Cirkla、Belmark OssidLaunched the “world’s first” resealable fiber tray, designed as a sustainable, scalable, and cost-competitive alternative to plastic.
Combining Cirkla’s high-performance fiber trays with Belmark’s resealable lidding films and Ossid’s automated sealing technology, this packaging solution is suitable for food categories such as fresh proteins, produce, and ready-to-eat meals.
Reportedly, fiber trays “meet or exceed” the shelf life, barrier properties, and durability of traditional plastics, while reducing plastic waste by up to 90%. Meanwhile, they are said to be cost-effective, plug-and-play, and have been tested and validated on all major tray sealers in the U.S. market, including those from Ossid.
Cirkla’s trays are currently being used in real-world production environments by U.S. retailers and protein processors, requiring no capital investment or changes to production lines.
Previously, the technical challenge of adhering resealable film to fiber-based substrates without compromising the tray liner prevented fiber trays from offering peel-and-reseal functionality. Now, Belmark’s advanced lidding technology and Ossid’s ReeMaster NextGen automatic tray sealer claim to have resolved this issue.
Glenn Divers, Vice President of Sales at Cirkla, stated, “Resealable fiber packaging has long been one of the industry’s most popular innovations, and realizing its potential requires the right partners. I believe this will be a turning point for the widespread adoption of fiber packaging across the industry.”
When you convert disposable trays into resealable, multi-use packaging without compromising performance or cost, and without requiring brands to change their production lines, you eliminate all reasons not to make the switch.
Belmark claims that its collaboration with Circla and Ossid combines sustainability, product protection, and consumer convenience into a single solution.
Jason Vandeloo, Business Development Director at Belmark, continued, “Projects like this remind us that innovation does not happen in isolation. Bringing resealable functionality to fiber trays requires expertise across materials, films, and equipment, with each partner playing a vital role.”
At Belmark, we are proud to play a leading role in lidding film technology, helping bring such solutions to market.
The ReeMaster NextGen automatic tray sealer is designed for medium to large-scale production environments in the agricultural, protein, and other food sectors. It utilizes a servo-driven indexing conveyor and side clamps to consistently and accurately position trays.
Its 12-inch color touchscreen features intuitive recipe management, simplifying operation and enabling faster switching between top-seal, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), and vacuum skin packaging (VSP). The machine’s stainless steel, open-frame, washable design is also engineered for quick, tool-free cleaning and maintenance.
Andrew Birdwell, Vice President of Sales at Ossid, added, “Sustainable packaging advances when partners challenge what the industry deems impossible.” “Together with Belmark and Cirkla, we addressed a long-standing challenge: pairing fiber-based trays with peel-and-reseal lid films without damaging the tray’s liner.
The result is packaging that performs well online, stands out on the shelf, and helps our customers achieve their sustainability goals.
The resealable fiber tray was showcased at the Global Agricultural Products and Flowers Exhibition from October 14 to 16 and is currently on display at the Packaging Expo until October 21.
Cirkla also plans to leverage its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Gainesville, Georgia, to bring its latest partnerships onto a commercially validated, supply-chain-ready foundation, with the plant scheduled to begin operations in the first quarter of 2027.
In other news, Mars Snacking has launched a resealable canister for its Cheez-It and Club crackers. The packaging is designed to help consumers carry and enjoy the crackers in various settings while keeping them fresh until the last bite.
Copacol also showcased a cellulose tray for seasoned chicken, designed to be placed directly in an air fryer and to be recycled or biodegraded at the end of its life cycle.
