Flexible packaging plays a significant role in delivering products to consumers, but the Flexible Packaging Association has stated that recyclability remains one of the major challenges facing the industry. Data provided by GlobalData analysts indicates that by 2022, the food and beverage market accounted for 87% of the packaging market (51% for food and 36% for beverages).
Dominic Cakebread, Global Head of Packaging Services at GlobalData, noted that 63% of the market share consists of flexible and rigid plastics. Data compiled by GlobalData also reveals that since 2019, flexible packaging has had the highest sales among all packaging material types, with the industry reaching a historic milestone in 2022 by surpassing 1.4 billion units in sales, with an anticipated year-on-year growth.
Alison Keane, Chair and CEO of the Flexible Packaging Association, emphasized the crucial role of flexible packaging in protecting and preserving a wide range of products, including food, medical devices, and e-commerce items. She stated, "Flexible packaging is the largest packaging segment globally, second only to corrugated paper in the United States. Due to its advantageous characteristics, the use of flexible packaging is on the rise. However, limited end markets for recycling material and choices in waste management hinder its complete circular potential. The lack of material recycling means that the potential for full circularity is restricted. This results in flexible packaging being visibly and widely present in waste streams or litter, contributing to negative public perceptions and concerns about ocean pollution.
01. Recyclability of Flexible Packaging
Alison Keane believes that achieving full circularity is one of the greatest challenges faced by the industry, a concern substantiated by data compiled by GlobalData regarding consumer environmental concerns. The GlobalData webinar titled "Key Trends in Packaging 2023" revealed that 50% of consumers consider understanding whether product packaging is recyclable and how to recycle it to be crucial.
"Similar to any other manufacturing sector in the United States, flexible packaging grapples with labor and supply chain disruptions. However, what perhaps sets it apart from other packaging industries is, more specifically, the comprehensive circular challenge that flexible packaging faces," noted Alison Keane.
"How do we modernize the U.S. recycling system to collect and process the packaging we use today? The U.S. recycling system operates at the municipal level, with 20,000 to 30,000 different programs. It's inefficient and is built on markets that no longer exist (i.e., much of our plastic recycling was exported overseas, mainly to China, which has ceased to accept it). As the types and combinations of packaging used today expand, this also applies to glass, metals, and more. There are viable circular solutions for flexible packaging, but investment in collection, sorting, and reprocessing infrastructure is required. This includes advanced chemical recycling such as pyrolysis and gasification to enable post-consumer recycled content for flexible packaging, particularly food and medical-grade flexible packaging."
Alison Keane stated that FPA believes well-designed Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs can offer these solutions. Currently, there are four such laws in the U.S., and the implementation of each will be crucial in proving whether they truly fulfill the commitment to increased recycling, reuse, and circularity at the state level, serving as examples for other states.
02. Achieving True Circularity
In order to bring true circularity to the industry, companies have a responsibility to produce packaging suitable for the circular economy, and businesses are striving to make their contribution through innovation.
Previously, multinational packaging company Amcor was recognized as a leader in four categories at the WorldStar World Packaging Awards hosted by the World Packaging Organisation. The U.S.-based company was honored for its innovative product designs in the food, health and personal care, medical, and pharmaceutical categories.
One of their designs is the PrimeSeal Eco-Tite Recycle-Ready shrink bag, a 100% recyclable flexible packaging solution with new high barrier performance comparable to existing bags. Amcor states that this new packaging solution is free of pollutants like PVDC that hinder recycling.
Amcor also claims to be the first company to offer certified recyclable plastics in the Australian and New Zealand markets. Richard Smith, Amcor's Director of Sustainability for the Asia Pacific region, described this as a significant resource.
Keane pointed out that flexible packaging plays a vital role in the circular economy and is the fastest-growing segment of the packaging industry. "Consumer brands recognize its sustainability advantages, such as its resource efficiency that reduces water, energy, and greenhouse gas emissions during production, distribution, and use. It also optimizes the packaging volume and weight needed to protect and preserve products throughout the supply chain and when they're ultimately used by consumers. This means it reduces waste from the outset and minimizes the amount of packaging needing management upon disposal."
"By protecting products, it reduces product loss and damage, extending the shelf life of food and thus curbing the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions from landfills. For instance, wrapping cucumbers in flexible film extends their shelf life from 3 to 14 days, and using perforated flexible bags for grapes can reduce in-store waste by 20%."
"Even in landfill terms, when comparing flexible coffee bags with traditional steel cans with plastic lids (one of the most recycled containers), steel cans require recycling rates to increase from 71% to 93%, and plastic lids from 21% to 75% to match the landfill material volume of steel coffee cans. The key is closed-loop end-of-life management solutions for a circular cycle.
Post time: 08-29-2023