It’s widely accepted that fresh produce loss is one of the main offenders in the food waste issue that plagues both the western and developing worlds.
ICEE, one of the few Australian exhibitors at interpack, has developed a solution that could make a difference to reduce fresh produce loss and it was exhibiting at the SAVE FOOD pavilion with a view to attracting licensees that will introduce the product to markets outside of Australia.
The ICEE Folding Box is made from 100% expanded polystyrene (EPS) that is produced as a flat pack. The key innovation lies in the patented process that forms an integrated hinge into an EPS product, and allows it to be produced flat, folded into a box,and unfolded again after use, all the while maintaining the hinge’s integral strength and durability.
ICEE’s MD and co-founder, Gary Skinner, told Food & Drink Business the idea was the brainchild of his brother Les Skinner, the company’s engineering director. The product has been three years in development at the company’s R&D facility in Melbourne, with earlier prototypes shown at PackExpo two years ago.
‘’Developing the product was the first challenge,’’ says Skinner. ‘’With that achieved, and the clear downstream advantages for the consumer established, the next challenge was upstream, at the manufacturing level, to invent a machine that permits high productivity moulding of flat form EPS boxes to increase efficiencies and reduce costs for the converter.
Skinner says the machine technology has been developed and should be running and ready for testing next week.
‘’The next step will be to set up a full showroom production line at a facility in Shanghai, and then companies that have expressed interest in obtaining manufacturing licenses will be invited to view the process in action,’’ he said.
As a flat pack, the ICEE Folding Box is convenient to store, transport and return for recycle or re-use which creates opportunities for EPS containers to become a preferred packaging medium for fresh produce, internet groceries, meat, seafood, baked goods and pharmaceuticals. The box can also be made watertight with a plastic coating developed and supplied by Dow Chemical.
As a material, EPS has high thermal and cushioning qualities and an attractive environmental footprint. EPS containers offer high compression strength and thermal advantages, which keep contents safe, fresh and secure during transportation under adverse climate conditions.
ICEE and its affiliates have a 30-year history in manufacturing with experience specifically in EPS moulding and extruded polystyrene moulding.
