Kwik Lok offers environmentally friendly alternative to plastic bag closures

Fibre-Lok is an innovative bag closure solution developed by Kwik Lok. This time, Fructidor had an opportunity to interview Ron Cardey, Senior Vice President - Customer Engagement at Kwik Lok, and asked what is so special about this new product.

Fructidor: So, Mr. Cardey, what is Fiber-Lok?  

Ron Cardey: Fibre-Lok is another innovation from Kwik Lok. This is an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic bag closures for the European market. Composed entirely of natural cellulose wood and cotton fibres, it provides the same reliability as the traditional Kwik Lok while aligning with European sustainability standards for home compostability and plastics reduction.

F: What is the difference between Fiber-Lok and locks offered by your competitors?  

RC: One of its main benefits is strength in streamlined form-factor – it is just 0.70 mm thick but provides the strength of other closures from Kwik Lok. Also, it is responsibly sourced - the Fibre-Lok wood pulp supply comes from renewable sources and  FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)-certified suppliers. This certification guarantees that products come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, economic, and social benefits. In addition, it is home compostable – unlike other solutions that are only compostable in industrial settings. Fibre-Lok complies with new global regulations – it meets or exceeds all known health and environmental regulations, including RoHS, REACH and CA Prop 65. And, finally, Fibre-Lok can be utilized in any Kwik Lok automatic bag closing machine without modifications. It can be used in 086 machines with insignificant modifications. This means customers can convert their lines within just a few hours.

F: For which products/types of package Fibre-Lok can be applied?  

RC: It can be used in any Kwik Lok automatic closing machine which allows the Fibre-Lok to be used with many products.

F: What is Eco-Lok and what is special about it?  

RC: Eco-Lok was Kwik Lok’s first entry in the sustainable area. Using 100 percent natural, renewably sourced plant-based resin Eco-Lok reduces plastic usage by up to 20 percent and reduces greenhouse gas emissions up to 20 percent.

F: Why is it better than previous solutions from Kwik-Lok?  

RC: With over 65 years of expertise, Kwik Lok continues to deliver advanced engineering and design that you can rely on. Kwik Lok partners with its customers and industry partners to distinguish their unique requirements, and provides customer support. Eco-Lok considers the sustainability customers need in terms of carbon and plastic reduction with the performance that has set the standard in the industry for many years. 

Kwik Lok is 100 percent committed to doing our part to help eliminate plastic pollution, while keeping foods safe and fresh. As an activator in the U.S. Plastics Pac and a member of ANZPAC, we have pledged to work with others across the globe to tackle the issue of problematic plastics.  We continue to work with industry partners and academics on additional materials.  We have learned that different customers, in different segments and in different parts of the world are at different locations on the sustainability spectrum.  We will continue working with all of them to help meet their specific needs. We also realize that sustainability will be like an amoeba over the next several years constantly changing and evolving as new technologies and materials emerge.  We intend to be on the leading edge of this evolution.

For more information about Kwik Lok, see the webpage