Sustainability, efficiency, and adaptation to new regulatory requirements have become key factors in the development of food packaging. These were some of the main themes addressed in the 95th Innovation Breakfast of the Packaging Innovation Cluster, held at the AIMPLAS facilities, Technological Institute of Plastics, in Paterna.
Idilia traces its roots back to 1945, when ColaCao was born in a small workshop in the Gràcia neighborhood of Barcelona. In 2015, it was established as Idilia and, since then, has built a portfolio of iconic brands present in millions of homes, maintaining its purpose of creating small but significant moments in consumers' everyday lives.
The day included the participation of Cristina Canton, Packaging and Sustainability Engineer at Idyll, who shared the company's main current and future challenges in the area of packaging; the participation of Nuria López Aznar, leading Packaging researcher at AIMPLAS, technology center that hosted the meeting; and with the collaboration of Quique Pla, partner of ATQAIMPLAS, a consulting firm specializing in chemistry, environment, and industrial safety, also presented its expertise. Attendees learned about AIMPLAS's capabilities in packaging, as well as its work in testing, R&D, regulations, and developing solutions for the plastics industry.
Packaging to innovate, be more efficient and advance sustainability
During her presentation, Idilia explained that her packaging strategy is built around three main pillars: innovation, sustainability, and efficiency. The company is working on the continuous improvement of its packaging with the aim of optimizing resources, reinvesting in new solutions, and moving towards more sustainable materials and formats.
The company uses a wide variety of materials in its packaging, including glass, rigid plastic, flexible plastic, paper, cardboard, and metal. In many cases, its teams design the packaging directly, while in others they work with standard solutions that are customized to suit the brand identity and market needs.
Among its most recognizable formats is the Nocilla glass jar, which has become a brand icon. In addition to being recyclable, it is a reusable container for home use and is an integral part of the consumer experience. The company also works with rigid plastic jars for products like ColaCao and Nocilla, flexible refillable containers, sleeves for specific campaigns, sachets, seals, trays, boxes, and displays.
In this regard, Idilia emphasized that packaging serves a function that goes far beyond simply containing the product. Packaging identifies the brand, facilitates use, adds value, enhances the consumer experience, and allows for adaptation to the demands of clients, consumers, and distributors.
New regulatory and market challenges
The company also addressed the main challenges it faces in packaging, especially in a context marked by the new European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, known as PPWR. Among the challenges identified are recyclability, the move towards monomaterial structures, the incorporation of post-consumer recycled content in food contact applications, and the increased documentation and administrative burden associated with regulatory compliance.
The company also emphasized the importance of maintaining a consumer-centric focus, reinforcing aspects such as brand image, usability, functionality, and the added value of the packaging. All of this takes place within an environment also influenced by the volatility of commodity markets, the geopolitical situation, and the need to generate recurring efficiencies to maintain business competitiveness.
In this process, collaboration with suppliers is presented as a key element to advance solutions that respond to both legal requirements and the needs of the consumer and the market.
AIMPLAS and ATQ provide the technical perspective
As host of the event, AIMPLAS presented its capabilities as a technology center specializing in the entire plastics value chain. The institute is the leading Spanish center offering ENAC-accredited testing services for the plastics industry, and nearly 40% of its activity is linked to the packaging sector.
Through its packaging R&D departments, AIMPLAS works in areas such as rigid, semi-rigid, and flexible packaging, as well as coatings for paper and cardboard. It also has specialized laboratories for food contact and chromatography, and advises companies on legislative matters such as PPWR, ecodesign, life cycle assessment, and obligations related to microplastics.
ATQ, for its part, has contributed its technical expertise from the field of consulting in chemistry, the environment, and industrial safety. With over 25 years of experience, the firm helps companies improve their management, performance, and results, as well as assisting them in complying with applicable regulations.
During its presentation, ATQ addressed aspects related to packaging management, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, and adaptation to the PPWR (Purchase and Waste Recycling Directive), including identifying the role each company plays, assessing whether the new legislation applies to them, and preparing the Declaration of Conformity. It also explained its role as a waste agent, a position that connects the waste producer with the waste manager and is responsible for documentation, processing, and traceability.
