Packaging Sustainability: Turning Pressure into Growth
Packaging is under unprecedented pressure. Consumers demand sustainable choices, with 78% saying companies must take responsibility for waste (Ipsos, Kantar). Investors are shifting capital, with ESG-focused assets surpassing USD 30 trillion, and increasingly moving away from polluting companies. Peers and clients are committing — Nestlé, Unilever and PepsiCo aim for 100% recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025–2030 but keep cost-pressure. Regulators are raising the bar, with the EU requiring that all packaging placed on the market be recyclable by 2030.
Amid these forces, another sustainability priority stands out: reducing food waste. The FAO estimates that 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted every year, representing 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Packaging is often underestimated in this equation — yet a resealable pack that preserves food just a few days longer can prevent more emissions than the wrapper itself ever generates.
The road, however, is not straightforward. Multilayer structures that combine EVOH with other polymers provide excellent barriers against oxygen, moisture, light, and mechanical stress. They keep food safe — but they complicate recycling. This is why industries are exploring mono-materials, easier to recycle but often weaker in performance. The lack of effective collection, sorting, and recycling infrastructure adds another layer of difficulty. Paper has become a bridge solution: its EU recycling rate exceeds 80% compared to plastics’ 10%, yet it carries its own carbon and water footprint. The ultimate goal remains true circularity — a material that, after use, returns to its virgin state indefinitely. Today, only PET in rigid bottles comes close, though it still faces limits in the number of loops and food-contact approvals.
And packaging’s role does not end with protection. In a digital-first world, it can also serve as a platform for connection. Through augmented reality, consumers could scan a package to access nutritional information, disposal instructions, usage tips, or recipes — strengthening engagement while supporting healthier and more sustainable choices.
In short, packaging sustainability is not a single-issue challenge. It is a crossroads where consumers, investors, clients, regulators, and technology converge. The companies that will thrive are those that see the full picture — reducing waste, balancing materials, and adding new layers of value. For them, sustainability is not a cost: it is a growth driver.
