Today, we can see how sustainability turns into one of the biggest issues that concern the food industry. In this context, product packaging becomes a key component. Your product packaging is valuable to move toward sustainable business practices. Sustainable packaging today is no longer a “nice-to-have” for food brands. Instead, it becomes a “must-have” for many brands. This applies especially to any food brand looking to future-proof its business reputation. But why should we consider this packaging? Here is why!
A Brief Intro to Sustainable Food Packaging
First of all, let’s explore the meaning of sustainability! People describe sustainability in a number of ways. In brief, sustainable food packaging has to meet the traits below.
- The packaging has to be safe and healthy for customers
- The packaging has to meet the market criteria for cost and performance
- The packaging uses renewable energy
- The packaging uses hygienic production technologies with the best practices
- The packaging helps to optimize materials and energy
Sounds difficult?
Not really…
We can take a look at how many pizza brands have been using recyclable pizza boxes. They surely know that these packaging boxes are worth having. Find more details for these boxes here!
Can You Recycle Pizza Boxes Check Out The Answers Here
What Do Consumers Expect from Sustainable Packaging?
No doubt, consumers are the most important factor that impacts your sales. This is why it is essential to know what your target customers expect to get. A study has explained what the market consumers expect from sustainable packaging.
Here’s what they said:
- 64 percent of consumers want the packaging to be recyclable
- 53 percent of consumers want the packaging to be reusable
- 39 percent of consumers want the packaging to be compostable or biodegradable
- 36 percent of consumers want the packaging from renewable resources
- 35 percent of consumers want packaging that allows easy separation and disposal of different materials
More than 50 percent of consumers also said that they have been reducing the use of disposable plastic in the last 12 months.
What Makes Sustainable Food Packaging a Favorite for Consumers?
Like it or not, sustainability is a significant factor in consumer purchasing behavior. To meet this demand, the food industry continues to look for solutions that reduce its environmental impact on the planet.
But with all the information there, many brands still wonder what actions they can take to make a difference. Meanwhile, we know that many aspects of modern life rely on packaged materials. So, how can sustainable food packaging help to lead to an eco-friendly life?
Here is how!
Sustainable Packaging Is Safer for the Environment
Yes, this packaging enables smarter food packaging applications.
This simply means that this packaging helps a lot in:
- Reducing energy consumption
- Minimizing raw material consumption
- Decreasing CO2 emissions during the manufacture and transportation
Sustainable Packaging Is a Guarantee for Maximum Food Safety
Yes, sustainable packaging is a guarantee for maximum food safety and hygiene. We know that these two points are essential to public health efforts. This packaging provides extra protection. In fact, your edibles will be free of contamination even if the packaging falls off the shelves. Most importantly, this packaging helps prevent the spread of illness and health hazards from pollution.
Sustainable Packaging Is Perfect for Food Delivery
After the pandemic, we can see many consumers live and work from home. Of course, they also shop for food and groceries at home. Sustainable packaging is the perfect solution for takeaway, delivery, and e-commerce trends. You can even order bakery items and get them delivered in eco-friendly bakery boxes.
While it is easy for consumers to decide, there are many additional factors to consider when deciding to purchase edibles. Sustainable food packaging is a reliable way to make a positive impact. This packaging can be a better solution than plastic packaging. Another great thing is that this packaging is valuable in reducing the environmental impact your food brand might produce.
More Reasons for Brands to Choose Sustainable Packaging
In the food industry, product packaging acts as the most important role when it comes to ensuring food safety. As a food brand, you know that food safety is important for maintaining the consumers’ health.
When it comes to printed food grade packaging, we know that it withstands transportation, material handling, and storing. Thus, many things can compromise food safety if the integrity of your packaging is not sufficient. Your product packaging needs to protect your edibles from external influences, pollution, physical damage, and more. This is where you need proper packaging to keep your food as safe as possible until reaching consumers. Well, sustainable packaging for food items is important in this case.
Still not assured? Check out more reasons below to choose sustainable food packaging!
It Helps You Protect Food Items from Any Contamination
Whether you grow your food globally or locally, they are at risk of contamination with bacteria. Additionally, if you need to ship your food items, it will increase the risk of contamination. This is one of the main reasons why the integrity of your product packaging is highly essential. As a food brand, you must implement quality control measures in your food packaging applications.
Keep in mind that insufficient packaging not only affects the quality and integrity of your food items. In the worst scenario, it will also impact the health of your consumers. This is why your packaging must be completely free of air and contamination. Sustainable packaging works well to ensure food safety. In addition, this packaging plays a big role in keeping your food items fresh.
It Helps to Protect Food from Physical Damage
Physical damage can compromise food integrity. This can still happen even if you think that you seal and protect your edibles properly from contamination. Reliable packaging is important to protect your food items from physical damage. Physical damage can occur during material handling, transportation, and storage. Sustainable packaging, in this regard, will preserve your food items from these unwanted aspects.
It Helps to Keep Your Food Fresh
Innovations in sustainable packaging technology have made it possible to ship and consume food items from any place. This packaging will maintain the freshness and quality of your food items perfectly. Better yet, this packaging enables you to deliver fresh food to your beloved consumers.
This incredible packaging technology not only revolutionized the way foods are stored. More than that, sustainable food packaging has also set new quality standards. The standards that consumers expect from international food brands. No matter where the food comes from, consumers can enjoy fresh food with this packaging.
It Helps to Improve Product Shelf Life
Believe it or not, proper packaging can significantly extend the shelf life of your items. Poor-quality packaging shortens shelf life. This will lead to food health problems. Even if you pack and seal the food properly in the packaging, it will still deteriorate when exposed to oxygen. For this reason, you need to ensure proper packaging integrity. The right packaging will prevent food from coming into contact with the air completely.
The good news is that sustainable food packaging can be the key to long-term safe storage of food items. Yes, this packaging has the capability to improve product shelf life. This way, you can give your consumers peace of mind when purchasing your food items.
Sustainable Packaging Helps Prevent Tampering
To ensure food safety, your packaging is ideal for preventing tampering issues. This means that your packaging must be labeled with Tamper-evident Technology.
This includes:
- Printing capabilities
- Special packaging membranes
- Tear-off closures
- Other graphics
- Product features that are altered by tampering
With proper sustainable packaging, you can identify and prevent intentional tampering.
Final Ideas
Product packaging development is a challenge for food brands. Obviously, every brand wants to keep its food items fresh while making a profit. Considering the reasons for having proper custom packaging, you know that it is worth considering. Notwithstanding the fact that you need to meet the customers’ expectations when it comes to selling food items.
Sustainable packaging can be the ideal option for your food brand. This packaging helps to gain customers’ trust, save the environment, and increase your sales. In one go, you can eventually lead your brand to success more quickly and easily. So yes, don’t you think this packaging is worth considering and having?
Have a great day ahead!
Sustainable Packaging protect food items?
36 percent of consumers want the packaging from renewable resources —— good job.