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Packaging solutions company Lamipak is investing over $400 million to expand its facility in Kunshan, China. The new plant will help the company meet growing demand for aseptic packaging. It will house a new 6,200 metres-squared research and development centre, designed to create the next generation of sustainable products to reduce Lamipak's carbon footprint by 50% and make its food packaging 100% recyclable. Additionally, the company says that the facility will also provide an automated warehouse "that will use the latest technology to streamline and expedite the on-site production process". The warehouse will have a solar array installed on its roof to reduce the company's reliance on non-renewable resources.

Anil Kaul, vice chairman of Lamipak, said: “As the world shifts towards a future where demand is increasing for more innovation in packaging, Lamipak is committed to investing into developing the next generation of sustainability products through its research and development centre that not only reduces its impact on the environment but also can create circular economies for future generations to come. The expansion will set a new chapter for the company as we begin to diversify our products to increase our range of sustainable packaging solutions for the consumer.”

Song Jun, general manager of Lamipak, added: “Lamipak’s expansion plans mark another significant milestone in our company’s growth, as it brings our vision of becoming the world leader in the packaging food industry one step closer. Our phase two expansion will boost our existing site capacity from 12 billion packs per annum to 39 billion, but also will bring a new era of automated features to streamline and increase the energy efficiency of our production processes.” The site is expected to be ready for commissioning by April 2023.