Ethos Seafood Group introduces new recyclable film for pre-packaged seafood

Ethos Seafood Group, a joint venture between Santa Monica Seafood and Blue Earth Group, has announced it is transitioning its seafood packaging to a new recyclable material.

According to a 27 May announcement, Ethos Seafood Group spent two years developing the No. 1 PET recyclable packaging with its partner, MULTIVAC. The process focused on the elimination of single-use plastics and “establishing the pre-packaged format as the preferred way for customers to buy quality seafood,” the firm said.

"Plastics are a primary concern for everyone in the seafood industry,"  Ivan Clements, the co-president at Ethos Seafood Group and partner at Blue Earth Group, said in a press release. "Alongside our partners at MULTIVAC, we identified the pressing need to transition vacuum skin-pack films into a recyclable format. We are very pleased to have achieved this goal for the base trays, with the additional customer benefit of having an easy-peel top film."

According to MULTIVAC Business Unit Manager Gregg Poffenbarger, No. 1 mono PET film is one of the most recyclable packaging materials available on the market right now.

"MULTIVAC has worked with Ethos Seafood Group on the chilled, pre-packaged seafood category since its inception and are very pleased to have achieved this milestone in film development and application. The base tray, which makes up the majority of the package, is made from No. 1 mono PET film, generally the most recyclable material used today, and this film also includes a high percentage of recycled material,” Poffenbarger said. “To further ensure recyclability, we have developed a clean release/peel from the breathable top film. MULTIVAC's advancements in film recyclability and customer benefits demonstrate our commitment to innovation in the food packaging space. We look forward to ongoing collaboration with ESG as this new category grows."

Michael Cigliano, who serves as the other co-president at Ethos Seafood Group and the chairman of Santa Monica Seafood, noted growing interest among consumers in pre-packed seafood products, which fueled the firm’s latest development.

“Pre-packaged seafood has many benefits for customers, such as easy handling, freshness, no waste and traceability,” Cigliano said. “This is especially true today with customers' increased need to minimize touchpoints and their time in store. Retailers look to ESG for solutions; from MAP to vacuum skin-pack we have always focused on the next opportunity to help grow their fresh seafood sales. We believe that this new recyclable packaging development not only is the right thing to do but also solidifies ESG's leadership position as an innovator in pre-packaged seafood."  

Ethos Seafood Group specializes in the development and sale of sells pre-packaged, chilled seafood products to food retailers. It also develops value-added seafood products with rubs, sauces, and butters that are ready to heat and eat. The firm, which has locations in Chicago, Illinois, and Los Angeles, California, aims to help retailers and consumers alike to “understand the benefits of case-ready, pre-packaged seafood.”