Development of sustainable food packaging

Food producers looking for more sustainable packaging methods often have quite a puzzle to solve first. When is packaging truly sustainable and how do you get discerning consumers to buy your more sustainable product? Grietje Van Weert, Manager of Knowledge Center at Normec Foodcare, sees an increase in the number of questions about sustainable packaging.

When is packaging sustainable?

In order to tell if a packaging is sustainable, it is not only the environmental impact that must be considered. Grietje Van Weert explains: "Of course, the first intention is to look for alternatives that are better for the environment. But if more sustainable packaging leads to poorer product sales or reduced food safety, for example, then you are missing the point. So for sustainable packaging you have to consider all packaging characteristics, such as the degree of protection, information, distribution and promotion." In summary, Gretel defines sustainable packaging as follows:

• Suitable for the product and its protection.
• Limits negative impact on environment and climate.
• Does not contain more raw materials than necessary; does not deplete natural resources.
• Promotes environmental and climate friendliness, such as portion size control, recycling behavior and promote reuse.

Developing sustainable packaging

So a successful market introduction of more sustainable packaging requires a thorough plan. Gretel recommends first mapping out the entire packaging concept. "Define the purpose of the project and the context in advance. And determine who the target group is for the new concept. Select sustainable raw materials, directly considering the properties of the materials and the effects on the product to be packaged. Also remember that the entire process of processing, packaging and distribution must be validated. That way you avoid changes that actually lead to a negative impact on the environment and higher costs."

Quality of packaged foods

New packaging affects the quality, appearance, shelf life and sometimes the taste of the product. Therefore, all these factors must be taken into account when designing new packaging. Grietje explains this with an example: "In the case of fruit or vegetables, more sustainable packaging can have a major impact on shelf life. For example, the moisture balance of the product in a sealed package is very different from that in a paper package. Lots of moisture means a better breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. Too little moisture leads to dehydration. So it is best to carefully test the influence of the new packaging on the product in advance. Not only microbiological, but also sensory."

The importance of consumer research

Grietje Van Weert emphasizes that the total consumer experience should certainly not be forgotten in the development process. "If you invest a lot of time and money is a more sustainable alternative then of course you want to be sure that the product will also be bought in the supermarket. The packaging is the first thing the consumer sees and is therefore one of the most important factors determining a first purchase. With thorough consumer research you test whether the product is well received when it comes to appearance, ease of use and use claims."

Recycle, reduce, reuse

'Recycle, Reduce, Reuse' represents three key principles that can help reduce waste, conserve natural resources and reduce environmental impact. Together, these three principles form a powerful strategy to promote environmental awareness and reduce the impact of human activities on the environment. "When choosing more sustainable packaging, proper communication to consumers is essential to actually reduce environmental impact. Some countries have established obligations for this, such as the Triman logo in France and mandatory recycling information in Italy. In a number of other countries, the information is currently still voluntary," Grietje explains.

Whitepaper Packaging

To identify the important steps for developing more sustainable packaging, Grietje and Normec Foodcare's Knowledge Center developed the Whitepaper Developing Sustainable Food Packaging. In the whitepaper you will read, among other things:

• Key points of interest during the development process.
• A roadmap to ensure the shelf life of sustainably packaged foods.
• What claims you can make and how you communicate them.
• How consumer research helps in the successful introduction of a sustainably packaged product.
• Key pitfalls in developing sustainable packaging.

"We know the issues facing producers and feel it is important to share this knowledge with companies in the food sector. This way we work together to create a more sustainable environment," concludes Grietje Van Weert.