Clear Lam Honored by FPA for Snack Pack
- Published: March 24, 2015
ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL | Clear Lam Packaging has won a Silver Flexible Packaging Achievement Award for Technical Innovation for Kar’s Second Nature Wholesome Medley PrimaPak package. This is the fourth global award earned for Clear Lam’s PrimaPak technology. The Flexible Packaging Association recognized Clear Lam and a select group of the Association’s Achievement Award winners at a March 3rd award ceremony in Naples, FL. Entries were evaluated by an 
independent panel of experts for their industry-changing advancements in packaging materials and structures with significant consumer benefits and/or sustainability features.
Developed by Clear Lam’s Co-Packing Division, the new product is currently in a limited test market to determine the optimum size for the product’s PrimaPak cubed design. According to Clear Lam, Second Nature Wholesome Medley snacks are 100% natural, premium snack mixes developed by Kar’s Nuts to meet the demands of consumers that seek naturally healthier snack options with nutritional value, and Kar’s selected the PrimaPak System for the brand’s retail and club store markets based on the packaging’s strong merchandising potential, cost effectiveness, sustainability, and consumer convenience.
Company says the PrimaPak package is flexible, stackable, and reclosable, replacing rigid cans, jars, stand-up pouches, and other traditional packaging. Also reported lightweight, the technology is said to improve package cube by 30% or more compared to round composite cans or blow molded PET jars.
“It’s tough to stand out in the club store and retail environments. The PrimaPak shape and design create a billboard effect for better merchandising,” says Roman Forowycz, chief marketing officer for Clear Lam Packaging. “Traditional packaging often has multiple components requiring more warehouse space and truck shipments during the manufacturing process. The PrimaPak System combines all components into one roll of film, providing opportunities for cost savings and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions throughout the supply chain.”
For the Kar’s application, a proprietary film with strong barrier properties was developed from a single roll of flexible film enhanced with an exo-skeleton label and Peel and ReSeal lid system on a custom vertical f/f/s machine. Company reports the finished package weighs 70% less than traditional plastic jars with similar serving sizes, adding that for every 10 million packages, the Kar’s Second Nature branded PrimaPak saves more than 2 million lbs of plastic and reduces CO2 emissions by up to 65% compared to PET jars.
“This new package design offers great potential,” says Scott McKinnon, VP of sales for Kar’s Nuts. “We are testing the concept and believe in the significant performance and sustainability benefits without all of the hassle and cost associated with preformed containers. We see this as a real value proposition for consumers and our retail customers who want better use of space, easy recloseability, stackability, and less plastic waste.”
In other company news, Clear Lam Packaging and Frito-Lay have settled their lawsuit related to Clear Lam’s PrimaPak technology. Contact companies for more details.
