Sustainable snacking: ProAmpac talks challenges in snack pack market as demand continues to boom

14 Sep 2022 --- The snack packaging market has steadily increased sales over the past five years. However, with this uptick in consumption comes a challenge for producers as different snack types require different materials and designs. On top of this, the pressure to improve environmental sustainability continues to drive innovation and the search for emissions and waste-reducing new products.

Charles Golub, F&B market manager for ProAmpac, tells PackagingInsights that the huge amount of different foods and snack types, typically sold in relatively small portions, comes with the need for various designs and materials. 

“The snack industry utilizes a wide range of products with unique packaging requirements like sealing and barrier properties,” he says. 

“For example, an almond bag may require stronger puncture resistance than a potato chip bag, or an extruded snack may require a higher barrier than sunflower seeds. These subtle intricacies in requirements cause packaging manufacturers to offer specific products for each sub-market for the snack industry.” 

According to Innova Market Insights, most snacks launched globally are nuts and seeds, increasing from 20% to 21% from 2017 until 2021, followed by fruit-based snacks, potato-based snacks, finger foods and corn-based snacks.  

The ProActive recyclable snack pouch.Facing the climate challenge 
Besides catering to a broad array of snack types, producers must also meet the demands that any packaging area now faces: improving environmental sustainability.  

“The snack packaging industry is also challenged to incorporate more sustainable solutions as demands continue to grow organically from customers, consumers and legislation,” continues Golub. 

“As different sub-segments of the industry move toward independent sustainable goals, it becomes clear there is no universal solution that could meet the diverse requirements. Some products may move to recyclable materials, while others are compostable.” 

However, Golub emphasizes that packaging manufacturers must work closely with customers to determine the best fit for sustainable materials because some products may render the disposal method void. Often, a lack of collection, sortation or processing infrastructure in particular places means certain designs are useless. 

“The needs of the consumer further exacerbate this difficulty in transitioning to environmentally sustainable materials. Commercial composting facilities and film recycling centers are not available at the level and convenience to consumers that we need nationwide,” he says. 

According to Innova Market Insights, plastic is dominating the snack packaging sphere; snack pouches have seen an average annual growth of +26%, while packet packaging has decreased by -28%.

ProAmpac’s solutions 
Golub says that ProAmpac offers a “deep portfolio” of roll stock, pre-made pouches and bag options from conventional materials to sustainable solutions in paper and film.  

“In both instances, ProAmpac’s solutions offer standard to high barrier, excellent grease resistance, and excellent puncture resistance options to provide customers with the best material possible to preserve product freshness,” he says. 

“Our structures are also specially formulated to run faster on current machines. Additionally, some film and paper solutions can include a clear window for consumers to view products inside while elevating shelf appearance. A variety of fitments and closures are also available for our pre-made pouch and bag formats to enhance consumer experience.” 

Plastic is still the prevailing snack pack material.ProAmpac’s ProActive Sustainability suite of products offers critical material solutions for the snack industry, including our ProActive Recyclable, ProActive PCR (post-consumer recyclate) and ProActive Compostable series. 

“Our ProActive Recyclable R-2000D film provides excellent puncture resistance with high barrier options that may be recycled through store drop-off. R-2000D also offers enhanced consumer experience with better tear properties, meaning no additional tools are required for consumers to open the package,” continues Golub. 

“As part of our service with the entire suite of ProActive Recyclable materials, we will send our internal technical team to your site to ensure they run-at-rate on existing machines for easy onboarding.” 

“To further our sustainable solutions, ProAmpac has recently obtained ISCC+ certification for two of our facilities. This certification supports our ProActive PCR materials that can achieve up to 90% PCR content in the overall structure. This unique film can also be enhanced with zipper closures to ensure consumer convenience when opening the package.”

Changing the market 
In terms of future developments, Golub predicts that the snack market will start moving rapidly toward sustainable packaging because of both legislative and consumer-driven pressures.  

“The circular economy is in motion and is fantastic to watch unfold and to participate in. Much of the growing collaboration between brand owners and packaging manufacturers will be around efforts to continue to carve out alternative materials for specific sub-segments of the snack market to ensure a seamless transition to sustainable solutions,” he says. 

In terms of policymakers aiding these collaborations, Golub stresses two important areas where governments can help improve the eco-credentials of packaging. 

“First, the infrastructure for recycling and composting disposal needs strengthening, specifically in relation to films. Left unchanged, the current infrastructure cannot adequately support the demand for recyclable and compostable packaging as it grows across end-products,” he says.  

“Advanced technologies to recycle films exist currently but lack the legislative support to make it widely available for consumers to access to be effectively adopted in snack food packaging.” 

“Second, consumers are willing to adapt to new waste disposal methods with proper education. Consumers drive a large part of the industry’s push for sustainable packaging. So, in response, education and labeling of proper disposal should be reiterated to help consumers easily identify and understand proper disposal methods,” Golub concludes. 

By Louis Gore-Langton