One of the first interactions a customer has with any product is through its packaging. The global shift toward reducing carbon footprints and promoting sustainability has resulted in a significant shift in how we think about and design products. It is the well-known brands that are paving the way.
We are living in a world where there are social media backlashes, digital transformation, and mass climate change. People are focusing more on shifting ideologies, innovating, tech-savvy products, and global transformation.
Consumers are more aware of their social responsibility, and companies have to be conscious of how this impacts the market. A consumer or a brand wanting to create a difference in this world will look to their sphere of influence to decide what they can do to save this planet.
At present, more and more companies and brands are looking forward to sustainability, not merely because it’s the preference of their customers, but because they are beginning to understand their role in making the planet a better place. Plastic features highly across media outlets with images of sea life sharing their habitats with plastic bags, micro-plastics, etc. Governments have certainly played their part too, by banning plastic straws.
So why is eco-friendly packaging so important to us?
There are many answers to this question. Below are some of the most obvious answers to why we should switch towards sustainable packaging.
Reduces Carbon Footprint: Eco-friendly packaging is better for the environment as it is made of recycled waste material, which reduces the consumption of resources.
Easy Disposable: The use of sustainable packaging may vary, but it is always either compostable or recyclable. If the packaging is clearly labelled as recyclable packaging, then it can be thrown into your recycling bin for re-use.
Biodegradable: Because the packaging materials are biodegradable, green packaging not only reduces your carbon footprint and environmental impact, but it is also beneficial after it has served its purpose.
Versatile and Flexible: Eco-friendly packaging is pretty versatile and can be re-used and re-purposed in most major industries that involve packaging. Whatever you are looking to package, right from meats to electronic devices, there will be an eco-friendly type of packaging that will meet their needs and reduce costs.
No Harmful Plastic: Traditional packaging methods and materials contribute to global warming and other environmental issues. Using eco-friendly packaging allows you to reduce the amount of plastic that you use. Petrochemical products usually tend to litter public places and have been linked with health problems when used with food.
The present scenario in India
With the advancement in technology and general awareness, the packaging sector in India is well poised as most of the raw materials for packaging are abundantly available in the country. Various upgraded technologies are being used in industries such as aseptic packaging, retort packaging, etc.
Biodegradable packaging, the latest step in sustainable packaging design to enhance the life of food products, is growing day by day.
In terms of packaging, the food packaging industry is one growth area that has seen the maximum number of innovations in terms of packaging and branding. Consumers want their food products to be hygienic, safe, and at the same time, attractive.
Growth in the food processing industry, the biggest (48%) consumer of packaging material in India, is acting as a major stimulant to the growth of the Indian food packaging industry. India is encouraging the use of sustainable food packaging materials due to rising environmental concerns about carbon emissions, increased health awareness and waste reduction targets.
Vendors are introducing biodegradable and sustainable forms of packaging to cater to the growing demand for eco-friendly packaging products. Bio-based polymers, biodegradable plastics, oxy-biodegradable plastics, and bio-nano composites are the types of bioplastics.
Emerging trends in biodegradable packaging include corn plastic, bamboo, plant fibers, wood fibers, and mycelium, a mushroom part.
The global biodegradable packaging market is expected to grow to $14.3 billion (US $14.3 billion) in 2022. There is a shift towards sustainable packaging in China and India, mainly attributed to a rise in health awareness and environmental concerns associated with non-biodegradable
“Many raw materials used in the packaging business, such as paper, cardboard, glass, aluminium, and plastic, may be recycled to make new products or materials. New goods can thus be developed using fewer raw resources and, as a result, with less environmental effect.”
How can food packaging be made eco-friendlier in India?
“Biodegradable,” “compostable,” “eco-friendly,” and “ecological” have become the buzzwords over the years. These words seem to have taken precedence in fighting the growing global challenge. In particular, if you look at the packaging industry, eco-friendly or sustainable packaging is stirring hype among consumers.
Why? It is because people are now well aware of the impact of plastics on humankind as well as the environment. Well, it isn’t surprising that plastic is everywhere. From bottled aerated drinks and sealed processed foods to packaged ready-to-eat items and even the wrappers used to pack items for doorstep delivery, plastics play a vital role in packaging.
In fact, in 2019, the production of plastics totalled around 368 million metric tons globally. That’s about 433 kilograms of plastic per person annually.
