While plastic and synthetic materials have increasingly become the focus of criticism in recent years, the group of Guillin companies is now breaking new ground in terms of product protection and sustainability. In addition to product packaging with a greatly reduced plastic content, the packaging supplier recently also entered the paper market.
Tray from the house of Guillin. The group has plastic factories for fruit & vegetable trays in France (Dyna Plast), Italy (Nespak), Spain (Veripack) and England (Sharpak).
Alternative to air cushioning
Even in the age of Corona, the internationally active packaging supplier is continuing to fine-tune its wide-ranging product line. " Our newest product line is called Ecosoft," explains Andreas Herbrandt, sales manager at Guillin Germany GmbH, when asked. " It is a modern fruit tray with a sophisticated structure at the bottom, which we want to place as an alternative to the common air cushion. Ecosoft is made entirely from sustainable mono-material and is 100% recyclable. "
Last year, the novel packaging solution was tested for the first time, and this year the first deliveries will be made to food retailers. " The use of this solution requires a certain stability of the fruit to be packed. Reducing the amount of plastic is part of an overarching and forward-thinking philosophy, according to Herbrandt. " We want to design our fruit trays to be as light and efficient as possible so that material can be saved. "
New in the Guillin range: fruit trays made of FSC kraft paper. In addition to product protection and sustainability, the Guillin Group focuses on customised packaging so that added value is also created from the retailer's point of view.
Product protection from the field to the consumer Meanwhile, the innovations of the Guillin Group are used across the fruit and vegetable shelf - But the company has devoted most of its time in recent years to developing sophisticated to-go packaging. " We are currently launching a 4-chamber tray with individually breakable parts. In North America, this process is already being offered for the first time in this form, and we hope that it will soon be adopted in European grocery stores as well. "
The Guillin Group also has to contend with the fact that consumers are becoming increasingly critical of the use of plastics in food packaging. Herbrandt: "But we also see the clear advantages of plastic. Product protection is our top priority. Our slogan is not for nothing: #weprotectyourfood. We want to bring fresh fruit & vegetables safely and freshly from the field to the end customer's home. It just doesn't quite work without a plastic insert."
Andreas Herbrandt (l) together with Eve Feld-Renard and Gero Ziemer at expoSE in Karlsruhe
FSC-certified kraft paper Another milestone in the company's history was its entry into the paper market. High-quality product packaging made of paper is manufactured at the production site of the subsidiary Thiolat in Blois in central France. Herbrandt:"This is not packaging made of conventional corrugated board, but of 100% FSC-certified kraft paper.
For more information:
Andreas Herbrandt
Guillin Germany
Tel: +49 152 0926 2241
Email: aherbrandt@guillindeutschland.de
Javier Navarro
Guillin International
Tel: +34 649 229 726
Email: jnavarro@groupeguillin.com