Why Sustainable Packaging is the way to go for the F&B sector
Packaging plays a fundamental role in the food and beverage sector, with a far-reaching impact at every stage of the product life cycle. Sustainable packaging is absolutely crucial for brands, manufacturers, and consumers, to address the needs of the industry today.
When it comes to the food and beverages industry, sustainable packaging is no longer just an option today, even if its importance wasn't already blaringly evident. Government rules and regulations, consumer preferences, and changing market standards frequently require enterprises to use sustainable packaging methods in order to lessen their impact on the environment. For instance, starting from July 1, 2022, India no longer allows the production, import, storing, distribution, selling, or use of any single-use plastic goods that have been classified as having a high potential for littering and low utility. Hence, the usage of ecologically friendly packaging options is required by many such environmental concerns and mandates, but fortunately for company owners, these solutions could potentially wind up even saving them money over time, when implemented effectively.
Incentives of sustainable packaging
The main objective of eco-friendly packaging options is the long-term preservation of the viability and quality of human existence through safeguarding global ecosystems. With the use of renewable energy sources and recycled or renewable materials, sustainable packaging results in significantly less resource waste. From manufacture to disposal, it makes use of resources in the most efficient manner possible, with little negative environmental effect.
There are several advantages to employing eco-friendly packaging, and doing so doesn't really require massive or elaborate adjustments to business practices:
- Responsible consumer engagement
Today's customers put a lot of thought into their influence on the environment. This links people to the goods they like to buy, and as a result, the brands to which they are more devoted. By adopting environmentally friendly packaging, a brand can significantly strengthen its corporate responsibility. - Improved disposal
Organizations may use a variety of packing materials for their products, but they should all be recyclable. If their customer has a composting facility, they will be able to convert compostable packaging waste into compost. - Easy-to-reuse or recycle
Promoting the reuse or recycling of packaging increases its usefulness and decreases the need for brand-new materials, thus reducing its carbon impact. Used beverage cartons can be used as raw materials in the production of a wide range of utilitarian objects including furniture, corrugated cardboard, and more.
What brands stand to gain
While the environmental benefits of sustainable packaging are absolutely irrefutable, responsible packaging also helps a brand in more ways than one, especially in terms of the business, at large:
- Versatility
The use of sustainable packaging can be implemented in practically every significant industry that uses conventional packaging. Whatever you need to package or transport, there is an environmentally friendly alternative that will satisfy your demands. - Enhanced brand image
Eco-friendly packaging gives customers a vivid picture of your business and its principles since it shows its genuine concern for the environment, thereby indicating its trustworthiness. Subsequently, this enhanced brand image will create an undeniable impact on the company's ROI, sales, and revenue, as well. - Decreased logistical costs
High-quality, environmentally-friendly packaging enables optimum usage and is easier to store or transport, without detrimental consequences. This results in significantly reduced transportation and logistical expenditure in the long run, as the supply chain becomes more streamlined. - Increased clientele exposure
As sustainability trends grow and evolve, going green will also bring in more customers who will patronize you because of your focus on sustainability and the environment. Customers will want to be associated with and purchase from companies that pursue sustainable practices and objectives, and set an example for others in the domain.
Sustainable packaging by SIG
On average, 70-80% of every SIG carton is made of paper board. SIG is sourcing 100% of its paper board certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC® trademark licence code: FSC® C020428) and aluminum from sources recognized by the ASI (Aluminium Stewardship Initiative). SIG is a pioneer in the industry in its drive to completely remove the aluminum layer from aseptic cartons, having developed the first aseptic carton pack entirely linked to renewable plant-based materials using polymers that are certified by ISCC PLUS – SIGNATURE 100. The forest-based feedstock used to produce the polymers is tall oil, a waste product from the paper-making process. A lifecycle analysis performed by independent experts using the ISO 14040 international standard and critically evaluated by an independent panel also supports the packaging material's environmental advantages.
SIG also manufactures aseptic cartons that are made with no aluminum-layer under the SIGNATURE EVO and combibloc ECOPLUS brands, and for SIGNATURE CIRCULAR, 100% of the polymers used are linked to post-consumer recycled materials. Additionally, SIG produces its aseptic carton packs using solely renewable energy and develops its packaging system to minimize food waste. Its new next-generation filling technology is designed to further reduce this loss. As a result, the company has decreased food loss occurring during filling to 0.5% or less. Additionally, SIG's extensive selection of paper straws provides the ideal alternative for single-use plastic straws while still preserving convenience for both companies and customers!