AN innovative and entrepreneurial Scottish company which makes a significant contribution to food safety and reducing unrecyclable plastic waste has won an £80,000 award to help take its business to the next level.
The achievements of ReCover Packaging, which has developed the leading technology for sustainable, recloseable film for the lids of food containers, were recognised at the recent Scottish EDGE Awards.
Scottish EDGE is the UK’s biggest funding competition for high growth potential businesses and this year distributed £1.5 million to a total of 40 businesses.
ReCover Packaging, founded by Glasgow entrepreneur Ken Adams, has the potential to be a game changer for the food industry since its technology allows lidding film – normally thrown away – to be recycled with household collections.
Mr Adams, who has a lengthy track record in sustainable food packing, said: “The Scottish EDGE Award recognises that sustainability as well as convenience is at the heart of the ReCover process.”
“The film opens easily, removing the need for consumers to use knives or scissors, and it reseals securely, meaning that food can be stored safely and hygienically for longer, cutting down on food waste.”
“It also means that consumers no longer have to re-pack food in cling film, foil or plastic bags, cutting down on the amount of disposables that we all use, with detrimental environmental effect.”
Until now, the recommendation has been that lidding film is removed from food trays before they are recycled, because it can damage machinery in material recycling facilities. With ReCover the lidding film stays on the tray and so can be included in kerbside collections.
The adhesive remains on the film, which is peeled away from the tray, ensuring minimal risk of contamination and more effective and efficient re-closing.
ReCover Packaging says that, compared with existing re-closing solutions, its technology has been shown to be cost neutral, and can actually offer manufacturers cost savings while improving the pack’s functionality.
