Berlin Packaging debates the future of packaging at Luxe Pack Monaco 2023

05 Oct 2023 --- At Luxe Pack 2023, Monaco (October 2-4), Berlin Packaging organized a round table discussion titled “Shaping the future of sustainable packaging,” in which key industry stakeholders debated environmental sustainability in packaging. 

The company invited Quantis, an environmental consulting company, and partners Rituals, Argotier and Tapì Group to discuss the future of emerging consumer trends, changing regulations and the role of eco-design and collaboration. 

“[Environmental] sustainability is crucial for the future of people and the planet, and packaging plays a crucial role in this process. We are aware that only through dialogue with all the stakeholders, first and foremost our customers and suppliers, can we overcome the current challenges, which involve consumers becoming increasingly demanding on sustainability issues,” says Dario Bassetti, chief marketing officer of Berlin Packaging EMEA.

Berlin Packaging reports that the environmental impact of packaging varies significantly by sector. For example, consumers’ use of cosmetics and personal care products generates the most emissions — adding up to 40%, compared to sourcing raw materials (about 10%) and packaging (20%).

Choosing trends
Quantis suggests five trends to “change the rules of the game in the packaging industry and raise the level of performance in the next five to ten years.”

Refillable packaging is identified as a beneficial solution for personal care products.The consultant company says that first, sustainability requirements emerge — namely, the growing pressure to reduce packaging waste through regulations that are being drafted and which will become increasingly more stringent.

Next, the growth of e-commerce should be considered, which may lead to a convergence of primary and secondary packaging and to new designs that facilitate the demand for greater automation of logistics processes.

Quantis also says the change in consumers’ purchasing preferences should be taken into account as they are increasingly driven by comfort, personalization, well-being and value for money. Currently, producers are experiencing an increasing strain on costs in the packaging value chain, reducing retail sales margins.

In this day and age, the conversation surrounding AI extends to packaging. Quantis explains that AI and other new technologies can simplify the packaging design process, significantly improving its quality and helping companies reduce material waste. This is due to the precise monitoring of the design and material selection phases using the technologies.

“Even though manufacturers, retailers and regulators are aware of the need for greater [environmental] sustainability, there is no global agreement on values and measures to date. In addition, given the lack of consistent priorities, it is up to the individual brands to determine their timelines and actions,” explains Marcial Vargas, global lead science and innovation at Quantis.

“Often business decision makers find themselves in a situation where they have to choose between investing efforts and resources in the sustainability of the product supply chain, or sustainable packaging, whereas they should prioritize both aspects.”

Circularity, optimization and reuseStakeholders convene at Luxe Pack to discuss the future of luxury packaging.
Berlin Packaging focuses on three main areas for its packaging solutions: Circularity, optimization and reuse, which are integrated into its services.

“At Berlin Packaging, we have chosen to put sustainability at the center of our strategy precisely because we are aware that it is an indispensable priority,” says Paolo Recrosio, CEO of Berlin Packaging EMEA.

“We must drive the future of [environmentally] sustainable packaging, accelerating the creation of value and pursuing our vision of being a reference player also in terms of [environmental] sustainability.”

In the conversation at Luxe Pack, Berlin Packaging highlighted that designing new reusable packaging solutions is necessary. Products and their packaging last over time and can be refilled.

For example, with the home bath and body brand Rituals, Berlin Packaging has redesigned hundreds of products with a view to circularity, introducing refilling systems for day and night creams, body creams and scented sticks, noting that more and more customers are accepting refillable options.

Berlin Packaging says material reduction will be essential to support packaging manufacturers in increasing the amount of PCR raw material by 2030 and 2040 and engage in extended producer responsibility programs to improve the separated waste collection.

The discussion continued around the need for circularity and packaging recyclability. Additionally, replacing materials is considered essential to pay attention to environmental sustainability from the design phase, adopting comparable and measurable criteria that are shared between the different stakeholders in the supply chain and integrated throughout the production process.

By Sabine Waldeck