中文Klöckner Pentaplast (kp), a global leader in rigid and flexible packaging and specialty film solutions, has expanded its kp Infinity portfolio with the launch of a new fruit tray range specifically designed for packed fresh fruit, bringing fully recyclable mono-material packaging to the fresh produce sector.
Addressing Fresh Produce Packaging Challenges
As retailers, producers, and consumers increasingly focus on packaging sustainability, fresh produce businesses are looking for solutions that reduce food waste and improve recyclability while maintaining shelf appeal. The new kp Infinity fruit tray range has been developed to meet these evolving requirements, building on the success of kp Infinity in food-to-go packaging.
The trays are manufactured from expanded polypropylene (EPP), a mono-material that is fully recyclable. This is a significant advantage in a market where many existing fruit packaging solutions use multi-material constructions — such as PET trays with PE liners or foam bases with film overwraps — that are difficult or impossible to recycle through standard municipal systems.
Design for Performance and Sustainability
The kp Infinity fruit trays feature a lightweight yet durable design that helps protect packed fruit throughout the supply chain, supporting efforts to reduce product damage and waste. Their traditional artisan appearance enhances product presentation, while their stackable format supports efficient handling, transportation, and storage. Clear consumer-facing recycling messaging on the trays helps simplify disposal and support recycling participation.
In addition to recyclability benefits, the trays offer a lower carbon footprint and require less water and energy to manufacture compared with alternative packaging materials. This lifecycle advantage is increasingly important as retailers and brand owners conduct full supply chain carbon assessments and set science-based emissions reduction targets.
Complete Packaging Solution
For customers seeking a complete packaging solution, kp Infinity fruit trays can be combined with kp FlexiStretch overwrap or kp FlexiFlow films. Together, these solutions provide product presentation and protection while helping fresh produce businesses maintain product quality from packing line to retail shelf. The ability to source tray and film from a single supplier streamlines procurement and ensures consistent packaging performance.
“Following the success of kp Infinity in food-to-go applications, we identified a growing need for recyclable packaging solutions in the fresh produce sector,” said Austin Schwarz, Sales Director UK&I at kp Food Packaging. “The new fruit tray range brings together the durability, presentation and recyclability customers are looking for in a format specifically designed for whole fruit such as apples and pears.”
The Mono-Material Imperative
The launch reflects a broader industry shift toward mono-material packaging solutions. Regulatory frameworks, particularly the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), are setting clear requirements for packaging recyclability that effectively mandate a move away from multi-material constructions. Mono-material solutions — packaging made entirely from a single polymer type — are significantly easier to recycle because they do not require separation of different material layers.
Expanded polypropylene is an attractive mono-material choice for fresh produce packaging because it combines lightweight construction with excellent protective properties. EPP’s cellular structure provides cushioning that protects delicate fruits from impact damage during transport, while its thermal insulation properties help maintain product temperature. These performance characteristics, combined with full recyclability, make it well-suited for the fresh produce category.
Reducing Food and Packaging Waste
The kp Infinity fruit tray range addresses two interconnected sustainability challenges: reducing food waste and reducing packaging waste. Food waste is a significant environmental issue — the UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that approximately one-third of all food produced globally is lost or wasted, with damaged produce representing a substantial portion of this loss. Packaging that effectively protects fruit throughout the supply chain directly reduces food waste.
At the same time, the packaging itself must be designed for end-of-life recovery. By using a fully recyclable mono-material with clear recycling messaging, kp ensures that the packaging can be recovered through standard recycling systems rather than ending up in landfill or incineration. This dual focus on product protection and packaging recoverability represents the current best practice in sustainable packaging design.
Market Outlook
The fresh produce packaging market is large and growing, driven by increasing consumer demand for pre-packed fresh fruit and vegetables, the expansion of convenience retail formats, and growing export markets for fresh produce. Sustainability requirements are reshaping this market, with retailers setting increasingly stringent packaging recyclability targets for their suppliers.
Klöckner Pentaplast’s expansion of the kp Infinity range into fresh produce positions the company to capture growth in this evolving market. The combination of proven food-to-go packaging technology, a complete solution approach with integrated films, and a focus on both performance and sustainability provides a compelling value proposition for fresh produce businesses navigating the transition to recyclable packaging.
The competitive landscape for fresh produce packaging is intensifying as multiple material suppliers compete to offer recyclable alternatives. Klöckner Pentaplast’s advantage lies in its established kp Infinity brand, which has already gained market traction in food-to-go applications. Extending this brand into fresh produce leverages existing customer relationships and distribution channels, potentially accelerating market penetration compared to launching an entirely new product line.
For retailers, the availability of fully recyclable fresh produce packaging supports their own sustainability commitments. Major UK and European supermarket groups have set ambitious targets for packaging recyclability, and solutions like kp Infinity fruit trays provide a practical pathway to meeting these targets without compromising product protection or shelf appeal.
Source: WhatTheyThink (whattheythink.com), 2 July 2026
