INALCA uses various types of packaging: the main ones are plastic, paper, cardboard for fresh and frozen meat, tinplate and aluminium are used instead for canned meat. In 2016, INALCA continued the policy of reducing the amount of packaging used in order to obtain, where possible, a single packing suitable for contact with food compared to the traditional pairing primary packing – secondary packing.
INALCA, along with its packaging suppliers, promotes further projects to improve the sustainability of packaging aimed at:
  • reducing the weight of packing both in absolute value and per unit/kg of packaged product;
  • introducing recycled raw materials into the composition of the packaging used;
  • allow the final consumer to recycle the packaging of the purchased product.

20% reduction weight of the packaging

During 2014, on some meat packaging lines, INALCA eliminated the primary packaging used previously, transforming the secondary packaging to make it suitable for contact with food. This change allowed the weight reduction of about 20% compared to the previous situation.

Use of more than 90% of recycled paper for packaging

In 2016, INALCA confirmed its use of recycled paper in its packaging, reaching over 90% of paper obtained by recovery and recycling processes.
In addition to reducing the thickness and the weight of the packaging, which is the first and simplest intervention, a second line of development consists in the progressive introduction of new recycled raw materials in the composition of the packaging used.

Recycling

The third element of innovation is the use of packaging that allows the final consumer to recycle at the end of their use. For frozen products, paper and plastic films are used in PE/PP, so recyclable types of packaging can be recycled through the separate collection of paper and plastic.

Recoverable packaging

For canned meat production, INALCA uses aluminium materials such as primary packaging and paper bags as secondary packaging, both of which can be completely recycled by the consumer through separate collection.

Plastic collection

For frozen products, paper and plastic films are used in PE/PP, so recyclable types of packaging can be recycled through the separate collection of paper and plastic. For canned meat production, INALCA uses aluminium materials such as primary packaging and paper bags as secondary packaging, both of which can be completely recycled by the consumer through separate collection. For fresh and portioned products, the tray is made of PET or PS (polystyrene) and the PET/PE film; even in this case all recyclable materials go through the separate collection of plastic. The partnership with the packaging material supplier is fundamental to the pursuit of results for improvement: INALCA adopts a selection criterion of packaging suppliers based on 3 principles:

  • technical expertise;
  • ability to provide technical assistance and innovation;
  • consolidated experience with large industrial groups.