The invention of the canning process 200 years ago is undoubtedly one of the most important developments in food packaging history. It began innocuously enough in the late 1700s when Frenchman Nicolas Appert (lured by Napoleon Bonaparte’'s promise of 12 000 francs to the first person who could preserve food for his army) applied heat to food sealed in bottles, inventing a method for safely conserving food without refrigeration.

DairyBelle, one of the oldest and most prominent dairy manufacturers in South Africa, has relaunched its UHT milk, shifting from Tetra Pak to SIG Combibloc Obeikan as its strategic packaging partner, and a notable first for the sector in the country.

Cibapac, the multi-faceted food packaging manufacturer, has announced the acquisition of Intercas, a Gauteng-based distributor of casings for processed meat. Prize aspect of the deal is that Intercas is the exclusive local agent for Kalle sausage casings, a global market leader in the sector.

An initiative to protect the health of people who use old drums to carry or store potable liquids has been launched by the Responsible Packaging Management Association of Southern Africa (RPMASA).