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The end of packaging?

In March, “obsessively organic” yogurt company Stonyfield Farm launched in limited markets a product that it hopes will pave the way for a future without packaging—Stonyfield Frozen Yogurt Pearls in an all-natural edible skin. So what’s driving this desire to eliminate packaging? Wood Turner, VP of Sustainability Innovation for Stonyfield, and Eric Freedman, VP of technology provider WikiFoods, Inc., explain.

Packaging World:
It has been proven that the amount of packaging used for most food products makes up just a very small percentage of the overall carbon footprint of that product, yet its role is vital in protecting the product. Why do you think we should be looking at packaging-free options?

Wood Turner:
Yes, of course, packaging plays an important role in ensuring the consumer’s peace of mind, but if you look at it from a business perspective, it represents a significant cost. Most companies are working as hard as they can to make the best product that fills the package, because that is what the consumer is paying for. That’s why many companies are dedicated to lightweighting and downgauging packaging—it helps to reduce costs. It also has the added benefit of reducing the product’s environmental footprint, as well.

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