Reduced packaging equals reduced waste for processors seeking sustainability. One of the key factors in promoting sustainability is the reduction of waste products. In some cases, the best approach to meeting this challenge is to reduce the amount of packaging materials.
Some approaches being used are to reduce the thickness of packing boxes and wrappers, and if the amount of content is less than the size of the package, then to shorten the height of the package so the contents fill the package completely. How many products have you opened only to find out that the product materials inside only take up about two-thirds of the package. This is wasteful packaging that can be eliminated by using smaller boxes.
Hershey’s, for example, has reduced its packaging material by some 14 million pounds since 2009. That’s 14 million less pounds of waste material.
These same principles are now being employed by some companies to reduce the thickness of both plastic and glass containers.
We’re doing this because it’s the right thing to do. We wanted to respond to consumer interests as well as be a more responsible company.” — Matt Duffy, Director of Marketing at Nonni’s.
For a much more detailed report and examples of such practices, see the article in Food Processing.
About the Author: Lauren Boitel
