Consumers are starting to demand an alternative to plastic—and flexible packaging is a viable, desirable solution

Without a doubt, consumers’ distaste for plastic is growing. There is increasing awareness of the environmental concerns posed by single-use plastics, as was demonstrated by the backlash against plastic straws at the end of 2018. Images of tons of unrecycled plastic waste winding up in our oceans have started to influence consumers to make what they believe are more Earth-friendly choices—and those choices include moving away from products in plastic packages.

According to the article “Consumer push-back against plastic will spur manufacturers to seek new packaging by 2019” by Elizabeth Crawford, the pressure is on companies to offer greener packaging choices as consumers struggle to justify the use of plastic. Food and beverage companies are responding by actively seeking solutions that meet higher environmental standards. Nestlé, a giant in the industry, has committed to making allits packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025.

Quoted in the article, Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider said, “While we are committed to pursuing recycling options where feasible, we know that 100% recyclability is not enough to successfully tackle the plastic waste crisis. We need to push the boundaries and do more. We are determined to look at every option to solve this complex challenge and embrace multiple solutions that can have an impact now.”​

The need for new packaging options is expected to continue to rise exponentially, with particular emphasis on flexible paper packages. While there might be some expense involved in making the change from plastic packaging to newer, greener alternatives, research cited in the article suggests that it is worth it in the long haul. Between 15% and 20% of consumers say they would be willing to pay more for food and beverage products with environmentally conscious, eco-friendly, and/or recyclable packaging.

Meeting consumer demands is critical to success, but manufacturers must find a way to deliver Earth-friendly solutions without sacrificing package aesthetics. And for the food industry, quality and safety of the consumable products cannot be sacrificed.

AMGRAPH can meet all those needs and more, from start to finish. Manufacturers turn to us for:

  • High-impact graphics and package design
  • Advanced engineering
  • Sustainable materials
  • Specialized structures
  • Water-based printing
  • The latest finishing technologies

As a leader in sustainability in the flexible packaging industry, AMGRAPH’s food packaging delivers long-lasting freshness without sacrificing consumer convenience. Customers get a practical product that’s easy to handle and prepare, and with our longstanding commitment to sustainable processes, we can provide viable solutions for the most pressing packaging concerns.