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Cirkla, Belmark and Ossid have unveiled an integrated packaging solution combining high-performance fibre trays, resealable lidding film and automated sealing technology.
The companies claim the solution is the first to bring resealable lidding film to fibre trays at commercial scale, addressing a longstanding technical challenge around bonding peel-and-reseal film to a fibre substrate without compromising the tray's liner.
The packaging system combines Cirkla's moulded fibre trays with Belmark's resealable lidding film and Ossid's automated sealing technology. It is designed for applications including fresh protein, produce and ready meals.
The solution is being showcased at The Global Produce and Floral Show in Orlando, Florida, from 14–16 October, followed by Pack Expo in Chicago, Illinois, from 18–21 October.
According to the companies, resealable functionality has traditionally been associated with rigid plastic packaging, with the technical challenge of applying a resealable film to a fibre substrate limiting its adoption.
The collaboration aims to overcome this barrier by combining the three companies' respective technologies.
Cirkla's fibre trays are designed to provide performance comparable with plastic in areas including shelf life, barrier properties and durability, while reducing plastic waste by up to 90%.
The company said its trays have been tested and validated on major tray sealers in the US market, including Ossid equipment. The trays are designed as a plug-and-play solution, with no capital investment or production-line modifications required, according to Cirkla.
Glenn Divers, vice president of sales at Cirkla, said: “Resealable fibre packaging has been one of the industry's most sought-after innovations and it took the right partners to make it real. When you convert a single-use tray into a resealable, multi-use package without compromising performance, cost or asking brands to change their lines – you remove every reason not to switch.”
Belmark's contribution centres on its lidding film technology, which the companies said enables resealable functionality to be integrated with Cirkla's fibre trays at commercial scale.
Jason Vandeloo, director of business development at Belmark, said: “At Belmark, we're proud to contribute our leadership in lidding film technology to help bring solutions like this to market."
Ossid provides the sealing equipment through its ReeMaster NextGen Automatic Tray Sealer. The system is designed for medium- to large-scale production environments across produce, protein and other food applications.
The tray sealer uses servo-driven indexing conveyors and side grippers to position trays consistently during sealing. Its stainless-steel, washdown-ready open-frame design is intended to facilitate cleaning and maintenance.
The equipment also features a 12-inch colour touchscreen with recipe management, allowing operators to manage changeovers between packaging formats including top-seal, Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) and Vacuum Skin Packaging (VSP).
Andrew Birdwell, vice president of sales at Ossid, said the collaboration had addressed the challenge of combining a fibre tray with peel-and-reseal functionality.
“Together with Belmark and Cirkla, we solved a long-standing challenge: pairing a fibre-based tray with a peel/reseal lidding film without damaging the tray's liner,” he said. “The result is a package that performs on the line, stands out on the shelf, and helps our customers reach their sustainability goals.”
The announcement comes as Cirkla continues to expand its commercial fibre packaging capabilities. The company said its trays are already being used in real production environments by major US retailers and protein processors.
Cirkla's first US manufacturing facility, located in Gainesville, Georgia, is scheduled to begin operations in the first quarter of 2027.
The company develops moulded fibre packaging made from renewable plant fibres for applications including fresh protein, produce, ready meals and other consumer packaged goods.
Cirkla said it was the first company to bring moulded fibre MAP trays to commercial scale, using its proprietary liner technology.
The new resealable format builds on this platform by adding a functionality typically associated with plastic packaging, potentially allowing food manufacturers to combine fibre-based packaging with consumer convenience and automated sealing.
The integrated solution will be demonstrated at The Global Produce and Floral Show in Orlando and Pack Expo in Chicago during October.
