While this legislation (called the Single-Use Plastic Ban) comes out of the United Kingdom, there is an important takeaway for U.S. brands. It is part of the larger trend in which companies are shifting away from plastics to paper in their packaging. That shift is happening in the United States, as well. Although not as a result of legislation, high-profile companies like Amazon, Chick-fil-A, and Peet’s Coffee are leading the way by making the shift proactively. Here’s how they are staying ahead of the curve:
- Amazon is eliminating air pillows in its e-commerce packaging. Already, 95% of its packaging uses paper-based filler, and the remainder will be paper by the end of this year.
- Chick-fil-A is replacing its traditional cups with double-wall fiber-based cups for cold beverages and milkshakes.
- JDE Peet’s has announced plans to launch new, fully recyclable, paper packaging for its instant coffee ranges.
There will likely always be some products, such as frozen food and products requiring moisture barriers, that will need plastics or the equivalents. However, packaging that uses plastic simply for aesthetic reasons continues to face pressure from paper. Why?
- Paper is easy to recycle and as such has much higher recovery rates than plastic.
- Paper is a renewable resource.
- Consumers increasingly prefer paper to other materials.
Want that exciting, glossy look? New recyclable varnishes add intriguing finishes, and tactile effects for labels and packaging are emerging constantly. There are a growing number of substrate suppliers specializing in compostable, recyclable, paper-based and innovative plastic flexible packaging solutions even for challenging sectors such as food, personal, and household care and tobacco.
“Paperization” of packaging is already happening, driven by the purchasing preferences of today’s consumers. The tide is already turning. If you make the switch to paper-based packaging now, you’ll be ahead of the curve. Ask us about switching to paper-based packaging solutions!
