Food Logistics serves the entire food supply chain industry with targeted content for manufacturers, retailers, and distributors.
Issue link: https://foodlogistics.epubxp.com/i/195855
SPECIAL REPORT: PACKAGING The Hottest Packaging Designs Innovative solutions focus on food safety, sustainability. B y LA R A L . S OWINS KI T he art and science of packaging design can really be most appreciated in the food supply chain. Not only does stand-out packaging catch the consumer's eye and differentiate a brand from its competitors, but ideally it protects food during transportation and handling, enhances food safety and shelf life, and is also very sustainable. Global packaging firm Tetra Pak has been at the forefront of alternative food and beverage packaging for decades, starting with its iconic Tetra Brik package and aseptic packaging technology that truly transformed food and beverage packaging. Recently, the company released its Environmental Research 2013 study, which polled consumers and industry stakeholders for their views about the environment and packaging. The findings show that people in both developed and developing countries are highly motivated to do something helpful for the environment/reduce environmental impact. While sorting and setting aside packaging for recycling ranked highest as the action most often performed in mature CTI's 'reveal inks' markets (France, Germany, tell consumers to Japan, UK and USA), it scored return items to the fridge when lower in developing countries too warm. (Brazil, China, India, Russia, South Africa and Turkey) presumably due to limited access to recycling infrastructure. At the same time, the higher cost of 'green' products was the biggest barrier to buying environmentally sound products in mature markets, while in developing countries a lack of awareness, information and access contributed to not buying eco-friendly products. Not surprisingly, companies cited the production cost of lower impact products as the leading barrier to making their own environmental improvements. When it comes to labeling, Tetra Pak's study found that 37 percent of consumers regularly look for environmental logos on products, slightly lower than the 39 percent from the company's 2011 environmental study. However, the latest study shows that 54 percent of those polled trust environmental labels today, versus 37 percent two years ago. New packaging preserves color, extends shelf life. 24 OCTOBER 2013 • FOOD LOGISTICS www.foodlogistics.com