Coldwater Prawns of Norway launches sustainable packaging pouch

Estiko Packaging Solutions, SABIC, and Coldwater Prawns of Norway have teamed up to create a sustainable packaging pouch for frozen prawns.

The pouch is made from a multi-layer film produced by Estiko Packaging Solutions, using a circular certified random polymer grade of SABIC® PP QRYSTAL that includes ocean bound plastic (OBP) content of around 60%. The development of this innovative packaging solution reflects the partners' overall commitment to sustainability and supports the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal #14 for 'Life Below Water'.

The packaging solution uses abandoned or inadequately managed post-consumer plastic waste, known as OBP, found on riverbanks and in rivers up to 50km inland from seashores. This OBP is recycled using an advanced recycling process to convert it into an alternative feedstock, which SABIC uses to produce certified circular polymers that can then be used in the production of high-quality flexible packaging products.

The new packaging pouch aligns closely with the sustainable harvesting practices of Coldwater Prawns of Norway. Unlike farmed king prawns, the company’s cold water prawns are caught from the deep waters of the Barents Sea, then cooked, peeled, and individually quick-frozen (IQF) for packaging and sales. The slow growth of the prawns gives them a juicier texture and a more intense, sweeter flavour.

The certified circular solution is mass balance certified under the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS chain of custody, meaning the material flow is controlled and tracked from the OBP to each pouch following a set of predefined and transparent rules. For every ton of certified circular polymer used in the production of the PP resin, Estiko Packaging Solutions can claim an equivalent amount of flexible film as certified circular. Coldwater Prawns of Norway AS can document the enhanced sustainability towards consumers by indicating the responsibly sourced packaging content on the pouches.

SABIC’s TRUCIRCLE portfolio offers a range of circular solutions, including design for recyclability, mechanically recycled products, certified renewable polymers from bio-based feedstock, and closed loop initiatives to recycle plastic back into high-quality applications to prevent valuable used plastics from becoming waste.

Hege Furnes, COO at Coldwater Prawns of Norway, comments We are passionate about prawns, purity and the planet, and when it comes to the welfare of the planet, our motto is that 'it can't get pure enough'. The material choice for our new pouches meets with our care for the ecosystem on which our business relies. By using an OBP based packaging product, we are making an active contribution to prevent abandoned plastic litter from polluting the sea. In addition, the pouches are fully recyclable in existing material recovery systems for flexible packaging."