Good aroma barrier properties and a long shelf-life are crucial factors in the packaging of spices. Traditionally, spices have been placed in glass jars and even the board packs currently in use include an aluminium laminate. McCormick has adopted a new type of spice packaging on the Finnish market. This is the aluminium-free Performa CTMP board provided with Ensobarr coating which is said to guarantee spices a shelf-life of three years and good aroma-, moisture- and UV-protection properties.

McCormick & Company Inc, hailed from USA, is the world's biggest spice refiner. This company sells to over a hundred countries and has production plants in 22. The company applies meticulous control over the quality of its products throughout the refining chain; starting from its own spice plantations and extending to the retail chain. The company even has its own steam-pasteurisation system to help ensure the high quality and hygiene of the spices. Sales packaging is one of the foremost factors in the company's quality control.
"Spices are sensitive to light and moisture, and this is why the packing has to guarantee good UV protection and it must block out moisture. The finely-divided aromas of the various spices need to be retained throughout the sales period; after all, just the right taste and scent form the foundation for the whole business," says Operations Manager Markku Hämäläinen of McCormick Oy, the Finnish subsidiary.
Earlier, the company had tested board packaging in which aluminium laminate was used to provide adequate aroma protection. However, McCormick wanted to discard the use of aluminium laminate and at the same time to make the packages simpler in structure. Stora Enso Packaging Boards took part in this project and their Performa CTMP board (embodying the Ensobarr High Barrier coating) was eventually chosen as the packaging solution after lengthy testing.
"Board packaging proved to be the most advantageous solution to us in terms of its overall economics and the fact that it really works. As regards quality values, we have not had to compromise and we have a material on which we can print directly the necessary information concerning the contents and the product without having to deal with adhesive labels. Moreover, we now have an aluminium-free packaging which further supports the realisation of our environmental values."
"Spice packaging represents yet another up-and-coming application for Performa CTMP board with the Ensobarr coating," points out Product Manager Mari Gerdt from Stora Enso. "The advantage of the patented Ensobarr solution is its gas-proof, aroma-proof and grease-proof High Barrier coating which extends the permitted sales time of the product and improves its hygiene. Also, the Ensobarr coating combined with Performa board provides sufficient light protection which is an important property for spice refiners."
At present, McCormick packages altogether eight different categories of spices in Performa Barr board, among them lemon pepper, a barbecue and general-purpose spice, a spice for minced meat, and aroma salt. The blanks for packaging are made by Canform Oy.

Caption:
Good UV-protection and moisture barrier are required of spice packagings. McCormick has started to use board packagings on the Finnish market. The material chosen for this purpose is Stora Enso's Performa CTMP board with Ensobarr coating.

For further information, please contact:

Stora Enso Oyj
Packaging Boards
Mari Gerdt, Product Manager
P.O. Box 25
FIN-48601 Karhula
FINLAND
Tel.: +358 2046 26777
Fax: +358 2046 26774
E-mail: mari.gerdt@storaenso.com

Stora Enso UK Ltd
Mr Roy Bray
12th floor, Newland House
49 Mount Street
GB-Nottingham, NG1 6HE
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel.: +44 115 948 43 48
Fax: +44 115 948 43 28
E-mail: roy.bray@storaenso.com

Stora Enso Interamericas, Inc.
Mr Mikko Jaatinen
8750 Doral Boulevard
Suite 270
Miami, FL 33178
U.S.A
Tel.: +1 305 716 9799
Fax: +1 305 716 5441
E-mail: mikko.jaatinen@storaenso.com
Stora Enso North America Corp.
Mr Michael Walsh
Two Landmark Square
3rd Floor
Stamford, CT 06901-2792
U.S.A
Tel.: +1 203 356 2300
Fax: +1 203 356 2340
E-mail: MWalsh@storaensona.com

Stora Enso Australia Pty. Ltd.
Mr Juhani Ellenberg
Level 17, NCR House
8-20 Napier Street
AUS-North Sydney 2060
AUSTRALIA
Tel.: +61 2 9955 4855
Fax: +61 2 9955 7933
E-mail: juhani.ellenberg@storaenso.com

Stora Enso Italia
Renato Somekh
Via A. Volta, 16
1-20093 Cologno Monzese
ITALY
Tel.: +39 02 251 514 50
Fax: +39 02 251 514 59
E-mail: renato.somekh@storaenso.com

Stora Enso France
Alain Piattier / Maila Grastilleur
15/25 Blvd de l'Amiral-Bruix
F-75782 Paris Cedex 16
FRANCE
Tel.: +33 1 53 64 7900
Fax: +33 1 53 64 7990
E-mail: maila.grastilleur@storaenso.com

Stora Enso Nederland B.V.
Dhr J.W.F.Klarenbeek
Postbus 12386
NL-1100 AJ Amsterdam
THE NETHERLANDS
Tel.: +31 20 650 5555
Fax: +31 20 650 5622
E-mail: jan-willem.klarenbeek@storaenso.com
E-mail: tom.alfthan@storaenso.com
Stora Enso Scandinavia
Packaging Boards
Joakim Stockhaus
Kanikenäsbanken 10
S-652 26 Karlstad
SWEDEN
Tel.: +46 54 22 2700
Fax: +46 54 22 2720
E-mail: joakim.stockhaus@storaenso.com

Stora Enso Hellas
Angelo Evgenikos
33, Vas. Sofias Ave.
GR-10675 Athens
GREECE
Tel.: +30 1 723 9990
Fax: +30 1 723 5110
E-mail: sthellas@otenet.gr

Stora Enso Hungary
Peter Megyaszai
Váci Utca Center
Váci u. 81/7 em.
H-1386 Budapest
HUNGARY
Tel.: +36 1 485 6030
Fax: +36 1 266 3577
E-mail: peter.megyaszai@storaenso.com

Stora Enso India
Timo Laipio
6th floor, Meridien Commercial Tower
Windsor Place
IN-New Delhi 110001
INDIA
Tel.: +91 11 332 7323
Fax: +91 11 373 6239
E-mail: timo.laipio@storaenso.com

Stora Enso Southern Africa
Mr Vesa Pärssinen
P.O.Box 12900
N1 City
7463 Cape Town
SOUTH AFRICA
Tel.: +27 21 595 0942
Fax: +27 21 595 1688
E-mail: vesa.parssinen@storaenso.com
Stora Enso (HK)
Mr Donny Chan
Rm. 1406, 36th Floor
3605-6 World Trade Center
280 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay
HONG KONG S.A.R.
Tel.: +852 2895 2063
Fax: +852 2576 1480
E-mail: donny.chan@storaenso.com

Stora Enso Singapore Pte Ltd
M.D. Tom Alftan
360 Orchard Road #11-01 International Building
SG-Singapore 238869
SINGAPORE
Tel.: +65 235 3485
Fax: +65 737 4278
E-mail: tom.alfthan@storaenso.com

Stora Enso (Middle East)
Martti Harju
R/A 8 - HB1
Jebel ali Free Zone, Dubai
Mail: P.O.B. 61265
Dubai
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Tel.: +971 4 8836 819
Fax: +971 4 8836 826
E-mail: martti.harju@storaenso.com

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