Morrisons Printed Pressed Board Skin Tray- Graphic Packaging International This first-to-market innovation raises the bar for the aesthetic design potential of pressed board VSP trays. An evolution of existing pressed board trays, this solution was adopted by UK retail giant Morrisons – specifically, their private label steak lines. The premium line is differentiated from the core and entry-level lines by its use of all-over photographic print – a world first in the pressed board tray category. This unlocks unique branding opportunities with full-cover photographic print across the inside of the tray, something that has never been seen before in either plastic or paper-based trays.
The successful launch of the tray range proves the versatility of the pressed board tray format, as it can deliver enhanced differentiation across a wide portfolio using different grades of cartonboard and printed designs, while meeting business plastic replacement goals. The premium pack consists of a barrier-lined recyclable bleached cartonboard tray to ensure optimal print quality. The entry-level trays are also made with bleached cartonboard for a clean white look, while the core lines are packed using unbleached kraft-look board. All the trays are lined with a thin barrier film, creating a hybrid solution consisting of 90% fibre and uses significantly less plastic than Morrisons’ previous plastic-based trays - removing 12 million plastic trays and 250 tonnes of plastic waste from the supply chain every year. The lidding film can be easily separated from the tray, enabling simpler recycling for consumers post-use in existing UK recycling infrastructure. Despite this dramatic plastic reduction, the new tray format does not compromise on product protection, offering an equivalent shelf life to the customer’s previous plastic trays. All three ranges of the tray have also been designed to run on the same equipment as their plastic-based predecessors with no need for any investment in retooling. The new packs have been developed in line with Morrisons’ sustainability goals, which include objectives to reduce own brand primary plastic packaging by 50% before 2025 and to ensure all own brand packaging is 100% recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025. Morrisons is also targeting net zero emissions as part of its agricultural supply chain, meaning every aspect of the packaging and processing of beef products is critical to its wider sustainability policies. To reduce the total amount of transport emissions produced as this packaging solution moves through the supply chain, we took advantage of our global manufacturing network and the unique capabilities across each of our facilities. The trays are the result of true collaboration - using two of our facilities in Sweden for printing and forming, the paperboard sourced locally and additional forming expertise from our Winsford, UK facility.
The latter being just a mile away from the Morrisons Manufacturing meat packing site, reducing the amount of transport emissions through the supply chain. The huge aesthetic upgrade provided by the photo-quality printing combined with the well-known plastic reduction, recyclability, and operational efficiency benefits offered by this tray design means it will prove ideal for a wide range of applications in future. It is suitable for deli meats, cheese slices, fresh fish, and more.