Recognised as the cheese and dairy sector’s meeting place for innovation, leadership and excellence, the event offers a platform for industry collaboration at a time when regulatory change is reshaping packaging requirements across the UK and Europe.

With legislation increasingly driving producers towards more sustainable packaging formats, Coveris has focused its innovation on recyclable solutions based on monomaterial and polyolefin structures. These developments are designed to support manufacturers in transitioning to compliant packaging, while maintaining performance, quality, and packing efficiency.

Ahead of the UK’s Simpler Recycling deadline, which will introduce mandatory kerbside collections for plastic films and bags by March 2027, Coveris has developed recycle-ready packaging formats with validated shelf-life performance across grated, block and sliced cheese categories. These developments also support the requirements of the UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) framework by helping producers improve recyclability and reduce packaging impact. The solutions are further aligned with the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which mandates that all packaging must be recyclable by 2030.

For grated cheese applications, Coveris’ award-winning MonoFlexBE pouches are established across several UK retailers and brand-owners. Featuring a polyethylene-based (PE) laminate structure, the pouches are recyclable through front-of-store collection schemes and are ready for upcoming kerbside collections under Simpler Recycling. They deliver high-barrier protection and shelf-life of up to 120 days while offering notable reductions in plastic use and carbon emissions.

In the block cheese segment, Coveris’ PolyFlex form, fill, seal polyolefin film is developed as a recycle-ready alternative to traditional nylon/PE laminates. The solution has been validated to deliver strong barrier performance and shelf-life protection, while also achieving environmental benefits through reduced material weight and a lower carbon footprint versus non-recyclable films.

For sliced cheese formats, Coveris’ MonoFlexBE lidding film offers a peelable, recycle-ready option compatible with a variety of existing base web trays, enabling producers to transition efficiently to more sustainable packaging.

Alexandra Burgess, Coveris’ UK Technical Applications Manager for Meat, Fish, Poultry & Dairy, explains: “We are taking a proactive approach to the changing legislative landscape, making sure our packaging solutions are compliant and ready for what’s coming next. By continuing to innovate monomaterial and polyolefin structures, alongside our technical expertise and food science capabilities, we are well placed to support cheese producers as they transition to recyclable, future-ready packaging, balancing sustainability with the required performance and protection.”

Attendees at the International Cheese & Dairy Awards and EXPO are invited to visit Coveris to explore how its recycle-ready solutions can support their transition to legislative-compliant packaging, while continuing to meet the demands of modern cheese supply chains.