Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1098730
STiR coffee and tea 49 Your trusted partner for: Tea & Accessories Enjoy the advantages of using an all-in-one supplier with a selection of more than 300 high quality orthodox and blended tea varieties and a wide range of exclusive and innovative accessories. Dethlefsen & Balk GmbH Hermann-Wüsthof-Ring 16 21035 Hamburg Germany Phone: ++49 (0)40 73 10 73-0 office@db-hh.de www.dethlefsen-balk.de Dethlefsen & Balk Inc. 1005 N. Commons Dr. Aurora, IL 60504 USA Phone: (630)-851-8549 info@dethlefsen-balk.us www.dethlefsen-balk.us Visit us at the World Tea Expo Las Vegas 2019 June 11 – 13, 2019 Las Vegas Las Vegas Convention Center, North Hall Booth #906 Millions of tons Oil-free degassing valves Innovative Oil-Free Valve Chicago-based PLITEK recently introduced a design that eliminates the need to oil one- way degassing valves during packaging. The innovative one-way value helps coffee roasters protect and preserve the quality of their roast. The valve saves time, decreases scrap, and reduces clean-up ef- forts by eliminating the need to oil valves during the packaging process. The design also uses less material compared to a button valve, reducing its environmental footprint. This breakthrough offers an outstand- ing opening and closing pressure allowing for the quickest release of CO 2 from coffee inside of hermetically sealed packaging that provides an effective barrier to environmental oxygen, moisture, and contamination. For 25 years PLITEK has been custom engineering valve applicator systems in its PLI-VALV line that can be integrated on customers' packaging machinery providing full customer support and simplifying the source of degassing systems. Learn more: www.plitek.com Closing the loop Mintel International observes that "proclamations by brands and converters touting commitment to 100% recyclable materials or packaging being 100% recycled dominate industry headlines. But the reality that few of them have yet to fully consider is how, where, and who will be supplying and recycling these materials." Closing the loop is one of the four most significant trends impacting the global packaging industry, according to Mintel. "Though recyclable packaging claims have become common, claims to include recycled content are still rare. Low availability of high-quality recycled plastic and concerns over food safety are hampering the use of recycled material in food and drink. And while recycling may be second nature to some, inconvenience and confusion surrounding recycling are a barrier for others," according to Mintel. "With no option to ship packaging waste off-shore and out of sight, we are likely to see fast improvements in recycling facilities. This will drive up capacity for high-quality recycled material. Going forward, brands have an opportunity to ride consumer aware- ness of recycling issues by being part of the solution and committing to using recycled material in new packaging," according to the Mintel report. This trend is one of the reasons for the revival of aluminum, according to Andrew Cousins, technical key account manager at Switzerland-based Alupak. He notes that 75% of all the aluminum ever produced is still in use. Alupak worked with Lavit for three years to create a single-serve system that uses aluminum capsules. The conference offered a host of competing solutions and a consensus view: the public must be taught that plastic and aluminum capsules are a resource not waste. Source: Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made by Roland Geyer, Science Advances 2017, Vol. 3, No. 7 Global production, use, and fate of polymer resins, synthetic fibers, and additives (1950 to 2015)