PACKAGING
Refined solutions Alex Noake, Sabert Corporation Europe’s senior vice president and MD, enlightens us on exciting bagasse advancements and how proactivity is essential in 2025. You’ve been a key packaging player for decades. In 2025, how do you feel about how the sector has developed? It has evolved enormously, driven by sustainability, functionality and regulation. Packaging is no longer just about protecting food – it is a critical element of branding, operational efficiency and environmental responsibility. At Sabert, we’ve always stayed ahead of the curve, ensuring that our solutions meet and exceed sustainability goals, while delivering best-in-class performance. Today, the challenge isn’t just complying with regulations – it’s about providing solutions that genuinely improve both the customer experience and the operator’s bottom line. In terms of sandwich & FTG, what’s next? There’s a demand for packaging that is functional, sustainable and visually appealing, while protecting the integrity of the food. One area I’m excited about is R&D advancements in bagasse. Just when you think bagasse is a commodity, Sabert elevates it to the next level. We also have fantastic paperboard innovations on the way. This rich pipeline
will take moisture and grease resistance, heat retention, structural integrity and seal-ability to new heights. That’s all I’m saying for now but stay tuned! Beyond materials, we’re focusing on intelligent design that enhances efficiency, ease of use and recyclability. In this fast-moving industry, convenience, sustainability and durability must go hand in hand. Foodservice and hospitality face many challenges. How can you deliver the best business plan for operators? In a market where cost pressures are relentless, the right packaging should be seen as an investment. Our approach at Sabert is simple: deliver solutions that improve efficiency, reduce waste and enhance the end-user experience. For operators, this means: ● Leak-proof, grease-resistant, durable packaging that reduces food waste and complaints. ● Optimised nestability, stackability and storage efficiency, streamlining back-of-house operations. ● Sustainable, regulation-ready solutions, avoiding last-minute compliance costs. A major hidden cost is supply chain disruption and unpredictability – so working with a global company, with UK and European manufacturing, is certainly worthwhile. When businesses partner with a specialist manufacturer, they benefit from expertise, innovation and a deep understanding of the supply chain. Professional manufacturers don’t just supply packaging – they design,
S&FTG_216_Mar25_p32-33_Sabert_G AB.indd 32
06/03/2025 16:20