has made the impossible possible,” said Rachel Sheldon, Greiner Packaging UK & Ireland sustainability and innovation manager. “The cardboard wrap and plastic packaging separate from each other without human intervention during the waste disposal process.
“This means that achieving a high recyclability rate (up to 98%) does not depend on proper separation by the end consumer – which was the case with all previous K3 packaging – as it now happens completely independently before the used packaging reaches the recycling facility.”
Julian Wetton, Symington’s finance director, added, “Oatburst is ideal for people on the go, so we are delighted that however consumers dispose of the empty container when they have finished enjoying their instant porridge snack, the two packaging materials will self-separate to enable recycling during the waste disposal process. We were already fans of the original K3 packaging solution from Greiner Packaging, but this new K3 r100 development is really exciting as we can be confident that we have put a perfectly recyclable product into the market.”
