Sustainability has emerged as a major trend in the packaging market. According to PMMI, in their Global Packaging Trends report, the top three trends affecting global packaging are: a stronger influence of recycling and environmental issues, greater consumer awareness of health and wellness, and increasing disposable income and purchasing power: these trends are affecting packaging because they’re driving consumers’ purchasing choices.

The results of the PMMI report are in line with the another recent report, by Mintel, that identified twelve key global food and drink trends for 2016, where one of the key trends called out in the report was that “eco is the new reality”. According to this report, sustainability is evolving from being good for the bottom line to being a necessary new product development consideration for the common good.

Sustainability and environmental issues are becoming increasingly important - in this post we will relate how flexible packaging is positioned to provide both customers and consumers with the kind of sustainable packaging solutions they are looking for.

Today’s flexible packaging production technology allows films to be significantly down-gauged while maintaining their superior performance. By doing so, waste is reduced as well as the amount of raw materials that are used.

For example:

• Compared to multi-component rigid tray and lid systems, thin high barrier lidding films for ready-made trays and as top webs on thermoforming lines use only a fraction of the material of rigid systems.
   
• High-barrier lidding film eliminates the need for secondary barrier film or pouches, usually used in rigid trays
   
• Printable lidding film eliminates the need for labels and can be printed in Flexo & Roto Gravure.
   
• Thermoformable films made from technologically advanced resins enable down-gauging with up to 35% reduction of material, while maintaining equivalent performance of thicker conventional films.
   
• Cook-in-bags offer an easier, cleaner way to cook fresh food products in the oven or microwave, while saving 30-50% energy due to reduce cooking time.

Whether it is for meat, fish, poultry, dairy, fresh produce, ready-to-cook or prepared food, Plastopil specializes in developing and producing strong, light films and bags with high shelf impact and low carbon footprint – the kind of flexible packaging that aligns with customer and consumer needs for sustainable packaging. The company will be exhibiting its comprehensive range of flexible barrier films and high-tech packaging solutions that optimize the shelf-life and presentation of chilled foods, at the Empack 2016 international packaging and packaging machinery exhibition in Utrecht, at Stand E120.