The Rundown 2020’s key packaging trends for food & drink By Paul Jenkins, Managing Director, ThePackHub
Despite the COVID-19 turmoil, improving sustainability in food and beverage packaging continues to be of significant focus and is a major part of the packaging trends coming through the pipeline. Most brands, retailers and larger packaging suppliers are working to stretching targets as part of the UK Plastic Pact to achieve 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging by 2025. With just under four years to go, the pace of change is accelerating despite the disruptions mentioned above. Pending Plastic Tax obligations, which encourage plastic packaging use with at least 30% recycled content, is also having an impact on behaviour. As we enter 2021 for, hopefully, more favourable and optimistic trading conditions, what were the main packaging trends of 2020?
1.REFILLABLES AND REUSABLES KICK IN
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ell, what a year that was! The packaging industry has just experienced the most troubling ten months of our post-war lives. A global pandemic has created a tremendous amount of disruption, uncertainty and often opportunities for all involved. Some have thrived, others have faltered. COVID-19 has undoubtedly had an impact on every part of the packaging supply chain. Consumers changed their shopping behaviour as we experienced a speedy and steady migration to e-commerce channels. Panic-buying also became the order of the day resulting in a lack of product availability as well as a temporary reduction in range as supermarkets struggled to keep up with demand. The stock-piling has seemingly come to an end but the legacy of the pandemic might just be heightened hygiene fears. Something shoppers rarely gave a second thought to in 2019. www.packagingbirmingham.com
One area that has had a successful 2020 is the reusable and refillable packaging market. ThePackHub has tracked many new initiatives coming to market. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates that it is still only around 2% of the volume but with aspirations to get to 25% by 2025, the sector is sure to continue to grow at pace. It is fair to say that TerraCycle’s Loop is trailblazing the refillable market with several introductions and launches last year as well as an ambitious expansion plan for 2021 and beyond. Most notable is the imminent launch of the Loop reusable programme to bricks and mortar store, rather than having to rely solely on online ordering, UK shoppers will be able to visit a Tesco store and drop off their empty packaging whilst shopping for new items in reusable packaging at a dedicated aisle. They will be able to drop off their reusable McDonald’s cup as well in Tesco outlets when that scheme launches in 2021.
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