| Customers and investors are showing more | | | | requirement in some places, but we also see |
| interests in eco-packaging that save raw | | | | consumer demand for it.” Xylophane have |
| materials, avoid food waste and enhance | | | | developed a barrier material for packaging that |
| recyclability. It has been evident in the recently | | | | decreases food waste by enhancing shelf lives. |
| concluded Cleantech Forum XXII in Copenhagen. | | | | Though this sector has started attracting some |
| Ecopackaging is set to become the next | | | | attention but it still is far away from being |
| eye-catcher of the clean technologies world. | | | | recognized. There is big volume of plastics |
| Packaging accounts for almost 10 % of the | | | | involved everywhere so the market is quite large |
| environmental impact of anything bought. In | | | | but the sustainability packaging market’s |
| developed countries like the U.S. and UK, almost | | | | share is absolutely minimal. Since the field is still in |
| 30 % of food sold in stores is thrown into landfills | | | | its infancy stage there’s no silver bullet that |
| without even being touched. It is a complete | | | | has emerged. A number of new materials are still |
| wastage of money and that waste is filling landfills | | | | in development stage and according to panelists, |
| too. | | | | each advancement needs to be minutely studied |
| Sainsburys, a waste prompted UK grocery chain, | | | | for the effects from its creation to disposal. The |
| has announced its plans to send all its food waste | | | | most important thing is that it has to be as good |
| to biomass stations by the end of the summer in | | | | in terms of barrier properties and should not be |
| order to produce renewable energy. A number of | | | | more expensive than what it’s replacing. |
| other companies have started trying to extend | | | | However ecopackaging companies are not likely |
| the shelf lives of foods, decrease the dependency | | | | to get any premium on their products because |
| on petroleum-based plastics bags & | | | | consumers and manufacturers aren’t willing to |
| packages, and reduce landfill waste, through the | | | | pay extra to be green. Consumers too aren’t |
| use of technologies like nanoparticles, bioplastics, | | | | likely to adopt ecopackaging if it appears less |
| recycled materials, and improved barriers. Also | | | | attractive than what they’re used to. Most of |
| read Active & Intelligent Packaging: | | | | the traditional biodegradable packaging don’t |
| Innovations in Food Packaging Industry. | | | | look very good. It has to be at the same level, if |
| According to Hakan Grubb, CEO of Sweden-based | | | | not more, because for the user it is a statement |
| Xylophane, “The need for sustainable | | | | of quality. |
| packaging is obvious. It’s a regulatory | | | | |