An Insight Into The Eco-Friendly Future Of Food Packaging
With the dramatic growth of e-commerce, now everything is changing. For years, plastic has been the top pick in the packing industry. Plastic is omnipresent; plastic is everywhere, from being wrapped around beverages to fruits and vegetables. But, as we all know, plastic is not suitable for the environment. Now, the question is, if plastic is so bad, why pack food? Why is packaging important? The packaging is essential because it acts as a shield and protects the content inside. When a product is shipped from the manufacturing facility to the retailer, the packaging ensures that the product is safe and unhampered. Also, a book is always judged by its cover. Packaging decides whether a consumer will buy that product or not.
2022 is the year of megatrends in the packaging industry. Good packaging acts as an ambassador for the product. Among the Gen-Z and millennials, environmentally conscious, sustainable food packaging is the new trend. Along with sustainable packaging, people prefer vintage packaging and designed packaging. Every packaging tells a story; therefore, fast food packaging nowadays is done with humorous illustrations and designs so that the consumer can know more about the product.
The packaging industry is one of the most vital sectors in India. In response to the growing consumer demand for sustainable food packaging, the packaging industry is advancing toward eco-friendly packaging in India. In 2022, sustainability remains the biggest challenge to tackle. Also, if we look at the global packaging market, it has increased by 6.8%. Also, further from 2018 to 2028, this trend is said to keep growing by 3% every annum.
In the 21st century, the packaging is the king. Packaging decides the future of the product. Brands are continuously improving their packaging to make it more sustainable. About 74% of consumers are willing to pay an additional price for biodegradable food packaging. 2022 is full of new trends rocking the sustainable food packaging arena.
Paper food packaging
Packaging should do what it is meant to be; save the product from getting harmed. Always remain minimalism is the key. And paper food packaging is what is the need of the hour. For example, a consumer has to buy oranges or any fruits for that matter; paper food packaging, in this case, seems apt. Not just fruits, packing any food in the paper is a step towards saving the environment. Brown paper bags are a classic example of perfect paper food packaging.
Eco wrap packaging
As kids, we all were fascinated with bubble wrap packing. But bubble wrap is plastic, and everyone knows how harmful plastic is to our environment. The market has developed a new form known as eco wrap packaging to counter bubble wrap packaging. One can wrap food in biodegradable papers, dried banyan leaves and whatnot. Plastic isn’t the sole solution to everything!
Zero Plastic And Zero Waste
Plastic poses innumerable threats to the environment. Plastic is non-biodegradable, and even after discarding it, it stays on the land and sea beds for millions of years. Many brands are utilising agricultural crop waste and algae-based materials. The food industry has gotten conscious and is adopting various biodegradable packagings such as rice husk, bamboo, and glass containers to reduce the use of plastic. These are reusable and recyclable, unlike plastic which takes several years to decompose.
Recyclable Packaging
If you search for recyclable packaging, bioplastic is the best option to look for. Bioplastics are plant-derived, and their market is continuously blooming. Among all the plastics used for food packaging, Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has the highest recycling rate. Also, recyclable packaging needs to follow three criteria: labelled correctly, separable and clean. Recyclable water bottles are the best example of recyclable packaging.
Custom Packaging
Appearance matters; there’s no debate over here. Products are distinguished based on their appearance. Creative fonts make the product more appealing, especially if it is a food item. Who said sustainable packaging couldn’t be luxurious? Eco-friendly luxury packaging is trending nowadays. Food items such as dry fruits, exotic fruits, and sweets are packed in an Avant-grade cardboard box. At the same time, businesses are moving towards a sustainable India by adopting eco-friendly custom tissue paper packaging. Not just eco-friendly custom tissue paper enhances the look of the food packaging, it is also 100% recyclable and FSC certified. Now all the brands are going for eco-friendly custom tissue paper packaging, which is currently in demand.
In some way, materials used in fast food packaging impact the environment. Biodegradable food packaging materials save the environment. Although plastic is not a recent addition to the food packaging industry, it isn’t safe for the environment. The cycle of using plastic needs to be broken. Now is the time to ditch the plastic and opt for sustainable food packaging. Sustainable food packaging is a win-win situation for the environment. The food packaging industry is getting more thoughtful and more intelligent!
If you want to know more about custom packaging and branding, contact us and let our experts help you develop your next packaging.