News: Packaging plays an indispensable role in our daily life: it can protect the products we produce and use, provide basic safety and hygiene guarantees, guarantee the shelf life of perishable items, convey important commodity information, and support commodity transportation delivery, and preventing food waste.

   The packaging field is also an important position to convey the concept of sustainability. Wood fiber-based materials are a good substitute for non-renewable plastic packaging materials, and related changes in the packaging material market are quietly taking place. Brand owners, retailers and processors are looking for new food packaging materials that reduce their environmental footprint to improve the sustainability of their operations.

   With the joint participation of sustainability managers, life cycle assessment experts, product developers and other experts, Stora Enso Packaging Materials Division has developed a practical guide that highlights six keys to driving rapid changes in the food packaging market factor.

   01.Consumer demand is changing

   At present, consumers' awareness of environmental protection has awakened. They are eager for practical and convenient product packaging, and they also hope that brand owners can choose the most environmentally friendly alternative materials and shoulder the responsibility of sustainable development. Consumer preference is a huge driver. In fact, our research shows that the vast majority of European consumers are gravitating toward wood fiber-based packaging materials and opt for products with less plastic in their packaging. This environmental awareness has had a great impact on the market, prompting more and more brands to adopt smart and sustainable packaging materials.

   02.The government launched a plastic restriction order

   All over the world, especially European countries and regions, are formulating relevant laws and regulations for plastic packaging materials. The European Green Deal and the European Union Directive on Single Use Plastics are two examples. The former requires that packaging products within the EU must be recyclable and reusable before 2030, while the latter has come into effect in 2021, and the scope of restrictions includes all disposable plastic products such as tableware, plates, straws, cups, and food containers.

   03.NGOs are advocating policy adjustments

   Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are a powerful driver in building a more sustainable future. NGOs conduct and fund relevant research and often help set sustainability goals. NGOs are often able to gain public trust so they can influence policy change and play an active role in the future public discussion on sustainable packaging.

   04.Retailers follow market trends

   Driven by consumer demand, many retailers are actively pushing suppliers to adopt more innovative and sustainable solutions. They demand sustainable alternatives from their suppliers and understand the importance of cost-effectiveness, product shipping, and branding. In addition, retailers often have private labels that allow them to innovate their own packaging while also setting new standards for other brands.

   05.Brand owners hope to present positive values

   In addition to meeting regulatory requirements, brands are also striving to live up to positive environmental values. These values are often reflected in sustainability goals for brands to reduce emissions, circularity, and reduce their environmental footprint. Packaging is critical - the first thing a consumer sees on the shelf is the product packaging. Packaging also plays a significant role in many environmental aspects, such as the transportation of goods, recycling, reusability, etc. Choosing a packaging material that meets multiple requirements can provide a competitive advantage, driving more brands to switch to wood fiber-based solutions.

   06.The material revolution set off an upsurge of "replacing plastic"

   Unlike plastic, wood fiber-based materials come from certified sustainably managed forests and are a renewable resource. The innovative use of wood fiber to replace plastic packaging creates new opportunities to address the challenges facing contemporary society. Wood fiber-based materials have the advantages of recyclability, low carbon footprint, strong traceability, and high usage efficiency. Forests themselves (especially as trees grow) also absorb carbon dioxide—an important way to combat global warming.

   Today, wood-based materials are used in a wide variety of applications. Even though plastics are still inseparable from certain fields due to their barrier properties, wood packaging can still greatly reduce the plastic content of product packaging due to its special structure. In the future, we want our product packaging to be plastic-free.