Coronavirus and leaving the EU disrupted supply chains throughout 2021, making it increasingly difficult for companies, with many racing round the clock to meet their 2025 sustainability goals
Regardless of the battle against time, there was still noticeable progress as many brands switched to eco-friendly materials. Like every year, 2022 is set to bring new trends to the packaging industry with sustainability at the core. Here are some things to watch out for:
Extended responsibility for brands
The UK government has announced the introduction of the Plastic Packaging Tax, applying to all plastic manufactured or imported into the UK that does not contain 30% recycled plastic.
One positive is that if you use less than 10 tonnes of plastic packaging, your company will be spared the costs of the Plastic Packaging Tax. To avoid being hit by unwanted fees, simply cut down on your plastic usage before the tax is introduced.
Honesty in your labelling!
California recently passed legislation for honest labelling of recycled goods. You may wonder why this will affect your business in the UK, but remember many laws are the start of something and can have a domino effect.
The law in labelling is based on telling your consumers the truth, allowing customers to make a more informed decision based on what is recycled and what isn’t.
Top tip: Why not test this out, it’s better to be the first than the last!
Purposeful packaging
It’s 2022: we should be making the most out of the least. France has realised that fruit and vegetables come with nature’s packaging (the skin), so should we.
Reducing the materials in your packaging doesn’t mean throwing beautiful bespoke boxes away altogether, just be clever. Consumers love a smart, efficient design much more than excessive packaging.
Using different inks
Petroleum-based inks are dangerous for humans and wildlife. Thankfully, there are now many alternatives which are better for the environment, like vegetable ink. Vegetable ink is biodegradable and less likely to release toxic chemicals.
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