Brands sustainability demands for innovative approaches

The pandemic has also resulted in a greater emphasis on packaging for the booming e-commerce and e-grocery industries

FREMONT, CA: Packaging companies are scrambling to keep up with the growth in fresh food and grocery sales in Asia's e-commerce platforms, which is expected to double in the next five years to 250 billion dollars in South East Asia alone, while also attempting to satisfy brands' sustainability goals. This is despite the fact that the United Nations estimates that Asia's total loss and waste of fruits and vegetables will reach 625 million tonnes by 2030. According to Alan Adams, APAC sustainability director for Sealed Air, this is a huge environmental concern. Waste food disposed of in landfills emits massive amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Furthermore, food loss resulted in a waste of resources as well.

The product generally has a considerably bigger environmental footprint than the packaging, said Richard Smith, Amcor's APAC head of sustainability. It is vital that packaging protects the product from losses and avoids food waste. The pandemic has also resulted in a greater emphasis on packaging for the booming e-commerce and e-grocery industries. As food now travels not only from farm to store but also from store to doorstop, Adams explained that using the correct packaging application ensures that food travels safely and timely through the supply chain to reach customers and provide a fantastic dining experience.

People are transitioning to fresher, healthier meals with low or no preservatives, and everyone is witnessing an increase in demand for fresh food and groceries delivered on demand, he added. In response to these developments, Sealed Air introduced TempGuard, a line of fiber-based insulated box liners designed to preserve temperature-sensitive goods, replacing polystyrene bins with a recyclable and renewable alternative. Smart packaging solutions, according to the company, can also assist reduce waste during food manufacturing and consumption. Cryovac, Sealed Air's food packaging division, developed smart packaging for avocado spread that uses cold high-pressure pasteurization to extend the product's shelf life from 30 to 90 days, allowing the crop to be processed, shipped, and eliminate loss.