Amidst major strategies announced in Europe to address plastic waste, companies here at home questioned whether sustainable packaging is worth the cost and whether the issue is as important to consumers as the packaging industry believes. In 2018, GreenerPackage.com readers also wanted to learn what the largest CPGs are doing to reduce their packaging footprint.
Look for the number-one story of 2018 to be one of the largest movements in sustainable packaging into 2019 and beyond.
10. First-ever Europe-wide strategy launched to address plastic waste
The European Strategy for Plastics commits to 100% recyclable plastics in the EU by 2030, a reduction in single-use plastics, and the restriction of microplastics, among other goals.
9. McDonald’s makes significant commitments to packaging sustainability
Among them, 100% of materials to come from renewable, recycled, or FSC-certified materials by 2025, and recycling of 100% of packaging in its restaurants, also by 2025.
8. P&G wins Dow’s Diamond
The Dow Chemical Company (Dow) announced the winners of the 2018 30th Awards for Packaging Innovation, which recognizes the packaging industry’s top achievements in innovative packaging designs, materials, technologies, and processes.
7. PepsiCo joins NaturALL Bottle Alliance
The alliance, a research consortium developed by Danone, Nestle Waters, and Origin Materials, is making progress on developing and introducing a 100% bio-based PET beverage bottle.
6. Sustainable packaging materials: worth the cost?
One of the biggest challenges for producers of environmentally-friendly packaging is to convince consumers that these sustainable materials are worth the cost.
5. Green packaging: A priority for consumers?
Survey looks at how consumers’ interest in sustainable packaging has changed and the extent to which this will affect brand owners’ success moving forward.
4. EUROPEN: The state of packaging policy in Europe
Virginia Janssens, Executive Director of EUROPEN and speaker at the upcoming AMERIPEN Annual Conference, discusses the Circular Economy, EPR, and other European packaging policies.
3. Brand owner, consumer sustainable packaging perceptions diverge
A new study uncovers how brand owners and consumers approach sustainable packaging and looks at the opportunities for brand owners to position flexible packaging as sustainable.
2. Compostable cereal bag featured in plastic-free grocery aisle
A flexible pouch made from bio-based compostable materials allows Dutch organic cereal producer De Halm to showcase its products in Ekoplaza’s plastic-free grocery aisle.
1. TerraCycle to unveil ‘Loop’
TerraCycle Founder and CEO Tom Szaky shares news on the upcycling company’s work creating a supply chain for ocean plastics and provides a peek at the upcoming launch of its transformational Loop platform.
