Packaging beyond plastic

The food and beverage sector's reliance on plastic packaging is acknowledged as problematic, even though it provides the ability to protect products from contamination and degradation throughout the supply chain.

According to the Center for International Environment Law, 99% of plastic is made from chemicals sourced

from fossil fuels, and demand for plastic packaging is driving controversial extraction techniques, such as

hydraulic fracturing (fracking). Moreover, plastic waste is a massive global problem. Each year, up to 12.7

million tonnes of plastic enters oceans. 59

Manufacturers are driving packaging innovations by laying down targets on virgin PET use and promoting

circular resource use. For example, PepsiCo's target is to reduce virgin plastic content across its beverage

business by 25% by 2025; 60 and Coca Cola aims for every plastic bottle to contain at least 50% recycled

plastic by 2030. 61

One significant innovation is enhanced recycling, such as the process developed by Ioniqua Technologies

that breaks down the components of plastics that would not normally be recycled (such as bottles

retrieved from the sea), strips out the impurities from lower grade materials, and reconstructs the remaining,

pure components into food grade materials. 62

New, compostable alternatives to plastic packaging are also emerging. For example, Italian start-up

Qwarzo, the winner of Fi Europe 2019 Startup Innovation Challenge 63 , created a nanotechnology sol-gel

that can be applied to paper to form a thin, flexible, inert layer of silica dioxide that renders it water-proof

and grease proof. The material, which is compostable and recyclable, can be used for wrapping or

shaped using injection moulding into solid packaging, caps, or even cutlery. 64

Source: Fi Europe 2019 Startup Innovation Challenge, interview with Italian start-up Qwarzo