Survey asks about packaging innovation 

The Packer asked industry leaders about what new packaging innovations have caught their eyes in the past year.

Here are some of their responses to the question “What packaging innovation or new products are most exciting to you?”

• Steve Greenfield, director of sales and marketing for NNZ Inc., Lawrenceville, Ga.: “Cellulose netting and rollstock heat sealable paper.”
• Andrew Hare, Vertical Roots co-founder and general manager: “New custom-designed tray and living lettuce crisper.”
• Matt Dusi, sector manager for food and agribusiness industry advisors for Wells Fargo Commercial Banking: “The most exciting thing to me was to see the number of SKUs decrease. The sheer volume of variety – both variety in products and sizes – was staggering. Trimming down the number of SKUs has significant benefits for producers – it’s easier for the procurement department, makes for more efficient production runs, and easier to track in the warehouse.”
• Gary Hilberg, chief sustainability officer for Local Bounti, Hamilton, Mont.: “Transparent fiber-based packaging.”
• Kristi Harris, Honeybear Brands, Elgin, Minn.: “Paper pouch.”
• John Paap, manager at Jac. Vandenberg Inc., Tarrytown, N.Y.: “Our BIO bags!”
• Jeff Watkin, director of marketing for Sev-Rend, Collinsville, Ill.: “We have introduced a new product line for a majority of our plastic products we offer the market called Bio-Able Solutions. This is a patent pending technology that allows traditional plastics to rapidly break down in both marine and terrestrial environments in a shorter period of time, leaving behind no micro-plastics.”
• Kirstin Hancock, cofounder of Blue Maestro, Weybridge, England: “Tempo Disc bluetooth sensor and datalogger by Blue Maestro.”
• Chuck Sinks, president of sales and marketing for Sage Fruit Co., Yakima, Wash.: “We are constantly evaluating new packaging to bring to market that will meet consumers’ expectations.”