System eliminates any need to use nitrogen or CO₂ for cheese and reduces plastics use

Sealed Air has introduced its AutoWrap Lite option, said to cut plastics use by up to 65% compared with a traditional thermoform and already in use with Bradbury’s Cheese.

According to the packaging company, its Cryovac AutoWrap Lite technology requires just 2g of plastics per 200g of cheese, while also extending the shelf-life of the product to close to 100 days. At the same time, it eliminates the need for any costly gases for flushing the pack. 

Bradbury’s trialled a prototype of the machine in 2022 and again in 2023. Sealed Air says that these trials confirmed the extended shelf-life across various cheeses, with the second trial ensuring no disruption to the supply chain or customer satisfaction.

Even with the gas flushing used on the previous system, the fact that the film had to be perforated for the shrinking process limited shelf-life to around 40 days, says the supplier. 

Operations director at Bradbury’s Brian Owens states that, as the largest independent speciality cheese provider, the company is committed to exploring new market areas and expanding its product range. “The extended shelf life is crucial, especially during peak seasons like Christmas, when demand surges by 30%,” he says. 

At Sealed Air, food business development director Stephanie Poole clarifies the advantages the system brings beyond extended shelf-life. “It enhances productivity and eliminates the need for CO₂ and nitrogen, which are both costly and scarce,” she explains.

This initiative underscores Bradbury’s dedication to sustainability and operational efficiency, says the equipment supplier. By reducing plastics usage and streamlining production processes, Bradbury’s can better plan for longer production runs with fewer changeovers, it explains, meeting both environmental goals and consumer expectations.

“We are delighted to support Bradbury’s in their sustainability ambitions, achieving plastic reduction while enhancing production efficiency,” says Poole. “Our collaboration will continue, ensuring Bradbury’s leads the dairy sector and expands their reach.”

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www.sealedair.co.uk