Sustainability

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It's no secret that e-commerce differs from traditional retail outlets, with more touchpoints involved before a product reaches a customer. And thus, the changes in shopping habits will also mean packaging and supply chain challenges.

The demand for easily recyclable material (and machinery that can handle such material) in this sector is expected to continue growing, according to the State of the Industry – U.S. Packaging Machinery Report 2017 from PMMI.

Rainbow bagels, unicorn food and milkshakes as big as a person's head are so yesterday. What will be on plates over the next 12 months?

By 2025, 100 percent of the fast food restaurant’s guest packaging will come from renewable, recycled, or certified sources with a preference for Forest Stewardship Council certification.

There’s a LEED for Schools. LEED for Hospitality. Retail. Data Centers. Warehouses & Distribution Centers. Healthcare. What there is not—at least not yet—is a LEED for Food Manufacturing.

In the coming year, packaging will likely be more succinct, focused on reducing food waste and designed for e-commerce.

While water conservation may not be as flashy as saving energy, it's an important component of not only sustainability efforts, but of protecting the bottom line.

Mike Okoroafor, vice president of global sustainability and packaging innovation at McCormick, took some time to discuss the company’s focus on sustainable packaging, and how recyclable PET containers, glass jars, and logistics are helping the company reach its goals.

Packaging can become a gateway to generate interaction, with the use of use of augmented reality and digital codes printed on packages improving transparency of traceability, allowing consumers to access information about the product right down to the source.