The College of Agriculture Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) and Moy Park are working together on a new project to develop innovative packaging for its poultry products.
Matt Harris from Moy Park said: “We are working in a fast-paced and ever changing environment where there is a need for quick evaluation of our customer needs and implementation of robust packing solutions. Our developing relationship with CAFRE is supporting our ambition to use objective and consistent test methods, speed up our test results and ultimately help us deliver packaging solutions faster to the marketplace.”
One of the areas in focus is plastic reduction and increasing the inclusion of post-consumer recyclate. This means that any down gauged or lighter packages needs to be designed to ensure that the consumer still receives the product in excellent condition. “This is where the CAFRE packaging team have been invaluable in helping us with their Distribution Simulation System in their Packaging Centre,” said Harris.
Ron Gardner, senior packaging technologist at The Packaging Centre based at CAFRE’s Loughry Campus said: “CAFRE’s Packaging Centre is just 25 miles from the Moy Park Technical Centre, so it’s logical that Moy Park have recognised the benefit of having a fully equipped packaging test facility on their doorstep.”