Reclosable, Completely Recyclable MAP Solution for Sliced Meat – Swiss Manufacturer Bigler is Causing a Stir at Retail with FlatMap®

After finalizing a successful project across European borders, Swiss meat manufacturer Bigler (www. bigler. ch) now relies on the brand-new, paper-based FlatMap® solution for its sliced meat. Packaging equipment manufacturer SEALPAC, together with packaging materials suppliers Buergofol and Van Genechten Packaging, found the right partner in Bigler to develop this new packaging concept, which has now been launched at Swiss retail. More resource-saving, more eye-catching and more user-friendly is what summarizes the result.

TRUE PIONEER IN SWITZERLAND

The Swiss family company Bigler AG, with 700 employees and a total of six plants at three different locations, has its headquarters in Büren an der Aare and has been around for 75 years already. Under its motto “Ä Portion Tradition,“ Bigler supplies retailers and butchers in Switzerland under private label, as well as under its own Bigler brand. Always open for new ideas, the company became a pioneer in 2017 by launching skin packaging based on cardboard carriers, also known as FlatSkin®. As such, Bigler paved the way for paper-based skin solutions on the Swiss market, which have since become the new standard.

By introducing FlatMap® within its business unit Charcuterie, the company is now launching another true innovation. This reclosable, largely fiber-based, completely flat, and recyclable packaging system for sliced meat consists of an FSCcertified cardboard carrier that can be printed on both sides. The carrier has been coated with a thin plastic layer, on which the sliced meat can be served appetizingly. The product is sealed with a highly transparent top film, which can be removed from the cardboard carrier before consumption. Afterwards, the film is easily placed over the product again, where the edges are pressed against the carrier to provide excellent reclosability. The tight-fitting top film allows for less oxygen to enter the inside of the pack compared to common MAP solutions. This prevents discolouration of the product whilst keeping it fresh and appetizing throughout the remaining storage time. After use, it is possible to completely separate the plastic and cardboard components, therefore allowing full recyclability of these materials.

A JOINT DEVELOPMENT