The 'Go Green' trend has recently integrated itself into many aspects of life, not excluding packaging. From biodegradable containers to recycled grocery bags manufacturers everywhere are trying to use a more environmentally friendly approach.
‘Biodegradable’packaging is a fancy new term that the majority of companies want to be able to boast of. But what does it mean? A biodegradable substance can be broken down into harmless natural compounds in a short amount of time. Globally, companies are utilizing ‘biodegradable’ technology to create new packaging designs that will be eco-friendly and easy to dispose of (without adding to landfills).
PLA (polylactic acid):
PLA is the core of corn-based plastics. It is made from a renewable resource, is compostable, and is relatively cheap to produce. PLA is formed into packaging and containers for food and other goods and when it is disposed of it is returned to the earth as fertilizer. Conventional plastic packaging uses about 200,000 barrels of oil a day in the US alone, the use of PLA will drastically decrease this number. Another positive perk of PLA is that (in comparison to conventional plastics) its production uses 65% less energy, it generates 68% less greenhouse gases, and contains no toxins. Wal-Mart recently announced its plan to begin using only PLA containers to package and sell their produce in. If the company were to use 114 million PLA containers/year then they could be saving up to 800,000 barrels of oil/year.
Another common trend in the packaging industry is the use of recycled materials. Corporations everywhere are making the switch to more eco-friendly packaging that has been recycled and may even be reusable in order to reduce waste and decrease environmental impact.
Recycled Grocery Bags:
These bags are created from the waste of PET (Polyethylene Terephthaltate), a common consumer plastic used. In some areas PET is collected separately from other waste and taken to specialized recycling centers to be sorted and separated from other materials. After undergoing many other processes, the PET is then spun into a fiber and is used to weave recycled grocery bags. The majority of large corporations now offer recycled grocery bags with their logo for a small fee. Companies such as Whole Foods are even beginning to make the switch to only offering certain bags (including their recycled bags). In the state of California, a bill was proposed that would allow stores to charge 25 cents for each plastic bag a customer required for their groceries. Other stores have already begun charging a small fee for plastic bags in order to discourage their use. It is becoming more and more common to see customers walking in and out of the store with their own recycled and reusable grocery bags.
100% Recycled Packaging:
Recycled packaging uses 100% post-consumer recycled content. PET is the most common material used in making these containers. By switching to only recycled plastics, a company can save energy and water, and drastically decrease carbon dioxide emissions. Companies such as ‘Naked Juice’ and ‘Earthbound Farm’ have already begun using only 100% recycled packaging. Other companies are making the transition a little slower by offering products with ‘80% recycled packaging’ or something similar.
2010-2012
The future of packaging is going to be directly impacted by product demand, consumer behavior, and the environment. Packaging communicates the value added benefits of a product to consumers, therefore it is important the packaging industry keeps up with global trends. From the use of eco-friendly to hi-tech packaging the industry will undergo transformation in the next few years to reflect the changes in worldwide values and priorities.
Future Trends:
1. Convenience/ Speed:
In this fast-paced world, humans are naturally multi-taskers. Therefore the importance of convenience in packaging is something to be taken into account. Consumers want a product they can open easily or reseal, while still being functional. Products with luxuries such as ‘Open Here’ labels or easy-tear seals are going to become more popular in the next few years as well as products with resealable tops for later use.
2. Health/ Nutrition:
As consumers begin to become more conscious of their health, nutrition, and what they are putting into their bodies, this focus is implementing changes in the packaging industry. Packages are beginning to provide more detailed product information, smaller portions, use of materials, etc on their labels.
3. Eco-friendly:
The biggest global trend in packaging is, by far, the ‘Green’ movement. With the growing rate of global warming and green house emissions every industry has been touched by some extent and has had to make modifications to their production processes. Even consumers have become more aware of and sensitive towards green technology. Options such as recycled or paper grocery bags or biodegradable products are already available in many stores around the world but this trend will continue to grow in the future, becoming the only option for some corporations. Companies are beginning to plan eco-friendly packaging innovations in order to keep up with the trend. SunChips have proposed a compostable chip bag that is due out in 2010. The future of the packaging industry will be most greatly impacted by this ‘Green’ movement.
4. Technology:
Another trend that is growing in popularity is technology used in packaging. Consumers want their products protected, fresh, cold or hot, etc. and the industry is working to meet these demands. Packaging such as WP Beverage’s self-heating can or CCL Container’s cooling bottle is going to become more widely available to consumers in order to maximize convenience and product appeal. Technology is a huge part of any industry as countries are advancing rapidly and everyday technology is being updated or replaced with new innovations.
Posted by: Kaila Evenoff and Lindsey Jamieson
Sources:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/plastic.html
http://www.factorydirectpromos.com/recycled-grocery-bags.html
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2008-01-21-whole-foods-bags_N.htm
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/state&id=6079732
http://www.greenerdesign.com/news/2009/07/09/naked-juice-earthbound-farm-switch-recycled-packaging
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/plastic.html#ixzz0VfgRdAOO
http://www.foodprocessing.com/industrynews/2009/031.html
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/environment/2009-04-15-sunchips-green-packaging_N.htm
http://www.ferret.com.au/n/Future-trends-in-packaging-n718545
http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-126311948/packaging-trends-future-packaging.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?Packaging-Trend---The-Future-Outlook&id=2178513
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