A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR PACKAGING Within the packaging industry, collaboration with longterm goals is key when it comes to sustainable packaging innovation. From exploring a single project, to the e-commerce sector, to the entire supply chain, Libby Munford takes a look at how the packaging industry is innovating for the future.
“IS
this how our story is due to end? A tale of the smartest species doomed by that all too human characteristic of failing to see the bigger picture in pursuit of short-term goals?” – Sir David Attenborough addresses world leaders at the Cop26 summit 2021. “If working apart we are a force powerful enough to destabilize our planet…surely working together we are powerful enough to save it.”
Winning at sustainable innovation
As mentioned above, NEXTLOOPP proposes to close the loop on food-grade rPP. Doing this will have important benefits for both industry and the environment, namely reducing the production and use of virgin plastics from petrochemicals, reducing CO2 emissions, and reducing food-packaging waste. But this innovative example is just one of many across the spectrum of the industry. How else is the industry collaborating towards a sustainable future? Packaging Europe has adopted a new motto, ‘A sustainable future for packaging’, in order to highlight the industry-wide collaboration we are witnessing.
How else to kick off the topic of sustainable packaging innovation than with this year’s overall winner of Packaging Europe’s Sustainability Awards 2021? E-commerce and sustainability Nextek’s NEXTLOOPP – with its ground-breaking Tania Montesi, the global e-commerce business project that aims to create a circular economy manager at H.B. Fuller, focuses on bringing the next for food-grade polypropylene. generation of e-commerce packaging design to the Polypropylene (PP) is one of the most prolific and market – particularly concerned with eliminating versatile plastics in the world – it is also missing plastics, and ensuring packaging is recyclable or from our recycling streams. PP is found in pots, tubs disposable without harm to the planet. and trays – the majority of packaging in the foodTania Montesi She comments that within the e-commerce sphere, to-go category. The absence of food-grade recycled “A lot of e-tailers and retailers scramble to bring products polypropylene (FGrPP) means that all PP food packaging to market without thinking about sustainability – using is currently made from virgin plastics. surplus packaging and adding void fillers etc, essentially shipping If we can create a circular economy for food-grade PP air and in turn more gas emissions. At H.B Fuller we understand from packaging waste we would be able to reduce the production of virgin plastics from petrochemicals, in turn reducing CO2 emissions and divert- consumer surveys that across both North America and Europe consumers are really concerned by the amount of waste from e-commerce packaging.” She ing waste from both waste-to-energy/landfill and lower-quality plastics. argues that Amazon, as a trendsetter, is really pushing e-tailers now to not In the absence of government or industry body initiatives to tackle the just redesign their packaging, but start again from scratch. Can it be smaller? challenge of food-grade PP recycling, NEXTLOOPP believes there is a need to More lightweight? Can you remove anything that’s not recyclable? All of these gather stakeholders across the PP supply chain to try and solve this problem. considerations are essential. The problem is challenging because, for consumer safety, the European At H.B Fuller, first and foremost, recyclability is a top criterion. Tania Montesi Food Standards Authority (EFSA) requires that recycled food-grade materials explains that they work closely with OEMs, packaging companies, e-tailers and can only be made from (>95%) food packaging and that the recycled plastic the brand owners to ensure they bring an entire solution to the market. must meet the same high standards required for virgin food-grade plastics. Packaging Europe | 21 |