So, given the detrimental effects of plastics on our environment and us, more people prefer sustainable packaging materials today. But even when the harmful effects of it on the flora and fauna are known, how was it still allowed to be so heavily produced and used? Well, one of the key reasons plastic is so popular is because it has been serving as a convenient and cost-effective packaging solution since its invention in 1950.
Because it is lightweight, leakage-free, and easily available in multiple shapes and sizes, plastic has gained its share of popularity among people. Moreover, it is heavily used as a packaging material/solution in several industries, including food, pharmaceuticals, and e-commerce.
Over 70% of the wrappers that get disposed of are single-use plastic. It chokes water bodies, contributes to carbon dioxide emissions, and can be found in the bellies of numerous of our co-habitants.
Well, actually, India is still 7 to 10 years away from even achieving the current target of becoming completely “plastic free.” However, the good news is that the shift towards it has already begun. Looking at the food packaging industry, the biggest change that is visible is that people are becoming more conscious of what they are purchasing, consuming, and finally, receiving. At the same time, there is a growing concern for environmental sustainability and awareness.
People, especially in urban regions, are significantly reducing or completely eliminating the use of plastics in their lives. This is gradually driving consumers to choose sustainable and eco-friendly products. It is, therefore, time for the food packaging industry to start looking at more sustainable alternatives.
Can food packaging be made more ecological?
To begin with, plastic recycling has been seen as one of the solutions to plastic waste. But this process takes up additional energy from the environment. And still, only 9% of plastic gets recycled worldwide. Therefore, manufacturers of compostable tableware are working towards bringing alternatives to single-use plastic or Styrofoam.
They are developing excellent sustainable products and solutions using agri-residue pulp such as bagasse, which is completely eco-friendly, lightweight, flexible, and strong. While this development is taking place, they are also struggling to win the price battle with their customers as they are often unwilling to make this switch. Simply put, it isn’t cost-effective for them. Hence, instead of choosing an eco-friendly solution that could create a competitive edge for them, they prefer to stick to traditional solutions.
Therefore, it would be fair to mention that this transformation will not happen immediately. However, it doesn’t rule out the possibility! More than the provider, the onus is on the acceptor, who can take precedence in leading this change. In fact, a recent survey projected that 74% of consumers are ready to pay more for sustainable packaging.
There are also brands in India that are putting their conscious effort into shifting to more sustainable alternatives for packaging. This demand needs to be stirred up as it will add to the value chain, thereby making our ecosystem plastic-free by and large.
In addition, stringent government norms on issuing mandates on using eco-friendly packaging solutions can further catalyse the movement. The government has introduced a couple of good measures on this front. However, some other factors that can make sustainable packaging more viable for F & B players are tax waivers at the grassroots level.
GST incentives, not just for manufacturing but also for businesses, can go a long way in our fight for the environment.
Key trends of today that will shape the future of eco-friendly packaging in India
Non-toxic and cheap bioplastics
There are a few alternatives to plastics that are gaining attention at a global level. Bioplastic is one such eco-friendly alternative to plastics, which could be an excellent replacement since their manufacturing results in fewer emissions of greenhouse gases. In India, there are a number of entities that are right now working on this novel material. However, IIT Bombay seems to have gained a massive breakthrough.
The institute has developed a product that is a combination of non-toxic, edible sugar-based or fat-based biopolymers approved by the FSSAI that can degrade in about a week or a month.
Researchers said at present, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is the standard non-degradable plastic barrier film, used for both consumer goods and food by most packaging industries in India and overseas. Developing biodegradable alternatives to plastic is a major need since single-use plastic has become a global challenge in terms of environmental hazards.
In its first phase, the product will focus on primary packaging of fast-moving consumer goods, which will then extend to packing solid perishables such as fruits and vegetables, and finally liquids such as pouches of milk and juices.
Advance Antimicrobial packaging
In India, a number of companies are developing exciting new active packaging materials to enhance safety in food, healthcare, and personal-care markets. Today, companies are keen on technological advancements and are making hefty investments in research and development (R&D) to discover advanced food-grade materials and garner a wider consumer base.
Rising health consciousness among consumers is a key factor encouraging companies to experiment with packaging materials and raise the standards of safety. There is a significant rise in the demand for packaged and convenience foods from around the world and emerging regions in particular.
