Monomaterials, rigid recycling and customization lead household pack agenda, say industry experts

06 Sep 2023 --- The packaging needs of the homecare market are diverse, from simple bottles or containers to more complex trigger sprays. To keep up with market demands, household packaging companies say they must continually innovate and customize their solutions.

Innova Market Insights data suggests that household launches are increasing, featuring an 11% average annual growth from April 2018 to March 2023. Laundry packaging was the leading category for household products launched and Bottle was the leading packaging material between April 2022 to-March 2023. Furthermore, there was also a steep growth in packaging reduction for household products. 

Berry Global offers a broad range of homecare products, including bottles, containers, pots, closures including child-resistant closure versions and dosing and dispensing systems.

“We can create bespoke designs to individual customer requirements. In all new product development processes, we provide a comprehensive one-stop solution – from initial concept to mock-up, finished design and rapid tooling to help bring new packs quickly to market,” a Berry Global spokesperson tells Packaging Insights.

“Our extensive network of factories offers different materials and molding technologies, enabling us to meet the requirements of many different product types,” they explain. 

SPG says by using its Eco Range materials the company complies with the EU's plastic directives.SP Group (SPG) tells us that in the packaging sector, ecodesign, innovation and customization are currently the company’s top priorities.

“SPG has therefore turned its efforts toward delivering solutions that meet ecodesign requirements. We have created three sustainable product lines that comply with European directives, namely Eco Line, Recycled Line and CO2 Line,” an SPG spokesperson tells us.

Monomaterial for recyclability 
In recent years, household packaging market trends have been on environmental sustainability, highlights the Berry Global spokesperson.

“Areas we have concentrated on have included the lightweighting of products, the development of monomaterial solutions to facilitate recycling, refill and reuse solutions and the use of post-consumer and post-industrial recycled material in our packs, much of which can be sourced through our own Berry Circular Polymers operation,” they say. 

“Many of our packs already contain 30% PCR to meet current and forthcoming legislation such as the plastics taxes in the UK and Spain and the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.”

The spokesperson says that a recent example of the company’s product development work toward environmentally sustainable design is its award-winning 3R trigger spray. Another is the range of reusable bottles entirely consisting of PCR plastic for UK ethical cleaning company The Bio-D Company.

SPG says it is aware of recycling concerns. “We have developed a range of monomaterial products based on the main plastic recycling streams: PE and PP. Using materials from the Eco Range ensures you contribute to the circular economy and comply with EU directives on plastics,” says the SPG spokesperson.

The company’s PE HB Eco is recyclable with high-barrier properties, and its PP HB Eco is recyclable and retortable with high-barrier properties.

Rigid plastic recycling Berry Global’s award-winning 3R trigger spray consisting fully of PCR material.
Furthermore, rigid plastic also plays an important role in food packaging, especially in tray formats, which is needed to ensure the product reaches those consumers in the best possible condition. 

“SPG is committed to producing rPET, a thermoformable film made with 100% recycled post-consumer material. It is also 100% recyclable. It is a sustainable solution that can be combined with the Sol-Efficient top film,” explains the spokesperson.

Meanwhile, the Berry Global spokesperson asserts that environmental sustainability is the driving force for most new pack developments. “Concentrates are continuing to grow in popularity as these help to further reduce environmental impact through minimizing the transportation of water and the amount of packaging required,” they elaborate. 

“The bottles we produce for Bio-D were selected as a result of Bio-D’s analysis that concluded that a 100% PCR bottle was the most suitable and environmentally responsible choice.”

Post-pandemic demands 
The peak demand for disinfectants and home cleaning during the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, explains the Berry Global spokesperson. Current economic conditions across Europe result in consumers shifting to private labels, they add.

“Other developments are also being driven by sustainability considerations, such as the shift away from colored to natural caps and from black carbon masterbatch, to further improve the recyclability of containers.”

Meanwhile, the SPG spokesperson tells us that awareness of recycling packaging has significantly increased in the last decade. “Consumers are more conscious of the environmental impact of plastic waste, especially single-use packaging. Statistics published by Recycle Now, the UK government-funded national recycling campaign, show that more than 90% of the UK population ‘regularly recycle’ or ‘occasionally recycle.’” 

By Natalie Schwertheim