Brands and the food industry face the challenge of creating packaging aligned with the circular economy. How to develop more sustainable packaging materials? Is plastic being unfairly demonised? What role do current regulations play? In a world where ‘eco’ and ‘bio’ sell, experts from different areas related to sustainability, communication and R&D participated in a round-table discussion at Hispack to address these and other questions related to creating more sustainable food and beverage packaging.
José Antonio Gago – Eurecat
Market Manager | Product Innovation & Design Thinking Services
Eurecat is a technology centre focused on research, development and technology transfer to companies.
Alex Benet – Pastas Gallo Group
Purchasing management
Manufacturer and marketer of pasta products.
María Pérez – Nueva Pescanova S.A.
Expert in Circular Economy
Multinational specialising in fish products, mostly frozen and some chilled.
Pablo Tejero – Mahou San Miguel
RDI Technician & Approvals Specialist
Leading company in the beer sector in Spain, it sells and markets beer and water.
Miquel Campmany – Nestlé
Head of Consumer Communication
Swiss multinational food and beverage company.
How do you approach the creation of more sustainable packaging materials?
María Pérez – Nueva Pescanova S.A.
We have our own circular economy packaging strategy with ambitious targets. We are working towards making all our packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025, and are therefore reducing weights and optimising them, for example by switching from complex plastic materials to mono-materials, and incorporating recycled plastic wherever possible, mainly in PET.
As far as bioplastics or biomaterials are concerned, cardboard boxes are a type of format that we use frequently. Regarding compostables, we are exploring them because they have important limitations in the food sector.
Pablo Tejero – Mahou San Miguel
With regard to bio-based materials, we tested PLA in its day, although it needs to be improved in terms of permeability and when it comes to industrialisation, ad hoc machines would have to be made. In parallel, we are investigating other bioplastics. In this regard, a very important point is that the raw material comes from by-products or waste from industry, because if you grow a product to obtain bioplastics, you are taking away land area for food, and it is counter-productive.
Moving on to the next point of recycled materials, we currently have 100% rPET – recycled PET plastic—in our water range. The secondary packaging for grouping the bottles is 50% recycled because it is already required by law in the Balearic Islands.
All our packaging is mono-material and therefore 100% recyclable.
In terms of brewing processes, we strive for efficiency, for example by recovering CO2 from beer fermentation to generate electricity for the brewing process, as well as reducing water consumption to reduce the water footprint. In addition, all the energy we use comes from renewable sources.
Finally, we also focus on the sustainability of material design: we are committed to returnable, lighter and more efficient materials for logistics.
Alex Benet – Pastas Gallo Group
For us, there are three sustainability factors to take into account beyond whether or not the technical reality allows us to implement them:
- Does it really have a favourable impact on the environment?
- From a cost point of view, investment in sustainability must have a certain sustainable return. The cost axis sometimes acts as a catalyst for other axes.
- How perceptible is it to the consumer? The important thing is to be sustainable, but you also have to look sustainable.
Miquel Campmany – Nestlé
In the case of recycled plastic, I think there will be a lot of going back and forth. We are in a difficult year with cost increases and this has led to a significant rise in the price of recycled plastic. In addition, there are many qualities and types of recycled plastic, and this also determines the impact on the operating account.
At the point of sale we do a lot of shrink-wrapping, all the promotional packs, duos, double packs… and we have proposed that they should all be in cardboard.
We are also committed to packaging made from polyolefins, which is 100% sustainable, and which also guarantees the primary function of a package: that it should contain and protect.
Promotional and secondary packaging: How to reduce it?
Pablo Tejero – Mahou San Miguel
We are all in a legislative war on plastic at the same time as secondary packaging is migrating from plastic to cardboard. But in the end, the difference is that instead of filling the yellow bin, we are filling the blue container, although the lettering on the packaging is improved. The clear transition in secondary packaging from plastic to cardboard can be seen for example in can rings and trays.
Alex Benet – Pastas Gallo Group
There is a large volume of secondary packaging that ends up in the bin. Beyond the migrations and the road ahead in secondary packaging to use more easily recyclable materials than the typical plastic shrink wrap, there is nothing more sustainable than spending less, optimising dimensions and sizes.
