Prism eLogistics has delivered a fully recyclable sleeving solution for kefir brand Bio&Me, the first of its kind in the dairy category.
Bio&Me this year launched its category-first range of functional kefir drinks, offering immunity defence, natural energy and protein and fibre benefits to consumers. To support the launch, the brand needed a packaging solution as innovative as the products, with the objective of balancing visibility, product stability and sustainability.
Prism, selected for its expertise in shrink sleeving, was able to deliver a solution which pushes the boundaries of dairy product packaging and raises the bar for sustainability in-category. Unlike traditional dairy packaging, the new Bio&Me range utilises a clear bottle covered by fully recyclable EcoFloat shrink sleeving, ticking the boxes for compliance, sustainability and on-shelf visibility.
EcoFloat sleeving, which is specifically engineered to improve the sink/float separation process, can be recycled through established PP recycling streams, which makes the sleeve fully recyclable, meaning 100% of the bottle and decoration can be recycled. Additionally, the full shrink sleeve provides the opacity required by safety regulations, avoiding the use of traditional white coloured plastic, which is more challenging to recycle and therefore carries higher Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees.
A further benefit of the sleeves is the significant increase in brandable space versus traditional labels. By choosing shrink sleeving over standard labelling, Bio&Me were able to create a distinctive full bottle design which looks markedly different from standard dairy packaging, and which offers the space to include all of the product detail they needed to communicate to consumers.
Mark Isaacson, chief operating officer at Bio&Me commented:
“Our new functional kefir range is shaking up dairy, and we wanted the pioneering nature of the products to be reflected by the packaging. As a proud UK manufacturer, we were delighted to partner with a home-grown British packaging specialist in Prism, and their consultancy and guidance was critical to developing our 100% recyclable shrink sleeve solution.
“By rejecting the standard white plastic and label format, we developed an alternative that is better for consumers, retailers and the environment. We’ve already seen strong sales post-launch, and we look forward to the continued success of the range.”
Ian Wright, managing director at Prism eLogistics commented:
“Bio&Me is an incredibly exciting business, and we’re delighted to be part of their category-shifting new launch. By developing a solution which is both compliant with dairy regulations and fully recyclable, we’re proving that sustainability and EPR adherence are absolutely compatible with eye-catching, true-to-brand packaging.
“As more and more manufacturers, across multiple sectors, move away from the use of coloured plastics, we believe recyclable shrink sleeving provides an alternative which can not only reduce a brand’s environmental impact and associated fees, but which can improve visibility and expand on-product marketing opportunities.”