McDonald\u2019s rolled out its new packaging this month along with a pledge to source 100 percent of all fiber-based packaging from recycled or certified sources by 2020.<\/p>\n
This follows the fast-food chain\u2019s November announcement that its centrally purchased packaging in Europe is 100 percent sustainably sourced. This includes cartons, cups, bags, napkins and tray liners, all made with wood fiber from recycled sources or forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council or the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification.<\/p>\n
A month after COP21, with the climate deal and its ambitious emissions cuts still at the forefront of businesses\u2019 \u2014 and consumers\u2019 \u2014 minds, http:\/\/www.environmentalleader.com\/2016\/01\/22\/6-sustainable-packaging-trends-to-watch-in-2016\/#ixzz3xzdaYkmu. Here\u2019s what they expect to see in the year ahead.<\/p>\n
1. Shrinking Carbon Footprints<\/p>\n
Sustainable Packaging Coalition senior manager Adam Gendell says he expects the industry to look to reduce its carbon footprint in 2016. \u201cThe recent COP21 event underscored the longstanding scrutiny on greenhouse gas emissions from the manufacturing industry, and we saw a number of influential companies double down on their commitments to reduce their emissions,\u201d Gendell says. \u201cEspecially since reductions in carbon footprints tend to accompany reductions in other environmental indicators, it makes sense for industry to focus their efforts on carbon.\u201d<\/p>\n
2. 100 Percent Bio-Based PET<\/p>\n
Coca-Cola has been producing partially bio-based PlantBottle since 2009, but the commercial production of 100 percent bio-based PlantBottle still remains elusive. \u201cThe realization of 100 percent bio-based PlantBottle hinges on the successful development of a route towards biobased terepthalic acid (bio-TPA) or its equivalent,\u201d says Lux Research\u2019s Meraldo Antonio, a research associate on the firm\u2019s bio-based materials and chemicals team. \u201cTo this end, Coca-Cola is engaging three technology developers: Gevo, Virent and Avantium.\u201d<\/p>\n
In June 2015, Coca-Cola and Virent announced that they had produced the world\u2019s first 100 percent bio-based PlantBottle \u2014 at demonstration scale. \u201cAs Coca-Cola and its partners continue to put heavy emphasis on the commercial realization of 100 percent bio-based PlantBottle, we expect that in 2016, similar announcements of scale-up milestones from Coca-Cola\u2019s three technology partners will emerge,\u201d Antonio says.<\/p>\n
3. Downstream Supply Chain Players Measuring Upstream Suppliers<\/p>\n
\u201cProcurement guidelines are becoming more sophisticated with sustainability metrics, companies are requesting more audits, more measurements, and a broader understanding of supply chain performance,\u201d Gendell says. \u201cSo far, most of this activity has been measuring for the sake of measuring, but it\u2019s only a matter of time before it\u2019s commonplace for meaningful business decisions to be made based on the environmental preferability of upstream operations. 2016 could be that year.\u201d<\/p>\n
4. Novel Bioplastics<\/p>\n
Antonio says Lux Research expects technology developers this year will improve the mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties of bioplastics. \u201cIn the past, problems concerning these properties were the bane of bioplastics and served as a roadblock for adoption in products that require heat-based sterilization or pre-serving heating,\u201d he says. \u201cHowever, continued innovation has allowed some companies to launch bio-based packaging that meet these requirements.\u201d<\/p>\n
For example Toray, a Tokyo-based manufacturer of fibers and textiles, plastic resins, films and carbon fiber composites, has introduced new lidding films (called LumiLid) that Antonio says include greater than 50 percent renewable feedstocks content and can withstand temperatures of up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. \u201cWe expect that in 2016, more of these higher performance sustainable packaging material will be introduced.\u201d<\/p>\n
5. Waste Reduction<\/p>\n
\u201cZero waste\u201d was the 2015 catchphrase, according to Gendell, who says waste reduction will continue to be a sustainable packaging trend in 2016 and beyond. \u201cWe know that companies always want recyclable packaging,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s good for business. Consumers understand it, and it can keep industry in the good graces of regulatory agencies.\u201d But, Gendell says, there aren\u2019t a lot of corporate sustainability goals that focus on increasing recycling compared to, say, decreasing carbon footprints. \u201cWe very well may see the industry conversation pivot from recyclability to a different mechanism of waste reduction,\u201d he says. \u201cBut since waste reduction so often relates to cost reduction, we can feel confident that it won\u2019t fade from the spotlight any time soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
6. Edible Packaging<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve already seen this concept grab headlines last year, with PepsiCo reportedly considering edible packaging and WikiCells, a startup founded by Harvard professor David Edwards, developed self-contained edible packaging in an effort to reduce plastic and paper waste. \u201cAlthough such cradle-to-cradle approach to eliminating waste created from food packaging is certainly interesting and headline-worthy, its implementation is confronted with many challenges, including logistical (i.e. the risk of this packaging material being broken up) and marketing challenges (i.e. consumer\u2019s impression that such packaging is unhygienic),\u201d Antonio says. \u201cWe believe that in 2016, such novel concept will continue to attract media attention, although mass commercialization is still distant.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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