A team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad recently discovered the use of silver nanoparticles and bacterial cellulose for advanced food packaging with antimicrobial properties. Developed using gluconacetobacterxylinus bacteria, this bacterial cellulose is porous and highly crystalline. The material has excellent water resistance and mechanical properties.
The researchers managed to preserve tomatoes for around 30 days with the help of this material and without any kind of microbial spoilage. According to them, the bacterial cellulose principle is applicable for producing antimicrobial packaging to be used for healthcare and personal hygiene products.
“Corn starch packaging is 30% stronger than traditional polythene packages. Corn starch bags, because they are biodegradable, are likely to appeal to environmentally sensitive customers and constitute a niche market for new entrants looking to develop a core client base.”
Companies Making Ripples in Sustainable Packaging Research
Sustainability is becoming the core motto of a lot of consumer goods companies, and they are on their way to becoming greener; packaging is the first stone they are turning. Many major brands are looking for plastic alternatives to make their packaging more sustainable. Big companies like Danone, Mars, PepsiCo, The Coca-Cola Company, Unilever, Kellogg’s, and Haldiram’s have gone to eliminate plastic waste and pollution at the source.
Some examples of how big brands are supporting eco-friendly packaging and aiming to reduce their carbon footprint by the end of the next decade are:
Kellogg’s — As a brand that appears at most breakfast tables, Kellogg’s’ environmental policies could have a huge impact on global efforts. In 2018, they pledged to work towards 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging by the end of 2025. Kellogg’s already uses recyclable cardboard boxes for all of its cereal, and as part of their zero-deforestation pledge, most of these boxes are made from recycled carton board.
Coca Cola – The Coca-Cola company replaced fossil-based ingredients with plant-based ones, which are biodegradable, and manufactured more than 35 billion bottles, which were distributed in 40 countries. These bottles have 30% plant-based ingredients while the remaining 70% of the PET (the PTA) is made from traditional fossil fuel-based sources.
By adopting this practice, they prevented 365,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The next step on their journey is to make all the PET packaging from renewable resources. Coca-Cola is also planning to get those plant-based ingredients from food waste such as fruit peels, tree barks, corn cobs, and stalks. In 2015, the company unveiled a bottle made of 100% plant ingredients at the World Expo – Milan, in which the major raw material used was cellulose, a biodegradable and transparent organic compound.
Coca-Cola is also working with its partners to deliver its packaging vision “World without Waste”, according to which they have promised to recover as many cans and bottles from outside as they manufacture.
PepsiCo announced its goal to use 25% recycled content in its plastic packaging by 2025 as a part of its sustainable plastics vision. The company also aimed to achieve 33% recycled PET content by 2025 while striving to design 100% of its packaging to be recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable.
“Bamboo has swiftly established itself as a prominent material in the market for sustainable materials. It is an environmentally beneficial alternative to metal, plastic, hardwood, paper, and cotton. Bamboo has found its way into practically every aspect of our life, from toothbrushes and clothes to toilet paper and everything in between. It’s no wonder that bamboo food packaging is in high demand. Bamboo packaging is a sustainable, biodegradable, and long-lasting choice for the food sector.”
To achieve its objective, PepsiCo has taken various initiatives. The following are a few of them:
PepsiCo and biotech firm Danimer Scientific collaborated to develop a biodegradable film resin from polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) for the food and beverage company that meets its packaging requirements.
PepsiCo has also signed a multi-year supply agreement with sustainable packaging industries to get recyclable packaging for its food and beverages.
PepsiCo announced that by 2020 it will begin incorporating Loop’s plastic, which is made up of 100% recycled material, into its product packaging.
Loop’s technology would enable PepsiCo to ensure that plastic packaging never becomes waste. Loop’s plastic is produced by a technology company that allows no and low-value plastics to be recovered and recycled endlessly into new, virgin-quality Loop PET plastic.
Nestle: In its efforts to play a role in sustainability, Nestle created an institute of packaging sciences. This institute is dedicated to the discovery and development of eco-friendly packaging solutions, including functional paper and biodegradable materials.
Nestle is taking huge steps to avoid plastic and shifting towards sustainable packaging. They collaborated with Danimer Scientific Technologies to work on the design and manufacturing of bio-based resins for Nestle’s water business by using PHA polymer Nodax.
