ASL's Innovations Team recently attended the Packaging Innovations Show in London, UK. This event showcases the latest ideas from the European packaging industry covering branded, inspirational, premium and bespoke packaging solutions. This year, the big focus was on sustainability. Our team share their key takeaways from the show:
1. REDUCING PLASTICS
There is a well-established trend in the packaging industry to move away from single-use plastic, indeed to remove plastic from packaging altogether, where possible. Cardboard, which is 100% biodegradable and can be sustainably sourced, featured heavily at the show this year. We saw some very user-friendly, smartly-engineered new packaging solutions which increase strength & durability, creating stronger, more dependable and cost-effective cardboard packaging options.
2. ORGANIC MATERIALS
European manufacturers are leading the way in providing a more sustainable packaging experience for consumers without compromising on quality. We saw lots more customization options this year on a variety of organic materials which are sustainable, recyclable and compostable. It's clear that organic alternatives to plastic are improving rapidly, and can now offer robust, flexible & cost-effective packaging solutions which enhance both a products' eco credentials and its overall look & feel.
3. RECYCLED MATERIALS
Alongside the organic materials on display, our team found a greatly improved range of recycled materials on offer at this year's Show. Yarn made from 100% post-consumer waste PET bottles and the innovative 'ecofoil' metalized foil board caught our eye. Print quality and engineering options were much improved, leading to an overall improvement in the quality and range of recycled packaging options on offer.
AN ESTABLISHED TREND
Overall, it's clear that sustainable packaging remains the biggest trend in packaging, especially for luxury and gifting items. As consumer demand for sustainable packaging grows, the industry is responding with a more robust, high quality and cost-effective range of alternative materials & clever design options which continue to enhance and improve the eco credentials of packaging in general.
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