Companies constantly innovate with technology and redesign their packaging to get better performance, improve marketability and enhance sustainability. Here’s a look at four recent product launches or redesigns on Packaging Dive’s radar.

Something’s fishy

German plastic film packaging manufacturer Südpack added to its Multifol NT product line a flexible film for thermoform applications that’s especially suited for fresh or frozen fish. The company says fishery products are extremely susceptible to oxidation, and this film product provides the needed protection from oxygen with little leakage.

The film weighs 20% less than its predecessor and about 30% less than other materials commonly used for this application, the company said in a news release, yet still is suitable for vacuum packaging. Despite the light weight, Südpack says this product provides “outstanding sealing performance” and high resistance to punctures.

Snack package plastic reduction

Kellanova (the Kellogg Co. snack food spinoff) recently announced that it reduced the amount of plastic in the packaging for three snacks: Cheez-It Snap'd, Cheez-It Puff'd and Club Crisps. “Through design optimization,” the company anticipates reducing plastic by 124,000 pounds annually, it said via email.

It is also eliminating 548,000 pounds annually of corrugated cardboard used for shipping cases. The flexible plastic is designed to be “recycle ready,” the company said via email, meaning it is not currently recyclable but could be if and when adequate infrastructure exists.

Feeling blue

Redsmith Distillery announced on social media that its gin bottles underwent a makeover and are now made with 100% recycled glass — in addition to sporting a redesigned label.

The blue-green tint comes from the recycling process, Packaging Gateway reports, and the bottles are about 20% lighter than previous versions. The bottles have cork stoppers that are topped with wood, and they’re sealed with a shrink closure that the company says is recyclable.

Blow the lid off

Tipa, in collaboration with ATI, released a compostable lid for coffee pods. The plant-based lid fits all Nespresso pods and is available in the U.S., U.K. and European markets, the company said via email. The lid incorporate’s Tipa’s high-barrier laminate, which turns into soil “with a few months” after being place in a compost bin, the company said.