The HZ Group innovates again and launches the first ice cream containers in recyclable and biodegradable cardboard on the market

The BIOHZ ice cream pots propose to replace Telgopor and a very high positive impact on the planet is estimated given that the annual consumption of ice cream per capita in Argentina is 7 kilos per person.

The HZ Group launched the first product of the BIOHZ line on the market in mid-June. It was a spoon, and now it is time for ice cream pots and cups that are also: biodegradable, suitable for direct food contact, with a resistant structure, do not have bleaches and have an anti-humidity and anti-grease treatment.

The ice cream pots have a novel design, different worldwide, because their modular thermal box is totally unique. These are quarter, half and one kilo jars of ice cream and a thermal box. These containers are designed primarily for delivery and take away, which is why a modular concept of pots was developed. Its assembly is simple and quick, the external box is delivered folded, optimizing transport and storage space at the point of sale.

The packaging maintains the temperature of the product for more than 45 minutes. In turn, thermal boxes can be used more than once, encouraging reuse.

The market launch of ice cream containers includes the launch of cups in various sizes. These cups, unlike polypaper pots and plastic cups, are made of cardboard with an anti-humidity barrier, without plastic laminates, being a biodegradable and recyclable alternative.

This second stage of launching the BIOHZ line will consist of some two hundred thousand units in their different presentations. Interpack plans a third stage where it will produce trays and containers for meals towards the end of the year; and in a fourth phase for early 2022 in which it will present cutlery, small spoons and liquid stirrers.

Single-use disposable plastics are one of the global problems to be solved. Disposable cutlery is used for about 20 minutes on average and if it is made of plastic it takes about 400 years to degrade. The BIOHZ line, being made of biodegradable cardboard, will take less than a year and a half. HZ began the development of this line of BIOHZ utensils with the spoon because within the cutlery line it is the product that has the most use and consumption on public roads. “As a business group we are aware of the need to drive changes at a social level that mobilize us to be more sustainable, mitigating the environmental impact. “We promote recycling, apply environmental policies in all our plants and seek the development of sustainable product alternatives.” says Pablo García, regional commercial manager of the HZ Group. Interpack, a packaging company in Argentina, worked together with three other companies of the Group in its development: Celomat (flexible packaging), Selecta and Innovapack cardboard packaging companies in Chile and Brazil.

“We challenge ourselves to think differently, focusing on needs, changes in the world and new trends, developing attractive value propositions for different markets. “We are not satisfied with what we know, we are continually searching for new designs, materials and applications.” explains Santiago Villagra, commercial manager of Grupo HZ.

BIOHZ products are initially marketed in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay. The suggested retail price is competitive with alternatives available on the market.

“To create the ice cream pots we used the “job to be done” perspective and the question we asked ourselves was: How can we transport ice cream for 45 minutes in a sustainable way?

We focus on temperature conservation and choosing biodegradable materials. As an added value we work on optimizing the storage space so useful for ice cream parlors; “We develop an innovative and ecological product.” says James Mac Donald, regional Innovation + Development leader.