In 2018, the University of Georgia (U.S.A.) confirmed that PHA Polymer Nodax is an effective biodegradable material that can be a great alternative to plastic.
Tetra Pak: Tetra Pak’s long-term ambition is that the company’s entire packaging material portfolio is made from 100% renewable materials without compromising safety, quality, or functionality.
In 2016, Tetra Pak became the first company in the food packaging industry to have its climate impact reduction targets approved by the Science-Based Targets (SBT) initiative. Further to this, in 2017, Tetra Pak achieved a 13% reduction in its overall climate impact, despite a 19% increase in packages sold. Tetra Pak committed to reducing its operational emissions to 42% by 2030 and 58% by 2040.
Haldirams—The biggest food chain in India is using 100 per cent biodegradable food packaging and is contributing to reducing plastic pollution.
Not only big brands but also small industries have also become environmentally conscious and are adapting to eco-friendly packaging. So, eco-friendly packaging is the new black in the coming years and will stay in fashion in the coming decades.
Today, more and more consumers are opening their wallets to only buy eco-friendly products. Recent trends indicate that consumers’ spending on eco-products, from diet to transportation, is on the rise.
Here are a few interesting green packaging trends to look out for in the upcoming years
Reducing Waste: Companies are demonstrating their involvement and dedication to the green environment by limiting waste. Good practices are being shared across all platforms to create awareness and to encourage recycling. Many businesses have now incorporated print inspection into their quality control process. This move will help companies to prevent massive recalls of products and thus reduce waste.
Minimalist packaging is also being used by many businesses as it reduces the waste of storage space and packing materials.
Packaging is done by taking into consideration the size of the product to be packed. A small package size for a small product size. Many companies are now implementing the function of reusability in their packaging. Polybags are an example of reusable packaging. These bags can be used over and over again, thus contributing to sustainable packaging.
Using Clear Packaging: Clear packaging is an interesting trend that is gaining a lot of attention. A package that is devoid of colour, paint, and design with only a clear and concise label means that not much energy is wasted in manufacturing it. Potential consumers who are pro-environment are quick to notice and understand the dedication of the company towards a greener environment.
Reduced energy consumption – The lightweight packaging trend benefits both businesses and consumers.
The packaging cost for manufacturing lightweight packages is relatively low as fewer materials are used, less energy is consumed to manufacture them, and less fuel is used to ship them. Consumers see the convenience associated with lightweight packaging and they also see the less waste that is being produced, and that is good for your brand image and your sales.
Using more Recyclable & Biodegradable Materials: Using recyclable materials is the easiest way to make sure that we are contributing our bit towards a sustainable environment. Companies are also demonstrating their commitment to the environment by using paper, cardboard, and recyclable plastics in their packaging.
“The advantages of using banana leaves instead of plastic packaging is that, the banana leaves are completely eco-friendly and sustainable. They disintegrate like any other plant product once discarded, and they are a by-product that is constantly created. They are inexpensive.”
Using unique and innovative materials: The packaging industry is not new to technology. It has been using unique and innovative materials for sustainable packaging for a long time now. But one trend that is going to be the next big thing is edible packaging. This trend has the potential to achieve maximum eco-friendly goals. It will take time and a lot of research to implement edible packaging across industries. But when it is done, the scenarios would be ideal. There will be no waste altogether.
Consumers will continue to choose eco-friendly products to promote sustainability, and because of the demand and expectations of consumers, companies will employ eco-friendly approaches to their businesses; if they do not, they will perish. The future seems bright.
The Future Outlook
Gains in eco-friendly packaging in the Indian market can be attributed to the growth of the food and beverage industry. A changing lifestyle has created the demand for packaging, as consumers now invest more in packed food and beverages.
The boom in e-commerce and organized retail further contributes to the packaging sector. According to the ASSOCHAM-Forrester report, the e-commerce retail sector has grown to 65 million unique monthly visitors, a 55 percent increase year on year. With all these trends shaping up, the current growth in demand for sustainable packaging solutions and the drive to fight climate change are sure to go a long way.
In a nutshell, it would be fair to mention that the shift towards sustainable packaging is slow but steady. It will only accelerate if we all, including consumers, businesses, and governments, work together towards our mutual goal of making the Earth cleaner. It’s high time that we became determined to save the planet before saving our costs.
Make use of recyclable materials.