Where there’s a will,
THERE’S A WAY
FEATURE
GREEN THINKING
SPECIAL OPI looks at the accelerating trend of sustainable packaging – by Michelle Sturman
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EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED Global brands are currently at the forefront of sustainable packaging due to the drive to meet not only legislation and regulations, but the increasing numbers of more environmentallyconscious consumers. Ultimately, this will promote a significant reduction in single-use plastic in particular, along with the accelerated use of alternative materials such as those that are biodegradable or compostable. By way of illustration, paper manufacturer Arjowiggins has launched Sylvicta, a translucent, functional barrier paper, which is fully recyclable, compostable, marine-degradable and made from renewable raw resources. This race for sustainable packaging materials is producing results in some unexpected quarters. Drinks producer Bacardi, for example, has unveiled its first plant-based biodegradable spirits bottle.
November/December 2020
he scourge of packaging has once again reared its ugly head. However, considering last year’s heavy focus on the ‘war on plastic’, this time it’s not just about single-use items but all packaging. There are several reasons for this, and most are to do with – you’ve guessed it – COVID-19. Coronavirus caused an unprecedented increase in the amount of packaging in use as e-commerce became a necessity during global lockdowns. The resulting surge in home deliveries has been accompanied by a closer examination of the sustainability of packaging – an area already under scrutiny from consumers and businesses before the pandemic. To put the growth of e-commerce into perspective, Pitney Bowes’ latest Parcel Shipping Index revealed that in 2019, global shipping volumes reached 103 billion parcels. The company predicts that, by 2026, this figure will reach 220-262 billion units. While the full impact of COVID won’t be known for some time, the Index reported that in April alone, there was a 60% rise in parcel volume in the US. As Asia Pulp & Paper European Director for Sustainability and Stakeholder Relations Liz Wilks notes, one big takeaway from the pandemic is how much packaging is being consumed. “Food packaging, in particular, saw tremendous spikes as people sheltered in place, which can be a problem. Food contaminants make recycling difficult or even impossible, so much of that wrapping is going to end up in landfill. More attention will need to be paid to readily available biodegradable alternatives as a replacement,” she says. For packaging specialist Sealed Air, lockdowns accelerated the need for many of its customers to examine their e-commerce capabilities. However, meeting customer expectations related to environmental responsibility during the growth in
online purchases while ensuring products arrive damage-free is no easy feat. The company said it was taking “significant steps” towards achieving its pledge to ensure all its products are 100% recyclable or reusable by 2025. To this end, it has redeveloped its Mail Lite mailers and AirCap bubble liner to contain more recycled content, with the latter offering easy separation of the inner and outer components for recycling. Five new paper void-fill and cushioning machines have been added to Sealed Air’s Paper Systems series, which are designed to fit around any shape and type of item. According to the manufacturer, the paper void-fill offers a highly protective solution by helping to minimise product movement during transit. “We use our expertise in designing and testing packaging applications to deliver the best overall performance for each customer. If paper is the right solution, we now have the range to provide this,” says Eric van der Kallen, Portfolio Manager, Sealed Air.
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