PMMI Column: Advances in Packaging Sustainability

Sustainability impacts the conversation around packaging as consumers become progressively more aware of the impact brands have on the environment. Sustainability is especially important among younger consumers. According to “The State of Consumer Spending: Gen Z Shoppers Demand Sustainable Retail,” a survey from digital testing platform First Insight, the majority of consumers responding to the survey prefer to buy from sustainable brands. As a result, brands and manufacturers are adjusting their offerings accordingly to resonate better. Many food brands, for example, use recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging. 

This sustainability trend has reached retail outlets. At least one supermarket and leading pharmacy are validating the reusable packaging concept, according to the “Trend and Advances in Food Packaging and Processing” report from PMMI. The report also mentions a circular online shopping platform conducting a pilot and offering more than 100 products in reusable packaging — including food, beverages, health and beauty and non-food items. The leading consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies participating in the U.S. pilot redesigned durable reusable containers in glass or metal that after use are collected, cleaned, refilled and reused.