Seafood packaging goes green

Both companies have over 30 years experience in the plastics industry and have joined together to launch CoolSeal SA, a range of flat-packed 100% recyclable polypropylene boxes. The CoolSeal range has been successful in Europe, replacing the traditional expanded polystyrene box. The boxes are designed for the cold chain delivery of chilled fish and can be simply stacked or baled for collection or disposal after delivery.

"This packaging is the greenest option on the market," says Christo Pienaar, marketing manager of Ampaglas. "It's extremely lightweight, which dramatically reduces fuel consumption during shipping and companies will also be able to fit more boxes in cargo holds or trucks, which again translates into significant savings." It is believed that this development will offer a solution to South Africa's increasingly stringent packaging waste regulations, as well as the financial and environmental implications of packaging disposal.

Although the product is extensively used in the seafood industry to ship crayfish, shellfish and chilled fish, the boxes are also used to ship other products such as flowers.