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ETERNITY Systems participates in the conference “What do we need to ensure the safety of food packaging? »

Conference "What do we need to ensure the safety of food packaging

Last updated: 06 / 01 / 2025

Brussels, 6 June 2023 - ETERNITY Systems, a major player in reuse and specialist in industrial washing of reusable packaging and containers, was invited by the European Commission for the conference dedicated to the safety of food packaging.

As Parliament and Council begin discussions regarding the definition of the Packaging and Waste Prevention Act (PPWR), issues and questions emerge regarding the hygiene and safety of reusable food packaging and awareness of chemical risks.

Conference theme: “What do we need to ensure the safety of food packaging?” The objective: to share expertise and visions on food packaging safety.

To discuss it, Eléonore BLONDEAU (New Projects Manager) was alongside 8 other speakers:

How does ETERNITY Systems contribute to improving food security?

From the company's creation, the issue of contact between packaging and food was at the heart of its packaging washing process: “The good news is that our activity is natively compatible with food contact. In fact, fish, meat, fruits & vegetables and even baked goods already come into contact with boxes, particularly plastic ones, which we have been washing since 1994. Obviously adjustments must be made to adapt to the challenges of primary containers which, in addition to new materials such as glass or stainless steel, require more regular analysis monitoring. However, this is entirely manageable by our current quality departments who until now washed crates, bins, boxes and pallets and will be able to adapt to cups, pots, jars, trays and gastronorm containers. », testifies Eléonore BLONDEAU.

In fact, for 30 years, ETERNITY Systems applies the HACCP approach and all sites are ISO9001 and ISO14001 certified. In addition, microbiological tests such as ATP and MIBI are carried out daily on each site and additional analyzes linked to pathogens and allergens are carried out by external laboratories according to customer specifications.

Added to this are the water analyzes and ICPE constraints that we manage across all of our 17 industrial reuse centers.

Concerning reusable plastic packaging, Eléonore also mentions the R&D work carried out within the framework of the European consortium Buddie-Pack : " We are testing the best reuse loop in 6 use cases from an economic, ecological, operational point of view and above all guaranteeing the best health and safety conditions. ". For example, we study chemical, material, coloring and even organoleptic migrations.

Finally, it is essential to remember that the choice of reusable packaging material depends on the use you want to make of it. Indeed, for logistical issues, plastic crates, bins, boxes and pallets allow a longevity of up to several dozen loops without breakage and, if necessary, can be subject to mechanical repair or welding. Concerning primary packaging, glass seems suitable for long storage or CHR, stainless steel seems suitable for collective catering and hot or reheating dishes, as for plastic it is suitable for contact times less than 1 hour and cold meals for example.

Maintaining food packaging safety also involves reducing environmental impacts. At the house of ETERNITY Systems, the need for washing processes to be eco-friendly is essential. This figure demonstrates this: 1L of water is reused on average 300 times. As Eléonore BLONDEAU pointed out: “As surprising as it may seem, it is not water that is consumed the most but energy."

Watch the replay of the conference by clicking on the button below:

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About the Author

Anthony ADAM

Communications and Marketing Manager at ETERNITY Systems, Anthony designs strategies and content to promote more sustainable consumption. He is a committed agent of change who combines creativity, rigor, and action to strengthen the visibility and impact of projects related to reuse and the circular economy.

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