New study identifies key trends in packaging design, materials and the implications of these trends on legislation
PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, and the American Institute for Packaging and the Environment (Ameripen) released 2023 PACKAGING COMPASS: Evaluating Trends in U.S. Packaging Design Over the Next Decade and Implications for the Future of a Circular Packaging System, a new study and accompanying infographic identifying key trends in packaging design and materials and the implications of these trends on legislation and the recovery systems for consumer-packaged goods (CPG) companies.
The Packaging Compass, based on research and analysis conducted by Ameripen and PMMI, highlights the growing importance of sustainability in the packaging industry, as consumers become increasingly aware of the environmental impact of packaging materials and manufacturers strive to reduce waste and emissions. This research strives to close the gap between design needs and recovery needs by beginning a conversation on trends, presenting forecasts for the coming decade, and recognising the role of multiple stakeholders in advancing a circular packaging system.
As the infographic illustrates, metal beverage cans, PET bottles, and flexible plastic wrap lead the overall compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in packaging materials, which has shown some fluctuation since 2021, but is projected to decrease to 1.3% CAGR by 2025. Based on the report findings, this slight slowdown reflects the movement within omnichannel commerce to design primary packaging for shipping, eliminating the need for secondary and, in some cases tertiary packaging, along with the return to retail as consumers head back to stores after Covid.
Both the report and infographic outline key packaging waste and policy implications brought on by these shifts toward a more circular packaging system:
-Extended producer responsibility (EPR): Shifting financial and operational responsibility for end-of-life management of products to producers, instead of taxpayers and government.
-Universal Access: Providing all households with convenient and consistent access to recycling and composting services.
-Standardised Definitions: Clear recycling, composting, and other recovery definitions to reduce consumer confusion.
-Material Bans: Shifting from material bans to dialogues on the best ways to collect, sort, and reprocess materials to reduce environmental impact.
-Recovery Innovation: Federal investments into programs uncovering emerging science and data to drive efficiencies across packaging design and waste management.
-Data Collection: Consistent data collection to measure and benchmark the performance of a circular packaging economy.
