Sustainability is at the heart of every business decision made by Cavanbased Xtrupak

Thermoformed Packaging

An Xtra focus on recycling

Sustainability is at the heart of every business decision made by Cavanbased Xtrupak, who have been supplying the FMCG market with packaging solutions since 2012.

SUSTAINABILITY and recycling are key concerns when it comes to packaging, and Cavan-based Xtrupak are very conscious of their obligations when it comes to the environment. “All of our inputs are 100% recyclable and the materials that we use in production are fully traceable, from supplier to production to end product,” explains John Reilly, Commercial and Marketing Director. “We drive positive change throughout Xtrupak, from sustainable sourcing of raw materials to minimising our operational impact and lowering the environmental footprint of our customers. As an extrusion APET and rPET film manufacturer, our circular business model helps to embed sustainability in every aspect of what we do.”

Extruded Thermoplastic

Xtrupak manufactures and distributes extruded thermoplastic for the print, packaging and display markets both in Ireland and internationally. A large part of its business has been supplying its XtruForm product to huge UK thermoforming companies, who subsequently supply supermarkets like Asda, Tesco, and Marks and Spencer. Here in Ireland, the company supplies medium-sized sheet roll stock into factories that have an inhouse machine that moulds their material into packaging, so it is formed, filled and then sealed, but Xtrupak is actively looking to grow its market domestically. “We have invested in machinery to target the Irish FFS packaging market, so we can supply the XtruForm FFS brand directly into Irish retailers and food companies,” John explains. Xtrupak’s rPET flakes are generated from recycled APET bottles, which they import from Europe, and then recycle to create the XtruForm sheet roll, using APET virgin material or rPET sheet roll stock. The company is also currently developing a biodegradable range. “Our rPET film is 100% recycled and 100% recyclable,” John stresses. “Typically, the customer will specify how much recycled content must go into the sheet. XtruForm is dimensionally stable, high impact, high rigidity and has excellent mechanical properties. The UV stable polyester film offers the best in thermoforming quality and maintains high transparency and light transmission properties before and after machining.” XtruForm can be used in a host of packaging solutions, from fresh food to medium and long shelf-life products. It is widely used in the packaging of ready meals, salads, fresh sandwiches, fruit, meat, and freshly baked products, as well as in containers for some healthcare products, like toothbrushes.

XtruClear

The company’s product range also includes XtruClear, a range of thermoplastic, amorphous, polyester sheets, which can be used to produce products with complex shapes and demands, due to its flexible fabrication properties. “XtruClear is costeffective, has excellent transparency, high impact resistance, chemical resistance and prints to an immaculate standard, making it a fantastic option in many situations,” John says. XtruClear is ideal for shopping trolley bays, smoke shelters, POS display shelving, fridge and freezer lines and dividers, vending machine covers, box type and transparent packaging applications, convenience packaging and printed signage. 2020 also saw the material used extensively to produce protective screens, which have been installed at till points in supermarkets and convenience stores around the country in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Every business decision is made with sustainability in mind, as John concludes: “For Xtrupak, circularity simply makes great business sense. We can replace the natural resources we use with 100% recycled material in our product range and reuse materials at every opportunity in our production process facility. After use, Xtrupak products can be recycled back into clear rPET food and non-food packaging products as part of the circular economy.”