Special issue
FEATURE
THINKING
Packaging up a SOLUTION Tackling the mounting packaging problem is no easy feat, but there is a profusion of companies devoted to finding answers. OPI’s Michelle Sturman takes a look at some of the developments
I
www.opi.net
t doesn’t take a genius to work out that the mammoth rise in packages being shipped around the world isn’t great for the environment. To put the $900 billion global packaging industry into perspective, the most recent Pitney Bowes Parcel Shipping Index reveals global parcel volumes reached 131.2 billion in 2020. Or, to put it another way, 4,160 parcels are shipped per second. According to the Index, parcel volumes could be as high as 303 billion by 2026, although the most likely outcome is that they will double to reach about 266 billion with an 11% CAGR from 2021-2026. Whatever the final figure, it’s a staggering number of packages and accompanying packaging material which are finding their way into our homes and workplaces. Some progress is being made in addressing the issue, with the banning of single-use plastic gaining momentum, for example. But different plastics are still found in packaging materials. And while the focus has been on increasing recycled content within packaging and improving overall recyclability – although global recycling rates remain below par – the emphasis is now in fact shifting to reaching net-zero. One way to help reduce carbon emissions is to embrace a circular economy which calls for significant advancements in solving the complex issue of making packaging more sustainable and non-linear (see also Spotlight, page 28). OPI looks at a few of the interesting innovations that are already available or are in the testing/ prototype phase.
30
THE BOUNTY OF THE SEA The humble seaweed, found in abundance in seas the world over and with the added ability to be farmed sustainably, is becoming a genuine contender for replacing plastics in packaging. The European seaweed industry
alone is predicted to be worth almost €9 billion ($10.4 billion) by 2030. Companies that include traditional packaging giants as well as start-ups are currently investigating its potential. UK-based paper and packaging firm DS Smith, for instance, is exploring how seaweed fibres can be used as a raw material in products as an alternative to wood. The company is also examining the potential of using seaweed as a replacement for petroleum-based barrier coatings. In addition, as part of its £100 million ($134 million) circular economy R&D programme, DS Smith is researching other natural materials. These include straw, hemp, miscanthus and cotton as well as agricultural waste such as cocoa shells and bagasse.
Parcel volumes could be as high as 303 billion by 2026 A collaboration between two Finnish companies is analysing the possibilities of seaweed and algae. Origin by Ocean harvests algae and seaweed from the Baltic Sea and transforms it into sustainable ingredients. In partnership with bio-sourced materials business Brightplus, the focus is on examining the different decorative and barrier properties of the biomass. THE WHOLE PICTURE Creating circular products isn’t solely about the packaging material itself. It equally involves right-sizing containers and ensuring eco-friendly void fill options are included. US-based Cruz Foam has been operational for a few years, but its product is now gaining real traction as businesses look for viable eco-friendly and circular economy alternatives. The company uses chitin from shrimp shells
