Sustainable Packaging Opportunities: Meeting Demand, Ensuring Compliance

Delivery

This report comes in PPT.

Key Findings

Unlocking packaging’s potential to communicate sustainability

The growing regulatory demand for sustainable packaging requires businesses to adapt or face legal and reputational risks. Fear of public criticism and overestimating consumer understanding have hindered effective communication. However, there is a significant opportunity to enhance market acceptance by improving retailer descriptions of sustainable packaging features.

Enhance recycled content quality to close the recyclability loop

Although recyclable packaging is becoming mainstream, the integration of recycled content is lagging. To effectively close the recycling loop and avert ocean pollution from post-consumer recycled plastics, it is crucial to invest more in global recycling infrastructure. Enhancing collection and sorting processes will improve the quality and availability of recycled materials.

Reducing waste and emissions via packaging alternatives is not a one-size-fits-all solution

As regulators and consumers demand reduced waste, adopting sustainable packaging that optimises material usage is key for compliance and cost savings. However, these solutions require careful evaluation, especially for food products, where emissions from food waste due to inadequate packaging protection can outweigh the benefits of using alternative materials.

Unmet power of reusables to deliver affordability, convenience and sustainability

Adopting a long-term strategy and identifying the appropriate reuse/refill model for each product category is crucial to achieve affordability and convenience. Collaboration is essential for scaling these solutions, while technology plays a pivotal role in ensuring traceability, enhancing consumer engagement and fostering brand loyalty.

Redesigning packaging for circularity and differentiation

The urgency to adopt sustainable packaging will continue to escalate, as regulatory scrutiny intensifies. Companies at the forefront of this transition, fostering collaboration for cost-sharing, and disseminating best practices, will distinguish themselves through their commitment to hasten the transition to a more circular industry, thus gaining a competitive edge.