María Pérez – Nueva Pescanova S.A.
In our case, we do not make extensive use of secondary packaging. A couple of years ago we moved from a plastic shrink wrap to a cardboard sleeve, and the consumer appreciates it. The challenge is to reduce the volume and quantity of secondary packaging.
Plastics and legislation, controversial issues
Pablo Tejero – Mahou San Miguel
Plastic is being unfairly demonised, partly because of our misuse of waste. But European legislation is putting a focus on single-use plastic, in particular virgin plastic.
Alex Benet – Pastas Gallo Group
Although it sometimes complicates our lives, legislation is necessary, it puts on pressure and triggers a ticking clock to get your act together, even if it does not prevent you from taking a critical view. The legislation demonises plastic monomer in the same way as complex plastic, and I see this as unfair because the use of a monomer material allows you to enter a recycling chain for other uses whereas the other plastic does not. I suppose this is a fast pace, but one that future legislation will have to address and correct.
Miquel Campmany – Nestlé
Industry has a huge commitment in terms of sustainability, but the role of the consumer is also key.
I am increasingly convinced that we have to do it early. It is not only our task to adapt packaging to a more sustainable reality, but also to communicate, educate and convince consumers about sustainability. You have to be educated on this issue and put it into practice.
María Pérez – Nueva Pescanova S.A.
There is a problem of harmonisation among different countries and the legislative and taxation pressure puts us under pressure and causes us, among other things, an administrative burden.
Consumers do not distinguish between types of plastic. We avoid the use of plastic wherever possible. In this regard we are aligned with the war on plastic, but we will also continue to use it when we consider it to be the best material for the product we are packaging.
At the point of sale, the Pescanova Group informs of improvements in packaging when there is a benefit or we indicate changes in materials. Our strength is to continue to focus on the sustainability of the product throughout the process with the ‘Pescanova Blue’ seal. The ‘Pescanova Blue’ Sustainability Programme promotes more sustainable operations and practices in their biological, environmental, technological, economic, commercial and social aspects. We must not forget that the consumer is buying a product, not just a package.
Alex Benet – Pastas Gallo Group
We are living at a time when consumers and certain targets are in a process of awareness-raising, both with regard to the product—CSR, healthy…—and packaging, but there is still a long way to go. In this regard, big brands have a responsibility to communicate honestly. We live in a general situation where brands present their strengths more than their weaknesses, and this is also true for everything related to sustainability. We don’t often talk about what we still have to do for the planet, beyond the interests of companies.
Point of sale as collection point?
Pablo Tejero – Mahou San Miguel
The idea of bringing bottle tops back to the shop, as our grandparents did years ago, is getting closer and closer. It will be difficult for very “convenience-minded” consumers, who are used to consuming and throwing away, to consume the product, keep the packaging to return it when they go to the supermarket, so that the establishment refunds the deposit. In turn, a space for collection and a reverse logistics channel will have to be set up. The most difficult thing I see is to raise awareness and carry out educational work with the consumer because at the moment there is a disposable mentality.
Miquel Campmany – Nestlé
In our case, this trend is evident, for example, in coffee beans, which we see as a clear avenue for growth. How we make it easy for the consumer is another matter. The benefit of convenience is fundamental, and this issue should not be forgotten or put to one side. As an example, years ago an initiative was launched to collect capsules, we have studied to what extent the consumer would be willing to have capsules collected at home, and it is not easy.
María Pérez – Nueva Pescanova S.A.
The challenge is to change consumption habits and this takes time and money. And if it annoys us now to fill the bin, imagine having to return a container. For reusables, the legislation has set a number of conditions for next year. In our case, are they going to set up chests to buy in bulk? How do I label hake fillet, for example, without packaging? We don’t know and this information is not yet clear. For all these reasons, collaboration between the point of sale and the brands will be essential to be able to carry it out, together with the whole value chain.
Alex Benet – Pastas Gallo Group
In certain sectors, such as frozen foods, I believe that returning packaging is a short-term solution. With the deep-rooted mindset of convenience it is difficult for consumers to give up the convenience you have offered them. In this respect, legislation will be key to push for such measures.
Cristina Benavides, Hispack partner
