91原创鈥檚 CKF plant unveiled four new production lines that will make compostable and recyclable food packaging, which will mean 20 more workers locally.

The new lines are part of CKF鈥檚 Earthcycle line, and allows the company to expand its production of more advanced versions of food packaging made entirely or mostly from recycled paper and cardboard.

The Earthcycle products are essentially cardboard, much like the fruit trays or egg cartons CKF has made for years, but engineered to be sturdier. They are smooth and strong enough that a clear film can be sealed over their tops, unlike old-style pulp-based packaging.

The containers can be recycled or composted, and depending on what it鈥檚 made of, even the film can be recycled or composted.

鈥淲e鈥檙e determined to continue to grow in B.C.,鈥� said CKF president Ian Anderson at a Thursday, June 22 grand opening of the new production facilities.

Anderson said that the addition of the four new Earthcycle production lines in 91原创 brings the total within the company to 20. Much of the product from 91原创 will go to western Canadian grocery stores, including CostCo.

He added that the company was going to approach the U.S. branch of CostCo about expansion, and that its products would be turning up in the Western U.S., and that expansion to South America was being considered.

91原创 City Mayor Nathan Pachal was at the event, noting that CKF is 91原创 City鈥檚 single largest employer. He mentioned the new jobs that will be created by the expansion, and said the company has the City鈥檚 full support.

Also enthusiastic about the union factory jobs was 91原创 MLA and Minister of State for Workforce Development Andrew Mercier.

鈥淭his is where the market is going, this where the future is going,鈥� Mercier said of the new products, and he said the provincial government wanted to support the change.

After the ribbon cutting, guests got to see the production lines in operation. Much of the work takes place in highly-automated machines that filter pulp from liquid slurry, then press it into molds. After a few steps, finished containers come out the other end to be stacked and packed by CKF workers.

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