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November 1, 2023

Global Innovations in Compostable and Reusable Packaging 

According to Global Google search statistics, searches for topics related to sustainable products increased by around 130% between 2017 and 2022. This is by itself enough to highlight the stark increase in consumers' awareness of their purchases' environmental impact. What is more interesting here is that many consumers are willing to pay extra for sustainable products with high-quality, environmentally friendly packaging.

With the increasing global awareness of environmental issues, businesses and consumers are seeking more sustainable solutions to reduce their ecological footprint. One of the most significant areas of focus is sustainable packaging. A growing number of consumers now have more knowledge and understanding of packaging products used in the market, and they are looking beyond nonplastic packaging for what is most sustainable of all. This inevitably led businesses to develop new, innovative ideas for packaging solutions to meet the market’s demand. 

In this article, we'll take a closer look at how consumer demand and changing habits shape global innovations in compostable and reusable packaging and how they are helping to create a greener future for all.

The need for sustainable packaging: A pressing reality

Consumers' growing awareness of their products' environmental impact brings many questions about the complete cycle of the products they buy, including the raw materials used for packaging. The increasing amounts of solid waste, of which packaging constitutes a considerable share, have been proven to be one of the major global environmental concerns. Over the past few decades, this naturally garnered more attention around the negative impact of single-use packaging on the environment and biodiversity, leading to growing consumer demand and regulatory requirements.

It is now indisputable that customers align themselves with brands and products that do their part for a sustainable future. Customers want brands with a high commitment to responsible business practices that consider society, the economy, and the environment. Responsible business practices concern more than just an organizations' processes but also need to include stakeholders. It is expected of businesses to help decision-makers and consumers make more responsible choices, ensuring that social and environmental impact considerations are balanced against those of financial gain.

Initially, customers' changing habits were seen as a trend. However, considering the survey Accenture ran, this trend will be around for a while, with 72% of respondents reporting actively buying more environmentally friendly products than they did five years ago. In comparison, 81% said they expected to buy even more over the next five years. Therefore, businesses must accept this not as a fleeting trend but as a pressing reality and work on responding to this awareness and demand. 

From sustainable packaging to innovative packaging solutions 

Many companies have started using sustainable packaging, a recent global survey showed that 75% of organizations have made clear sustainable packaging commitments. These commitments include opting for eco-friendly, resource-efficient materials that have a minimal environmental impact, such as renewable, biodegradable, or recyclable materials:

  • Biodegradable Plastics: Plastics made from natural materials, such as cornstarch or cellulose, which break down more quickly than traditional plastics.

  • Recyclable Materials: Materials such as paper, cardboard, aluminum, and glass can be recycled and repurposed multiple times.

  • Plant-based Packaging: Uses renewable, sustainably grown resources like bamboo, sugarcane, or mushroom-based materials.

Brands are trying to improve packaging sustainability in response to the demand, however, low-impact packaging continues rising and taking a different shape. As the demand for sustainable packaging grows, so does the need for innovation. Customers are increasingly inclined to remove any packaging where possible, just like demanding to see loose fruit and vegetables at supermarkets instead of pre-packaged goods. Here again, they are willing to pay more for minimal packaging alternatives with high product quality. 

This is challenging given that packaging plays an essential role in the products' journey. Businesses need packaging to deliver their products safely to the customers, and it is vital for customers to be able to store their purchases for long periods. Therefore, businesses must develop packaging solutions that serve all these purposes for customers and companies with minimal environmental impact. This sometimes requires more than just opting for sustainable, raw materials. It requires innovative thinking.

What does innovation mean in packaging?

Some companies have already started developing innovative packaging solutions without compromising usability, yet answering consumer demands. That is to say that consumer demand has been the most powerful in revolutionizing the packaging industry. It’s no mistake that recently UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has announced £3.2 million funding for packaging reduction, reuse, and recycling. 

Innovation in packaging aims to increase resource efficiency, eliminate waste, and reduce environmental impact. In principle, it is the same as sustainability in packaging. However, innovative packaging seeks to require less ecological impact not only by using different raw materials but also through improved design, flexibility, and multiple purposes, such as finding ways to use tentative materials in packaging. Sustainable packaging means different things to different companies depending on their products and the journey that their products take. Sustainable packaging goals of companies include but are not limited to: 

  • Using bio-based/renewable materials 

  • Eliminating unfavorable elements

  • Improving reverie infrastructure 

  • Increasing recycling 

  • Material efficiency

  • Design for Recovery 

  • Increasing recycled content in packaging 

  • Responsible fiber sourcing

  • Volumetric efficiency 

This is an exciting and growing area with the wave of action toward greater sustainability, a mix of methods including adopting biomaterials, designing for recyclability, and transitioning to digital manufacturing and recycling systems.

What are the innovative packaging solutions? 

Businesses are adopting new, innovative strategies or philosophies for reaching the goals listed above. Integine’s Sustainable Packaging 2023 whitepaper reveals that the cradle-to-cradle concept is becoming increasingly popular among businesses to reduce their carbon footprint. The cradle-to-cradle concept refers to taking responsibility for the entire value chain of packaging – from the sourcing of packaging material to the disposal of packaging. Some of the innovative packaging solutions developments include:

  • Edible Packaging: Packaging materials are made from seaweed, algae, or food waste, which can be consumed or composted after use.

  • Reusable Packaging: Implementation of reusable packaging systems, such as deposit schemes, allowing customers to return used packaging for cleaning and reuse, reducing waste, and encouraging a circular economy.

  • Smart Packaging: Integrating technology, such as QR codes, NFC tags, or sensors to track and recycle packaging materials more effectively. 

  • Regulations and Standards: Implementation of governmental or organisational regulations and standards to promote sustainable packaging practices, including the European Union’s Circular Economy Action Plan, and the United States Federal Trade Commission Green Guides.

Consumer demands, supportive regulations, and sustainable packaging at another level in 2023. Considering that the global packaging market is expected to reach $1275.06 billion by 2027, these innovations will only continue to surprise customers and businesses. On the other hand, it is remarkable such a big market like packaging has embraced sustainability and innovation over the years and is moving towards leading the change in different areas and working towards reducing their environmental footprint, meeting consumer expectations, and contributing to a more sustainable future. Check out Intengine’s Sustainable Packaging 2023 whitepaper to find out more about innovative packaging solutions, from mushroom packaging and cornstarch packaging to corrugated bubble wrap, and how the market is evolving.

Tags: packaging, sustainable packaging, packaging industry, reusable packaging, compostable packaging, innovation