Symington’s has improved sustainability by becoming the first UK food producer to adopt Greiner Packaging's K3 r100 product. 

The company implemented the packaging in its Oatburst instant porridge brand. 

The K3 r100, a recent innovation from Greiner Packaging, features a self-separating mechanism that allows the cardboard and plastic components to automatically detach before reaching the recycling facility's near-infrared detection system.  

This ensures accurate sorting and recycling, with the materials being directed to the correct streams for processing. 

The K3 r100 not only offers convenience and an appealing design but also boasts up to a 98% recyclability rate, a significant improvement over previous versions that relied on consumer intervention for separation. 

In January this year, the packaging solution received the World Star Packaging Awards and the Green Packaging Star Award from KOMPACK, an Austrian magazine in October last year for its use by Berglandmilch in the country. 

Symington’s has been using Greiner Packaging’s K3 packaging solution for its Naked brand instant noodles since 2021. 

Greiner Packaging UK & Ireland sustainability and innovation manager Rachel Sheldon said: "The K3 r100 product innovation has made the impossible possible. 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 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.” 

In January this year, dairy products manufacturing company Yaza partnered with Greiner Packaging to introduce its traditional Mediterranean labneh product in sustainable packaging.