Waddington unveils Monoair cushion technology to boost recycling rates

Thermoforming packaging specialist Waddington Europe has launched a full range of soft-fruit punnets that are easier to recycle and use less plastic than conventional punnets. Made with Waddington’s Monoair cushion technology, the new 100 per cent mono-material punnets are now available in large rectangular (WE80), square (WE62) and standard rectangular (WE37) versions.

Eduardo Gomes, managing director of Waddington Europe, said: “We take great pride in becoming the first company to supply a wide selection of soft-fruit punnets that are significantly easier to recycle. Our punnets have proven to be immensely popular, so we wanted to broaden our offering to provide an even wider array of choices, including the first large rectangular version (WE80) on the UK market.”

Standard soft-fruit punnet bases have traditionally been made of clear rigid PET plastic to show a 360-degree view of attractive fruit inside. These conventional bases, however, require an additional layer of bubble padding attached with a glue adhesive to protect soft fruit from bruising and spoiling in transit, Waddington explains. If consumers do not remove the bubble padding and adhesive, the punnet cannot be recycled and must be sent to landfill or incinerated.