CCL LABEL’S CANtastic combines a shrink sleeve and self-adhesive label to maximise hygiene and promotional marketing possibilities.

This is according to Reinhard Streit, VP and MD of Food & Beverages, who remarks: ‘This product guarantees maximum cleanliness from production to the point-of-sale in supermarkets, convenience stores or petrol stations, where cans are often openly displayed in an unprotected environment to catch consumers’ attention. CANtastic protects cans against all types of possible contaminations while promoting brand owners’ messaging.’

CANtastic consists of an aluminium can with an engineered sleeve and top label that provides a 360° safety seal for the can, which also fulfils all official food safety standards. The can is reclosable to prevent, for example, insects from entering the opening.

Reinhard adds that Covid-19 has transformed the consumer landscape, making trust in brands more important and connecting health to heightened issues of food safety and hygiene.

A 2020 McKinsey Packaging Survey revealed that concerns connected to food safety and hygiene are among the top six packaging industry trends.

Once lockdown restrictions are lifted and life becomes more normal again, CCL Label expects promotional activities from brand owners to become an important marketing tool again. ‘Our CANtastic can offers ideal space for branding and consumer communication via the additional space on the lid. Brands can, for instance, integrate competitions, lotteries and loyalty programmes, as well as virtual reality elements or special QR codes for secure digital identities,’ Reinhard states.

Recyclability considered

He points out that although the sleeve could be recycled with the plastic fraction, consumers would have to separate the materials, a scenario that rarely happens with pack formats such as yoghurt cups.

Instead, the specially engineered sleeve and top construction allow for normal recycling of the aluminium can, which is 100% recyclable and widely recycled in most countries.

‘The aluminium cans will be detected and sorted in the recycling plant with most of the sleeves still on, and the sleeves will then be burnt off in the aluminium recycling process because of the high temperatures. The European Aluminium Association has confirmed that the sleeve material won’t hinder the aluminium recycling process,’ Reinhard concludes.

Recycling recognition

CCL Label’s EcoFloat, a floatable polyolefin shrink film with high shrinkage that facilitates easy separation of labels from PET bottles and other types of plastic containers in the recycling process, has earned Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) Critical Guidance Recognition for compatibility with current US recycling infrastructure.

‘APR’s Critical Guidance is one of the most widely accepted and comprehensive testing protocols to ensure new packaging products meet guidelines and don’t contaminate the recycling stream,’ comments Guenther Birkner, president of Innovia and CCL’s Food & Beverage business.

EcoFloat polyolefin film is also certified as ‘Made for Recycling’ for HDPE bottles and PP cups via Interseroh accreditation.