Klöckner Pentaplast, a manufacturer of rigid and flexible packaging and specialty films, has launched kp Infinity Hotpacs HP3, a new variant in its foodservice packaging portfolio. According to the company, it is the largest and most rigid solution in this range. The new format was developed in response to demand from customers serving the takeaway segment, where growing portion sizes have started to exceed the capabilities of previously used packaging formats. HP3 was designed for meals served in larger portions, such as fish and chips, burgers and chips, jacket potatoes, and popular Asian noodle-based dishes. The pack is manufactured in the UK, which, according to the company, is intended to support customers seeking locally made and reliably available packaging solutions.
Like the other products in the kp Infinity Hotpacs range, the new packaging is made from expanded polypropylene, EPP. This material is recyclable and is not covered by the UK ban on single-use foodservice packaging made from EPS and XPS. Its mono-material construction means it can be recycled in existing PP waste streams. Each pack carries an embossed message, "Recycle Me", intended to help consumers sort it correctly after use. Each unit also features recycling code 5, indicating material compliance and recyclability. The company also stresses that manufacturing HP3 in the UK is intended to support the national recycling system and shorten supply chains for foodservice operators.
Performance properties of the new format
Klöckner Pentaplast states that HP3 keeps food more than 10°C hotter than alternative packaging solutions, while maintaining an exterior surface that stays cool and comfortable to hold. The packaging is naturally waterproof and resistant to hot oils, acids and alkalis, which is important for heavily loaded dishes that often contain sauces. In addition, the product is microwaveable, increasing convenience for the end user.
Austin Schwarz, Sales Director, UK and Ireland at kp Food Packaging, said: "The kp Infinity Hotpacs range was built on listening closely to what the foodservice market actually needs. HP3 is the clearest example yet of that principle in action."
As the company representative added: "Our customers are telling us they need a larger, tougher pack for some of the most popular dishes on today's menus. We have designed exactly that, without compromising recyclability, performance or the quality that kp customers expect. By producing HP3 in the UK, we can deliver this solution quickly, with greater supply assurance and a lower environmental impact."
Market availability
The kp Infinity Hotpacs HP3 is to be available for delivery at the end of April through Klöckner Pentaplast's network of distributors and wholesalers. According to the manufacturer, the solution is intended to meet current foodservice market requirements by offering regulatory compliance, performance properties and full recyclability.
