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Smurfit Kappa has announced plans to invest €54 million into its bag-in-box plant in Ibi, Alicante, Spain, doubling its capacity. The investment is set to boost the sustainability of the plant’s operations and its product portfolio, with “significant” savings in energy consumption and enhanced waste management systems. The plant in Ibi creates a range of products for such as wine, juice, liquid eggs, dairy and water. The packaging giant says that its Vitop Original tap is the most commonly used for bag-in-box wines and juices in the world and has a leak rate of less than one in 85 million since its launch. According to Smurfit Kappa, the site already has strong sustainability credentials, with a number of systems in place to identify and separate by-products. Saverio Mayer, CEO of Smurfit Kappa Europe, said: “Today’s announcement demonstrates our commitment to the bag-in-box division and forms part of our multi-country expansion plan. We have invested €90 million in the Ibi plant throughout the last decade which has significantly enhanced our offering. Our customers know that when they choose us, they will get everything they need for their product, invariably resulting in a beautifully designed bag-in-box with a reduced carbon footprint.” Pascual Martínez, GM of the Smurfit Kappa Ibi plant, added: “We are proud to be taking Ibi to the next level through this investment and creating a further 200 jobs for the local economy. We have a talented and very skilled team here that can solve even the most complex challenge. I am excited about embarking on the next chapter for Ibi.”