With the launch of international standards top of the agenda, it’s no surprise manufacturers are constantly refining their packaging.
Packaging has undoubtedly become a major issue for manufacturers and retailers alike, thanks to increased awareness of environmental aspects. Consumers are now quick to reject any item that is considered to feature excessive packaging, and many well-known brands have carried out redesigns to that end. Yet while consumers have begun to demand less ostentatious packaging, retailers also require manufacturers to ensure there is no compromise when it comes to ensuring product integrity.
Certainly, throughout Europe there has been increased interest in the type of packaging available and its potential recyclability, and 2010 has brought with it further complications. In Belgium, for example, the new year saw the introduction of new legislation regarding service packaging – that is, such items as small plastic meat containers, bread bags, disposable cups and takeaway pizza boxes. Previously, the return and disposal of these items were the responsibility of the retailers, but it’s now up to the producers and importers of the items themselves.
This means that producers have two options – either collect and recycle the waste packaging themselves or, as is usually the case, take part in the Fost Plus scheme whereby companies submit a declaration of how much packaging they introduce to the market each year and making a financial contribution based on that. For example, the rate for glass is €0.0184 per kg, for cardboard €0.0176 per kg, for PET bottles €0.1994 per kg and drinks cartons €0.2728 per kg. These rates are a good illustration of why manufacturers are looking for more lightweight and environmentally friendly packaging solutions.
One complication for manufacturers in recent years has been that, if they are supplying products in numerous countries, they have to bear in mind the differing packaging legislation in each. Such is the confusion that much time has been spent in recent years in creating international standards, with a recent conference in Stockholm aiming to create new ISO standards based on existing European CEN packaging models, creating new obligations when it comes to reusing, recycling, energy recovery and biodegradation. Packaging specialists from across Europe and further afield attended the meeting and the aim is to create a series of standards that replace the numerous European regulations that can often require companies to completely change their packaging.
The general point, though, is that manufacturers are making great strides to alter their packaging and introduce more sustainable lines. The UK dairy industry, for example, have pledged to use 10% recycled content in their packaging by the end of the year, while Sainsburys are beginning to move their tomatoes from tins to cartons. Also in the UK, WRAP and Envirowise are carrying out a project to identify the amount of meat and fish and its associated packaging ending up as waste in the supply chain, to assist companies in locating the areas where waste can be prevented.
Meanwhile, a new breed of lightweight packaging solutions are already making their way onto shelves around Europe, saving both material and transportation costs for manufacturers and distributors.
For example, the familiar Italian aperitif Sprizzerol has recently launched a new variant in an aluminium can, produced by Rexam at its factory in Enzesfeld in Austria. In addition to the obvious benefits that come from aluminium cans, such as their durability and the ability to chill it quickly, retailers are also benefiting from its lightweight nature, making transport easier and cheaper, and the cans can be repeatedly recycled with no reduction in the integrity of the metal. Retailers in Austria and Germany are already selling the newly packaged cans, and it is also available on the on-trade elsewhere in Europe.
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Steve Williams, Food & Drink International, 05 February 2010
