Sealed Air becomes “first” producer of certified vegan-compliant flexible packaging

30 Nov 2022 --- Sealed Air’s Cryovac brand has secured The Vegan Trademark for its Sealappeal flexible packaging range, adding to its Vegan Quality certification. The product achieved the same by replacing animal derivatives in the food packaging with non-animal fats and hydrocarbon waxes.

The company shares that it has become “the first producer of certified vegan-compliant flexible packaging after receiving The Vegan Trademark.”

Sealed Air is also working with The Vegan Society to secure a trademark for Cryovac’s vacuum skin packaging range, Darfresh. Additionally, the two aim to develop a new logo per EU laws to help retailers easily communicate vegan compliance of both product and packaging.

“The vegan-compliant range of Cryovac brand Sealappeal products deliver the same performance features and benefits that food businesses expect of the brand and remain compatible with automated packaging lines offered by Sealed Air and its equipment partners,” says Aldo Galbusera, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) marketing manager for Sealed Air.

“Producing packaging solutions that make it more accessible for food manufacturers and retailers to utilize vegan-compliant packaging for their meat alternatives without compromise is a positive step forward.”

Plant-based revolution
The Vegan Society details that it works with manufacturers and suppliers to ensure that each product meets its high standards to be granted the Trademark. “The Vegan Trademark is renewed yearly to ensure we have the most up-to-date information on all the products we certify,” the non-profit states.Sealed Air and The Vegan Society aim to develop a new logo per EU laws to help retailers easily communicate vegan compliance of both product and packaging.

In addition to meeting the checks by The Vegan Society, the vegan-compliant packaging solutions offered by Cryovac Sealappeal mono-PET high barrier films “guarantee product shelf life up to 12 months.”

Sealed Air describes the Cryovac brand range as an answer to consumer concerns about environmental impact, carbon emissions and animal welfare, providing retailers and processors with a packaging solution “fit for the plant-based revolution.”

The Vegan Trademark “is instantly recognizable for consumers, and its award will help to engage shoppers in the fast-growing vegan market,” reiterates Matt Baldock, business development, retail and sustainability leader for North-West Europe, Benelux and South Africa at Sealed Air.

“Europe is a key player in the global meat alternatives market, which was valued at US$1.7 million in 2019 and is projected to expand at an estimated CAGR of 7.3% between 2020-2025. This is a huge growth potential for food businesses looking to bring meat alternatives to market.”

Supporting the environment
PackagingInsights caught up with Sealed Air at the CPHI trade show in Frankfurt, Germany. Roberto Righetti, European business development director for Sealed Air’s Nexcel brand, revealed that the packaging solutions provider aims to reduce the environmental impact of their packaging solutions by including recyclable content.

“We produce plastic, but we are not the bad guys. We want to help and support the environment,” he suggested.

Sealed Air also added three items to its Bubble Wrap brand utilizing “ultra-thin” (12.7 microns) film to decrease material usage and carbon emissions.

“Thinner, lighter, stronger films increase product protection to reduce carbon emissions and waste associated with damage while also lowering material usage,” said Eric Van Der Kallen, EMEA platform manager for protective packaging solutions inflatables at Sealed Air.

The Cryovac brand Sealappeal range offers high-barrier film solutions for alternative proteins. It helps minimize waste and improve product sustainability by extending shelf life. The material can also be recycled in PET recycling streams, thereby aiding in the reduction of environmental impact. 

By Radhika Sikaria