Future packaging trends for a circular economy.
All over the world, plastic debris is everywhere. Humans dump garbage directly or indirectly into the nearest river or lake, and plastic is already filling the world's oceans. The consequences of plastic pollution go beyond the ecological realm, affecting human health and socioeconomic stability. How to solve the problem of plastic pollution has become a global problem.
Plastic pollution has a significant and wide-ranging impact on the environment, ecosystems, and human health. Include Marine Pollution, Ecosystem Disruption, Soil and Air Contamination, Wildlife Impacts, Human Health Concerns, and Waste Management Challenges.
European Commission directed: by the end of 2024, EU countries should ensure that producer responsibility schemes are established for all packaging. By 2025, all packaging should have 65% for recycling and 70% by 2030. Please refer to the form on the right.
"Preventing packaging waste, boosting reuse and refill, and making all packaging recyclable by 2030."
| Material | Current (%) | By 2025 (%) | By 2030 (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Packaging | 55 | 65 | 70 |
| Plastic | 25 | 50 | 55 |
| Wood | 15 | 25 | 30 |
| Ferrous Metals | 50 | 70 | 80 |
| Aluminium | - | 50 | 60 |
| Glass | 60 | 70 | 75 |
| Paper and cardboard | 60 | 75 | 85 |
—Sustainable Packaging Solutions
In the current dire state of the environment, it is imperative to address and alleviate environmental issues promptly. As a leading sustainable development packaging company, NIAITE recognizes its responsibility and obligation to make even the slightest contribution towards environmental preservation. In the realm of flexible packaging, we have devised three viable solutions to effectively reduce environmental pollution and resource waste. That is compostable packaging, bio-based packaging, and recyclable.
Refers to packaging materials that are designed to break down and biodegrade in a composting environment.
Refers to packaging materials that are derived from renewable, bio-based sources such as plants, agricultural residues, or algae.
Refers to packaging materials that can be collected, processed, and used as raw materials to create new products through recycling processes.
Compostable packaging refers to packaging materials that are designed to break down and biodegrade in a composting environment. These materials are made from organic and natural sources, such as plant fibers, starches, or polylactic acid (PLA), which are derived from renewable resources.
Compostable packaging is intended to be composted along with organic waste, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, in industrial composting facilities or home composting systems. In the right conditions, compostable packaging materials can decompose into nutrient-rich compost, which can be used as a natural fertilizer for plants.
Bio-based packaging refers to packaging materials that are derived from renewable, bio-based sources such as plants, agricultural residues, or algae. These materials are chosen as alternatives to traditional packaging materials derived from fossil fuels, such as petroleum-based plastics.
Recyclable packaging refers to packaging materials that can be collected, processed, and used as raw materials to create new products through recycling processes. These materials are designed to be easily sorted and separated from other waste, allowing them to be efficiently recycled and reused.
These three sustainable packaging solutions—Compostable packaging, Bio-Based packaging, and Recyclable packaging—have different strengths and weaknesses. They all benefit the environment and market demand. The raw materials for compostable packaging and bio-based packaging are from renewable biomass sources, most of them are food sources as well. The shortage of food all over the world is still very serious. By contrast, recyclable packaging is more reasonable at this stage for sustainability.
| Sustainable Packaging Solutions | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Compostable Packaging |
|
|
| Bio-Based Packaging |
|
|
| Recyclable Packaging |
|
|
By CEFLEX Guidelines
How to design a recyclable packaging? The CEFLEX initiative, designing for a Circular Economy (D4ACE) Guidelines, will facilitate the development of a circular economy for flexible packaging by 2025. Only with near-universal adoption of these and related guidelines will this ambition be realized.
Recycling has a central role to play in enabling flexible packaging to contribute effectively to a circular economy and after waste prevention, this is where most progress is expected to be made in the short to medium term.
A 5-step roadmap to build a circular economy for flexible packaging has been endorsed by CEFLEX stakeholders, together with a set of actions needed by each part of the value chain to make it happen.
