These times have increased the expectations that consumers have from the products and services they acquire in terms of care. As a consequence, two great challenges have emerged for the product industries that must be met through their packaging. On the one hand, safety, related to consumer health care. And, on the other hand, sustainability, referring to care for the environment. These two mayor trending perceptions about packaging apparently point in opposite directions, rising the question: How are we going to respond to new perceptions of safety and sustainability in packaging?
Perception of security in packaging
The uncertainty generated by Covid-19 has made consumers more cautious. However, it is certain that people seek to protect themselves through the least possible contact with people and objects. People want products to have as few interactions, stations, or steps, as possible before getting them from the manufacturer. This perception has increased for example, e-commerce participation; likewise, traditional channels offer biosecurity measures. In both cases, packaging plays an important role in the perception of product safety.
Shrink sleeve packaging provides an additional layer of protection to products above the container that holds them. In addition to offering a unique sensitive impact and brand communication through design, printing and special finishes, this packaging systems meet the growing need for hygiene. They have the advantage of allowing complete and easy removal from the container, without leaving residues, guaranteeing that they are for a single use, which can be part of the recycle economy, another one of the important challenges industries face.
Perception of sustainability in packaging
Health protection was the immediate first reaction to the pandemic. The main objective is the preservation of people’s lives, and to achieve this, the measures have been to stay at home, have as little contact as possible with others, and with objects which origins are unknown. Despite these practices brought notable positive changes in the environment, the seas, forests, and the ecosystem in general, it is also true that there is a negative impact due to the increased waste as a result of the excess of materials and layers that protect the products we interact with.
However, it must be acknowledged that these turbulent times have accelerated the growth of a collective environmental awareness. The union around the preservation of resources, the ecosystem and people is easily noted. This perception has motivated us, as an industry, to focus even further on the planet’s requirements and integrate them into our operations. In turn, manufacturing industries must be in a position to meet sustainability needs.
How to address security and sustainability challenges at the same time?
The challenge for the industry is to reduce packaging without reducing protection. Some ideas are: reduce the excess of materials, the number of steps and interactions to reach the end consumer, increase protection, automate processes, use environmentally friendly materials, educate the end consumer and other industry players, user and collective orientation, promote good practices, evaluate long-term costs, among other proposals that continue to evolve for the common well-being.
The above are some ideas, trends, and concepts that are developing and are a reality. At Suprapak we are willing to continue improving in these fields because our interest is to earn the trust and security of our stakeholders, allies and community. If you want to know more about our developments, please call us or write to us.