Packaging Gateway

Daily Newsletter

09 August 2023

Daily Newsletter

Graphic Packaging launches new coated recycled paperboard

The new solution was developed on the basis of market research indicating a significant demand for recycled products.

Fibre-based packaging company Graphic Packaging has launched its new coated recycled paperboard (CRB) for use in commercial packaging.

Dubbed PaceSetter Rainier, the new paperboard is named after Mount Rainier in the US.

According to Graphic, its new paperboard solution combines the characteristics of solid bleached sulphate (SBS) alongside recycled content.

PaceSetter Rainier is said to offer better brightness and whiteness than traditional CRB and can rival other SBS-based and folding boxboard products.

The material also offers improved surface smoothness, which enhances printability and tactile performance.

Available in 12pt to 18pt callipers, PaceSetter Rainier is suitable for healthcare, beauty, confectionery, dry goods, dairy, and other industrial packaging applications.

Graphic's senior vice-president for paperboard sales Michael Weinhold said: “This is a breakthrough for the fibre-based packaging industry and one we know is important for our customers and consumers.

“According to recent research by the Boston Consulting Group, 78% of consumers said they are likely to purchase a product based on a ‘made with recycled content’ claim, and 64% said it was important for packaging to contain recycled content.

“Our customers have been asking for a premium paperboard solution that offers a bright, white, and smooth printing surface that also includes recycled content to help support their packaging sustainability goals. We believe PaceSetter Rainier will be a game-changer for them.”

Graphic has invested an estimated $1.7bn in CRB projects across the US, including in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and in Waco, Texas.

The company is strengthening its capacity and technical capability in CRB production to deliver fibre-based packaging with recycled content to more customers.

Generative AI remains an untapped potential across the consumer industry

GlobalData estimates the total AI market will be worth $909 billion in 2030, growing at a CAGR of 35.2% between 2022 and 2030. The consumer goods, foodservice, and packaging sectors are undergoing digital transformation, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and changing consumer preferences. AI can help companies operating in these sectors by significantly reducing costs and production times. In Nestlé's 2022 full-year results, the company announced a renewed focus on digitalization to drive growth. Financial and reputational pressures associated with supply chain disruptions and sustainability concerns are also driving interest in the digitalization of supply chains. Data science and ML are strong investments across all areas. However, the sectors cannot stop at AI-powered data analytics applications. They must also explore computer vision (CV), smart robots, AI sensors that automate manufacturing and distribution logistics, and generative AI tools that increase efficiency across corporate departments and customer service operations and enable innovation in product design. For the most part, the consumer goods, foodservice, and packaging sectors will not play a significant role in creating and developing AI hardware or platforms. Instead, these sectors will help scale up the adoption of AI technologies, such as CV, conversational platforms, and smart robots. This adoption will be driven by the financial benefits and potential cost savings AI automation delivers across global supply chains.