Coveris, a leading packaging solutions provider, has been recognized by the renowned UK cereal brand Weetabix with the prestigious Weetabix Supplier Innovation Award. This accolade was presented at a supplier awards ceremony in May, highlighting Coveris's proactive approach in delivering innovative ideas and continuous improvement opportunities.

Coveris supplies Weetabix with the Cereal+ liner, manufactured at its specialist polyethylene extrusion site in Winsford, Cheshire. This liner is used for Weetabix products including Alpen, Crunchy Bran, and Weetabix Minis. The Cereal+ liner, made from fully recyclable polyethylene, employs co-extrusion technology to ensure excellent packer performance, product protection, freshness, shelf life, and consumer functionality.

In a notable sustainability project, Coveris Winsford collaborated with Weetabix to align environmental goals by downgauging their cereal liners. This initiative reduced the amount of flexible film packaging by 10%. However, challenges arose when packing a specific Weetabix product line due to the cereal's properties. A collaborative review led to an innovative change in the Cereal+ formulation, developed and validated by Coveris's advanced Film Science Lab. This change not only resolved the packing challenges but also resulted in a significant increase in packing efficiency and productivity, ranging from 87% to 149%.

Weetabix Marketing Director Francesca Theokli expressed gratitude, saying, “It gives us great pleasure and huge thanks goes to Coveris for identifying opportunities for improvement and being innovative with their solutions for our business.”

Sujoy Bose, Managing Director of Coveris Winsford, shared his pride in receiving the award, stating, “We are very proud to receive the Weetabix Supplier Innovation Award 2024 recognizing our efforts and proactivity in supporting operational efficiencies and packaging sustainability. As a long-term supplier to Weetabix, this is a great example of a collaborative relationship with aligned performance and environmental values." He further highlighted the contributions of the technical team, Film Science Lab, and co-extrusion capabilities in making innovative changes to film formulations, supporting Coveris's No Waste sustainability vision. “Congratulations to the whole team at Coveris Winsford!” Bose added.

In addition to this achievement, Coveris has recently announced an expansion of its barrier films capabilities at the Winsford site to produce vacuum skin packaging (VSP) for the meat, fish, and dairy sectors. This expansion is supported by a multi-million-pound investment, including the opening of a dedicated manufacturing hall and the installation of the latest VSP conversion equipment.

Coveris's continuous efforts in innovation and sustainability underscore its commitment to excellence in packaging solutions. The Weetabix Supplier Innovation Award is a testament to Coveris's dedication to delivering high-quality, sustainable products that meet the evolving needs of its customers.