Sustainability remains priority for produce packaging

Produce suppliers are working with packaging manufacturers to limit the excess materials that wind up in the waste stream.

“This is still important to consumers, but at this time the demand is for fruit that is typically sold bulk to be in packages,” said Brianna Shales, senior marketing manager with Wenatchee, Wash.-based fruit grower-shipper Stemilt Growers LLC. 

Stemilt recently introduced a 100% recyclable tote bag for bulk apples, Shales said.

“It’s a way to offer bulk fruit with a better ‘no touch’ experience that consumers want; plus we can offer that grab-and-go buy while driving up the average purchase size,” she said.

Top-seal technology is another near-term solution that uses around one-third less plastic in packages, said Nick Wishnatzki, marketing projects manager with Plant City, Fla.-based berry grower-shipper Wish Farms.

“Its popularity with retailers and consumers keeps growing,” Wishnatzki said. 

“We believe top seal is a major trend that has staying power.”

Wish Farms also will be trying out compostable fiber containers on its blueberry packing line this season, using its current top seal technology, Wishnatzki said.

“We have identified some promising fiber-based prototypes and will continue to study their viability along the chain of production for strawberries, blackberries and raspberries,” he said. 

“These are all packed in the field by hand, so there are some challenges associated with the options currently available.”

Less material, less waste

Produce suppliers have been trending in recent years toward minimizing packaging as one path toward sustainability, and package makers have been adjusting paper weights, as well as designs and production techniques, said Nicole Lipson, segment marketing manager with Atlanta-based packaging manufacturer WestRock.

“At some point, you can’t lightweight the container anymore, but design changes can help reduce total packaging material,” she said. 

“We work closely with our customers to find the perfect solution for their needs and that hold up in the rigors of the supply chain. Consumers may want less packaging, but they also want produce that isn’t bruised, damaged or rotting.”

That’s a trend Collinsville, Ill.-based bag maker Sev-Rend Corp. is seeing, said Jeff Watkin, graphic and marketing manager.

“The main items we have seen in this category is downgauging of materials in terms of thickness and size to accommodate less plastic going into the waste cycle,” he said. 

“This has been a popular trend for the past two years with sustainability efforts and is usually the first step for many companies. We have also seen some packers move from pouch or film/net combos to a tag/net combo, which is another route to shrink your packaging size.”

In addition, wax alternative coatings will be a focal point moving forward with some states looking to ban the use of wax cascaded packaging, WestRock’s Lipson said.

“Finding alternatives to wax will go a long way in reducing waste but may also force grower/shippers to modify how they cool product,” she said.

WestRock is a “major paper recycling company,” too, and the company recycles its own dunnage and waste and also collects and recycles “millions of tons” of paper materials across the U.S., Lipson said.

“As of September 2020, WestRock’s 18 recycling plants recycle 8 million tons of materials per year, which exceeds our 5.5 million tons of recycled fiber consumption and makes us one of the top five recyclers in the world,” she said.

‘Finding the balance’

Retailers and growers are finding the balance of fulfilling consumers’ needs for fresh, high-quality and convenient product while remaining aware that sustainable solutions cannot be compromised, said Kris Lyon, strategic marketing manager with WestRock.

“Brands will find that sustainability is not taking a back seat to their companies’ goals, so they will need to continue to find solutions to stay competitive and not lose market share to consumers that will start to demand their fresh produce be packaged in ‘fresh new innovative packaging,’” Lyon said.

Produce suppliers are pursuing that balance, said Karen Reed, marketing and communications director with Union Gap, Wash.-based closure maker Kwik Lok Corp.

“We are not seeing customers step away from their sustainability commitments,” she said. 

“Companies still want to reduce their carbon footprints and reduce plastics. They are looking to Kwik Lok to help them find solutions that keep food safe and fresh in addition to providing sustainable options.”

Package makers know that consumers and organizations will continue to hold brands and retailers accountable for setting and honoring sustainability commitments, said Liz Walsh, director of customer and consumer insights with Atlanta-based Georgia-Pacific.

“And they will increasingly do that with their wallet,” she said. 

“Consumer behavior is starting to catch up with their verbal commitment by shifting their loyalty to brands that are purposeful and transparent when it comes to sustainability, including a demonstrated effort to eliminate or reduce packaging waste.”

It’s part of Georgia-Pacific’s job to work with its customers to cut waste, Walsh said.

“As a packaging supplier, we are continually working on innovative solutions to help our customers with their objectives, whether it’s reducing packaging, using less fiber or improving recyclability,” she said.

Sustainability continues to grow in importance for consumers as they reconsider all of their interactions with products and are exploring new ways to get what they need, including groceries, said Rachel Kenyon, senior vice president with the Itaska, Ill.-based Fibre Box Association.

“It is imperative for suppliers to use the most clearly sustainable packaging possible, in alignment with their shoppers’ values,” she said.