Design for a Circular Economy
Post-consumer Polyolefin-based Flexible Packaging
| Product Series | Material | Properties | Applications | Sterilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NIAITE Eco™ GLP | polypropylene - PP film | Good stiffness
properties Suitable for liquid and food packaging |
|
|
| NIAITE Eco™ HBP | Hot fill, high barrier polypropylene - PP film | Good gas,
oxygen barrier Good stiffness properties Suitable for food packaging, cold filling, hot filling, pasteurization, HPP |
|
|
| NIAITE Eco™ RBP | Retort, high barrier polypropylene - PP film | Good stiffness
properties Suitable for liquid and food packaging |
|
|
| NIAITE Eco™ HBO | Hot fill, high barrier polyethylene & polypropylene - PE&PP film | Good gas,
oxygen barrier Good stiffness properties Suitable for food packaging, cold filling, hot filling, pasteurization, HPP |
|
|
The CEFLEX initiative, Designing for a Circular Economy (D4ACE) Guidelines, will facilitate the development of a circular economy for flexible packaging by 2025. Only with near-universal adoption of these and related guidelines will this ambition be realized.
Post-consumer recycled (PCR) material is the materials that have been recovered or recycled from products that have reached the end of their useful life as consumer items to reduce the demand for virgin materials and minimize waste. These materials are obtained from various sources, such as discarded packaging, used products, or materials collected through recycling programs.
PCR materials can include a wide range of materials, such as plastics, paper, cardboard, glass, metals, and textiles. These materials are typically broken down, melted, or reprocessed to create new raw materials or components that can be used in the manufacturing of different products.
Post-industrial recycled material refers to materials that are recycled from manufacturing or industrial processes rather than consumer waste. These materials are typically generated during production, such as excess or scrap materials, offcuts, trimmings, or defective products that do not meet quality standards.
Post-industrial recycling involves collecting, sorting, and processing these waste materials within the manufacturing facility or through specialized recycling facilities. The materials are then reprocessed and transformed into new raw materials or components that can be used in the production of various products.
Both PCR (Post-Consumer Recycled) and PIR (Post-Industrial Recycled) plastics offer distinct advantages, depending on the context and specific requirements. It's important to note that both PCR and PIR plastics fall under the broader category of recycled plastics within the rubber and plastic industry.
PCR plastics have a significant advantage in terms of quantity. Since they are derived from post-consumer waste, such as discarded packaging, bottles, and other consumer products, there is a substantial volume of these materials available for recycling.
PCR plastics contribute to waste reduction by diverting materials from landfills and reprocessing them into new raw materials.
PCR plastics are well-suited for applications where a high volume of recycled material is required, such as packaging or consumer goods.
PIR plastics have an absolute advantage in terms of reprocessing quality. As they are derived from post-industrial waste generated within manufacturing processes, PIR plastics tend to have a higher level of control and consistency in terms of material quality.
Since the waste comes from controlled production environments, it is often less contaminated and easier to reprocess into high-quality recycled materials.
PIR plastics, with their higher reprocessing quality, are often preferred for applications that demand stricter material specifications, such as automotive parts or specialized industrial products.
The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is an international, voluntary certification program that sets requirements for the content and traceability of recycled materials used in products. It provides third-party verification of recycled content claims and ensures that certain environmental and social criteria are met throughout the supply chain.
NIAITE Packaging proudly holds the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certificate as of November 2023. This certification serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment to social responsibility and sustainable packaging practices.
By adhering to the GRS guidelines, we ensure that our packaging materials contain verified recycled content and meet stringent environmental and social criteria. This achievement reinforces our dedication to promoting a circular economy and reducing our ecological footprint.
Representative parameters. Actual values depend on material structure and customization.
NIAITE offers three main types of sustainable packaging: compostable packaging (biodegradable materials), bio-based packaging (renewable resources), and recyclable packaging (PCR/PIR materials with CEFLEX guidelines compliance).
PCR (Post-Consumer Recycled) materials come from consumer waste and offer high volume availability. PIR (Post-Industrial Recycled) materials come from manufacturing waste and offer superior reprocessing quality with less contamination.
Yes, NIAITE Packaging proudly holds the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certificate as of November 2023, ensuring verified recycled content and meeting stringent environmental and social criteria.
Yes, our sustainable packaging solutions are designed to maintain excellent barrier properties while using eco-friendly materials. We offer various material structures including recyclable mono-material solutions that meet CEFLEX guidelines.
We accept all parts of sustainable packaging customization, including size, shape, design, materials (compostable, bio-based, or recyclable), and printing options. Contact us to design your eco-friendly packaging solution.
Have more questions?
Contact us for more detailsSimple 4-step process to get your perfect custom packaging.
Tell us your demands and basic info.
We provide custom solution and quote.
Confirm details and start mass production.
Fast shipping to your doorstep.
Get a professional consultation and custom quote within 24 hours. Offering low MOQ, rapid sampling, and global distribution.
Explore our raw materials used in flexible packaging.
