Switzerland-headquartered packaging solutions provider SIG has won dual awards in the 2024 Packaging Excellence Awards in the Product Launches and Environmental categories.
The Packaging Gateway Excellence Awards celebrate the greatest achievements and innovations in the packaging industry. Powered by the business intelligence of GlobalData, the programme provides a platform to recognise the people and companies that are driving change in the industry.
SIG’s recognition is attributed partly to a collaborative effort with Elmhurst 1925, a renowned plant-based beverage company, which launched a dairy-free sour cream product packaged in SIG’s aseptic pouches, which are designed to have a minimal impact on the environment. Based in the United States, Elmhurst is known for its innovative and health-conscious products.
The awards recognize the aseptic pouches’ impact on promoting healthier nutrition by maintaining essential nutrients without preservatives, thereby extending shelf life and reducing food waste. Furthermore, the pouches’ ergonomic design for easy handling and improved supply chain efficiency, with secure, lightweight, and e-commerce-ready features, played a pivotal role in SIG’s win.
“At SIG, we believe true packaging innovation addresses consumer needs with a focus on sustainability, convenience, affordability, and health awareness. We support our customers’ growth with innovative solutions: The start is made easy with pre-made spouted pouches and flexible filling equipment, and for larger runs, our Horizontal Form-Fill-Seal (HFFS) equipment ensures high-speed, versatile filling.” – Anna Rabanus, Marketing Manager, Spouted Pouches in the US & Canada
Consumer convenience and food safety
The aseptic filling technology and packaging, which eliminate the need for refrigeration before opening, offer convenience to the consumers. The sour cream retains its nutritional value without preservatives, while meeting the highest food safety standards and offering a longer shelf life. The sour cream’s features, including being rich, tangy, and free from unnecessary additives, cater to the growing demand for healthier, cleaner, and more sustainable food options.
Operational excellence and consumer benefits
SIG’s aseptic pouches are not just designed to enhance the environmental performance; they also offer significant benefits to consumers and the supply chain. The pouches are easy to handle, with a design that allows consumers to easily dispense the entire product with minimal mess, and they are resealable for added convenience.
From a supply chain perspective, these secure, lightweight, and e-commerce-ready pouches mean smarter shipping, less energy usage in distribution, and more flexibility due to the longer shelf life. They allow for longer storage times, reduce the urgency in distribution and facilitate more strategic inventory management. They eliminate the dependency on a cold chain infrastructure. This flexibility allows for broader distribution networks, including regions with limited refrigeration capabilities, and results in energy savings. These advantages underscore SIG’s commitment to operational excellence, ensuring that their innovative packaging solutions meet the evolving needs of both consumers and businesses.
Environmental stewardship
The Environmental award recognizes SIG’s significant contributions to waste and emission reduction. The aseptic spouted pouches used by Elmhurst are a testament to SIG’s commitment to minimal environmental impact. They are lightweight, compact, and designed to reduce food waste, aligning with the global movement towards sustainable consumption.
SIG’s dedication to sustainability is further evidenced by the approval of its path to Net-Zero targets by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). SIG was among the first 325 companies to have its target validated by the SBTi and has set a series of near and long-term science-based emissions reduction targets, including a reduction of scope 3 GHG emissions per liter packed of 51.6% by 2030 and 97% by 2050.
Elmhurst’s plant-based dairy-free sour cream
Elmhurst’s foray into the dairy-free food category with their plant-based sour cream in SIG’s aseptic pouches in 2024 has been met with enthusiasm. The product, made with minimal ingredients and no dairy, sodium, or cholesterol, offers a clean label alternative that does not compromise on flavor or texture.
Elmhurst’s use of oat milk, hemp protein, and its patented HydroRelease method results in a product that is not only healthier but also aligns with the company’s ethos of simplicity and nutritional value. The innovative pouch format ensures ease of use across various culinary applications, reinforcing Elmhurst’s position as a leader in plant-based alternatives and SIG’s role as a facilitator of sustainable product innovation.
Heba Mahmoud, Senior Director of Brand Marketing at Elmhurst, says, “Stepping into the dairy-free food category feels like a logical move for Elmhurst, after we perfected delicious and nutritious plant milks and creamers made with only the simplest ingredients. It’s the first plant-based sour cream in a pouch, the cleanest recipe available in market, exceptionally creamy and tangy, and performs beautifully in any dish or recipe without melting or falling apart.”
Elmhurst’s sour cream is available for purchase both online on their website and in Publix and Loblaws stores. Elmhurst offers a variety of other products, including plant-based creamers made from nut, seed, and grain emulsions.
Company Profile
SIG is a leading solutions provider of packaging for better – better for our customers, for consumers, and for the world. With our unique portfolio of aseptic carton, bag-in-box, and spouted pouch, we work in partnership with our customers to bring food and beverage products to consumers around the world in a safe, sustainable, and affordable way. Our technology and outstanding innovation capabilities enable us to provide our customers with versatile packaging systems and solutions for innovative products and smart operations, all to address the ever-changing needs of consumers. Sustainability is integral to our business and guides us on our journey to create packaging for better – packaging that gives more to people and the planet than it takes out.
Founded in 1853, SIG is headquartered in Neuhausen, Switzerland, and is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. The skills and experience of our approximately 9,000 employees worldwide enable us to respond quickly and effectively to the needs of our customers in over 100 countries. In 2023, SIG produced 53 billion packs and generated €3.2 billion in revenue. SIG also has an AA ESG rating by MSCI, a 13.9 (low risk) score by Sustainalytics, Platinum CSR rating by EcoVadis, and is included in the FTSE4Good Index. For more information, visit our website.
For insights into trends that drive the food and beverage industry, visit the SIG blog.
Contact Details:
Anna Rabanus
Marketing Manager, Spouted Pouches
Tel: +1 (267) 207-1823
Email: anna.rabanus@sig.biz
Links
Website: https://www.sig.biz/en
