Future Food & Packaging Trend Radar.

Underestimating components for better recyclates. When Design for Recycling is discussed, one crucial topic is often overlooked: the choice of the right adhesives, inks and finishes. They have a significant influence on the quality of recycled materials – whether plastics or paper. To solve the problem, you could dispense with labels altogether, as shown here in our thought experiment. Or[…]

Bye-bye injection molding, hello fiber molding. The triumph of paper is unstoppable. Not only do consumers prefer fiber-based solutions (although not always rightly so), but so does the EU. While the plastics industry moans about minimum recycled content and mandatory recyclability, paper manufacturers are getting off lightly in the upcoming PPWR. And that’s not all – improved technologies allow the production[…]

– Digitalization does not stop at the packaging industry. RFID tags (Radio Frequency Identification) are now widely used and have become increasingly important, especially in the context of logistics optimization. The wafer-thin chips, which are incorporated into the product, enable efficient management throughout the entire supply chain. RFID transponders can be read without contact and[…]

– Corona has given an old acquaintance a new lease of life: the QR code, which was thought to be dead. It is currently still placed on packaging on a voluntary basis to provide consumers with additional information. However, new EU regulations could give the QR code renaissance an additional boost. One of these regulations[…]

– Fast food restaurants, as places of quick consumption, are rarely a role model for sustainable solutions. The French McDonald’s branches no longer conform to this cliché – albeit not entirely voluntarily. Image source: Elium Studio Since January 1, 2023, all catering establishments in Germany have been required to offer reusable packaging. It demands precisely[…]

Smart aluminum strips instead of plastic cover. Sometimes all it takes to achieve greater sustainability is a little “twist”. Reduction can be achieved not only by replacing materials and hybrid solutions, but also through smart product design. Image source: John West Like last year’s winner of Packaging Europe‘s“Sustainability Awards“, the canned tuna can from John West Foods. A special “Smartstrip” sticker made[…]

The best of both worlds: Cardboard hybrids for plastic reduction. Image source: SEALPAC Less is more is the principle of the “Reduce” trend. With hybrid packaging, attempts are being made to reduce the proportion of fossil materials in particular through smart material combinations. Such as the “eTray” from SEALPAC. This is a prefabricated cardboard tray in which the plastic or plastic composite used serves only[…]

Reusable take-away packaging in the catering industry. Image source: Rebowl Reusable deposit systems such as those from REBOWL provide catering establishments with environmentally friendly take-away boxes. A deposit must be paid and the box can be returned afterwards. The aim is to reduce disposable packaging and prevent waste. Since January 1, 2023, all catering establishments in Germany have been required to offer[…]

As little plastic as possible – with as much product protection as necessary. The industry has been working on technical solutions to reduce packaging material for years. The primary goal: cost savings with the same function. This development has saved large quantities of plastic compared to previous years. The popular example of minced meat tray packaging shows this particularly clearly. Whereas heavy trays with thick walls were used[…]

Packaging 96% recyclable*. Image sources: Rügenwalder Mühle *The packaging shown consists almost exclusively of polypropylene (PP), from which high-quality recycled pellets can be obtained. The label was also changed from paper to PP in order to achieve the purest possible sorting results in the recycling process. All homework on the part of the manufacturer has been done here.[…]

The triumph of fibers. Two major influencing factors have led to plastic packaging being increasingly replaced by cellulose-based alternatives. On the one hand, paperization or fiberization is driven by consumer demand, On the other hand, the paper industry is the big winner of the new PPWR regulation. While the plastics industry is being penalized and is working flat out[…]

An old acquaintance in a new guise. Image source: The Nu Company Film made from cellulose hydrate (better known as “cellophane”) was introduced to the market at the beginning of the 20th century and is one of the oldest packaging materials for food products. The material obtained from wood is now experiencing a renaissance in new compositions. Take The Nu Company, for[…]

Grown into shape: the shipping packaging of the future. It’s not just since the pandemic that huge quantities of food have been delivered to doorsteps – triggered by countless online orders. Such deliveries could become more sustainable thanks to solutions such as MycoComposite™ from manufacturer Ecovative, which replaces stryopor with cultivated mushroom-based material. Image source: Ecovative Design Image source: Ecovative Design The MycoComposite™ mushroom[…]