The world is evolving, and notions of growth pertaining to the environment are making every sector revisit its operations as per eco-friendly maxims. Sustainable packaging was, of course, important for industries and represents a serious part of the consumer goods business. Recently, innovations in sustainable packaging not only help bridge these concerns but have also set new benchmarks in environmental responsibility. Here is an overview of some of the head-turning developments in sustainable packaging, what their potential impacts might be, the rest of the future trajectory of this essential industry, outlined in this blog.
The Need for Sustainable Packaging
Packaging might be necessary to protect a product in transit, preserve its shelf life, and indicate what the product is and how it should be used. All these needs have been served by traditional packaging material, and all mainly by plastics, which have caused catastrophic damage to the environment. They do not naturally biodegrade and are the most causing element of concern, which gets dispersed in landfills, oceans, and rivers. The issues have only multiplied with the introduction of single-use plastics, creating a global need for better alternatives.According to a report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, almost 50% of plastic packaging enters the market only once and is really just thrown away. This is, by all means, a loud call for innovations that would stop the waste at the core and make the whole system more sustainable.
We have captured some of the most innovative trends and technologies that are jetting in promising solutions for this journey to sustainable packaging. Explore some of the biggest developments here.
1.Biodegradable and Compostable Materials
Biodegradable and compostable materials are types of material designed to break down more quickly than traditional plastics to reduce their impact on the environment. Such materials usually come from natural sources, such as plant-based polymers.
a. Plant-Based Plastics
Bioplastics are plastics derived from either corn starch, sugarcane, or potato starch; among other plant-based sources. The most common examples include Polylactic Acid (PLA) and Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). The former, PLA, which is derived from fermented corn sugars, is already in use in various food and beverage packaging. The latter, PHA, is a byproduct obtained from the fermentation of organic materials by bacteria and now holds a lot of promise as a degradable alternative that breaks down naturally.
b.Mushroom Packaging
Mushroom packaging is an innovative product created from the root structure of mushrooms, which is called mycelium. Mycelium grows around agricultural waste, for example, corn stalks or husks from rice. Once the mycelium has melded together into a solid shape, it can then be dried to create a very lightweight but very strong material. The amazing thing about mushroom packaging is that it is completely fully biodegradable as it will degrade on its own will within a few weeks of being composted.
c.Seaweed Packaging
Seaweed-based packaging is another recent development. Seaweed is a high-growth and bioabundant marine plant that can be processed into a flexible, water-resistant film. This material, aside from being naturally biodegradable, can also be edible, making this a potentially viable use for single-use items like straws or wrappers.
2.Reusable and Refillable Systems
The idea of reusability and refilling is fast catching up to be a surefire technique toward the reduction in packaging wastes. Companies could largely reduce the amount of packaging material entering landfills by promoting container reuse among customers.
a.Refillable Packaging
Refillable packaging systems involve containers that are re-utilised multiple times, with the same product. This concept is already well-respected in personal care and cleaning products-related industries. Some organisations, such as Lush, have even more radically embraced returnable systems, installing refill stations where customers can return and receive the same products by refilling their containers.Returnable packaging refers to the use of robust containers returned to the manufacturer after use for cleaning and re-use. This is quite common in the beverage industry, especially for the return, sanitize, and re-use of glass bottles. Improvements in this area come with smart packaging solutions equipped with RFID tags. These are useful in more effective tracking and management of return and re-use.
3.Minimalist and Smart Packaging
Minimalist packaging design streamlines the amount of material that can suffice, yet gives a required amount of protection to the product. Smart packaging, on the other hand, involves the use of technology to offer functionality to packaging.
a. Minimalist Packaging
That is to say, minimalist packaging is designed with the concept of least use of materials and designs that are more functional and can be recycled. For example, a change has been observed in the design of packages with no extra layers, minimum ink, or other coatings and that can be recycled. Companies like Unilever and Nestlé are at the forefront, committing to reducing the complexity of their packaging.
Smart packaging utilizes technologies such as sensors and QR codes to support real-time tracking of information on a product’s condition or authenticity. It is used to trace the lifestyle of a package which aids its user in making decisions concerned with the recycling of a package or its disposal. Traceability in smart packaging can also be used to make a consumer’s life easier, from freshness indicators to tamper-evidence.
4.Edible Packaging
Edible packaging is an innovative concept where the packaging itself is designed to be consumed along with the product. This approach not only eliminates waste but also adds a novel aspect to the consumer experience.
a.Edible Films and Coatings
Edible films and coatings are those which are prepared from food-grade materials, such as starch, proteins, or gums, and can be employed to package food products or act as a barrier film on the surface of fruits and vegetables. An application is the coating of fresh produce to give extended shelf life due to less plastic packaging for fresh produce.
The ingredients found in edible cutlery and edible containers are items like rice flour and wheat bran, among others. These are items that in theory can or should be be consumed after they serve in their original purpose or broken down harmlessly in the environment. Companies working on this like Bakeys are thus pioneering the development of edible cutlery that will hope to completely replace all disposable plastic utensils.
The Challenges and Future of Sustainable Packaging
Indeed, despite the promising innovations, the shift to sustainable packaging is not straightforward. Factors such as cost, scalability, and consumer acceptance are considered to play a key determining role in the success of emerging packaging solutions.
a.Cost and Scalability
Most of the sustainable packaging solutions are costlier than the normal material development. For example, the production methods of bioplastics have been complex, and they normally are higher in price. Up-scaling in production methods for the demands of the global market, while upholding an affordable price, stands as a significant challenge for the industry.
b.Consumer Education and Acceptance
material use from region to region, which makes the regulatory environment complex for any global company. Infrastructure in composting and recycling should further be made full-proof to effectively address the handling This will require consumer education to ensure that they widely embrace sustainable packaging. Indeed, most consumers do not understand both the benefits of these new materials and how to dispose of them, such as compostable packaging.
The regulatory landscape for sustainable packaging is still an evolving one, with many differences in standards and regulations for new of new types of materials.
Sustainable packaging innovations are relevant—so important—all because they will be huge steps in the reduction of environmental impacts and the realization of the circular economy. Three-dimensional printed prototypes and bioengineered material schematics explain how such innovation in this field is being realized nowadays.
There are challenges to be faced, but now both companies and researchers, and consumers, cannot back off from these inventions. Hereon, we need to continue investments in research and make consumers aware, in order for these solutions to be scalable, developing at par with environmental and economic concerns.
We therefore encourage and strongly stand for sustainable packaging practices that will one day not only save products but be a positive for the environment. The journey toward a sustainable packaging solution is a shared effort, and with every step of innovation and stewardship, we grow together into a world that is more sustainable.