Footprint: print-to-fibre technology

Footprint print-to-fibre packaging / Source: Footprint

Food & BeverageMoulded FibreNorth AmericaPackaging

2 MINUTE READ

Kaltrina Bylykbashi

WHAT WE SAY:

There is limited benefit in replacing plastic within your product’s packaging if you are still required to wrap, seal, stick or print onto plastic labels before getting it into customers’ hands.

That is why we hope this print-to-fibre technology from Footprint lives up to its promise and allows producers to eliminate an unnecessary piece of plastic packaging forever.

KEY FACTS:

Footprint has created a solution that eliminates the need for brands to use plastic labels by printing directly on biodegradable Moulded fibre materials.
The process has been applied to the company’s moulded fibre shelf-stable cups, which are made entirely from natural fibres from plant pulp or recycled kraft, newsprint, and card.
In March 2022, Footprint won two awards from the Flexographic Technical Association for the technology.
When winning the award, Footprint was printing approximately three million cups per month.

DIVE DEEPER:

In order to achieve a satisfactory print finish on the moulded fibre cups, Footprint’s production partner, Van Dam Machine Corporation, created a special roller which matched the conical angle of the cup.
The project also required special inks, which were created with manufacturers Sun Chemicals and Zeller+Gmelin.
There is no publicly published price of the shelf-stable cup, however Footprint claims its products are comparative in cost and superior in performance to their plastic alternatives.

"Getting rid of the need for a separate plastic label on products and finding a way to make high-quality, colour-rich printing work on fibre, without sacrificing brand look and feel is no small feat."

Troy Swope - CEO and Co-Founder, Footprint

Key Design Considerations:

What is the impact of the ink?

Just because the ink is not printed on a separate label, it does not mean it will not have an environmental impact. Footprint have not confirmed which inks it uses for the printing process and the environmental impacts they have, however this is something you should look to do before rolling this technology out to your product lines.

Can you embrace the new aesthetic?

Footprint’s print-to-fibre technology enables a high enough resolution, enough to satisfy brand requirements. Although you should be ready to make small adjustments to your existing artwork. The finish is also less glossy than traditional plastic labels. How can you embrace this and use it to help communicate your brand values to customers?

Think in systems, not just single elements

Print-to-fiber technology does not guarantee less waste to landfill, especially if the fibre cups are being used to store wet or sticky foods. This means that contaminated empty cups end up needing to be separated from the paper recycling stream. You need to always factor in your specific use case, rather than blindly believing in ‘sustainable’ solutions that may not apply.