Flexible Packaging Europe warns winter gas shortage could disrupt “vital” product supplies

18 Aug 2022 --- Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE) members support the EU Commission and its Member States’ proposal to “Save Gas for a Safe Winter” by recognizing the agri-food supply chain as “societally vital.” 

Recently, Copa-Cogeca, Primary Food Processors, and FoodDrinkEurope described how packaging is a crucial link in this production and supply cycle. The pharmaceutical and medical industries, as well as other “societally vital” value chains, rely on flexible packaging to make sure that patients can access those items.

“At the very least a stable gas supply over a defined period of time would avoid disrupting production of these materials, which are generally made using continuous processes,” says Guido Aufdemkamp, FPE’s executive director.

“This way our industry can enable the agri-food, pharmaceutical and medical supply chains to maintain the safe and secure supply of products which are necessary and often vital to the European population,” Aufdemkamp explains.

Gas shortage threats
The possibility of a European natural gas supply shortage continues to worry the flexible packaging industry greatly. Although the total amount of gas utilized by flexible packaging makers is relatively small when compared to other industries, the industry and its clients depend on the consistent and ongoing availability of gas to keep their operations running.

The Confederation of European Paper Industries (Cepi) is calling for EU governmental interjection too, in an effort to mitigate the mounting pressure gas shortages are putting on the industry as Russian supplies continue to run short. 

A little over half of all foods, excluding drinks, are packaged in flexible packaging (such as pouches, lids and or overwraps) and, according to findings by Innova Market Insights, this is the way many consumers want it, considering nearly 40% of users in Western European countries favor flexible packaging for foods and confectionery items.

A stable gas supply over a defined period of time would avoid disrupting the production of flexible packaging.For this reason, flexible packaging can be regarded as essential for agri-food supply chains.

An increase in pharmaceutical products, such as blisters and pouches, and medical applications, like sterilization at medical device manufacturers or in a hospital’s sterile departments, use flexible packaging. 

Despite this, less than 15% of consumers in Western Europe consider increased plastic packaging usage to prevent health risks as important, according to the market researcher.

The irreplaceability of flexible packaging 
FPE supplies its consumers across various borders and all of Europe. Even if another supplier were to become available in the short or even medium term, FPE says that production could not be altered quickly because the packaging is often created specifically for the product.

In addition to this, flexible packaging has been acknowledged as a very resource-efficient and lightweight packaging option in numerous life cycle assessment studies. For instance, flexible pouches demonstrated a more than 60% lower effect than the rigid options when used to pack tomato sauce or olives.

Aufdemkamp says that, from a macroeconomic perspective, flexible packaging might even be considered one solution to help reduce gas and energy consumption. “Particularly during these extraordinary times,” referring to the geopolitical tension and the vestigial disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, “all options that become more energy and resource efficient should be on the table for discussion.” 

“All actors in the industry are aware that any decisions made in this area will eventually disrupt value chains. The pandemic has shown that no one is fully aware of all the potential impacts. We are ready to support governments and legislators to address potential impacts when they become apparent,” he concludes.

By Mieke Meintjes

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