Costs and sustainability represent key dynamics in produce packaging, industry leaders say

Global industry professionals polled about the top produce packaging trend for 2022 point to both sustainability and cost as competing factors in driving next steps.

The 27,000-member LinkedIn Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group was asked, “What will be the number one produce packaging trend in 2022?”

Answers from the group spoke both to sensitivity to costs and the desire for more sustainable packaging.

Selected responses:

• “Our 100% recyclable packaging will move into lower tonnage of consumable material and moving towards 100% compostable. On the other side, we have been listening to retailers asking for such material with very few actually requesting or requiring the change. We have listened and made the move in this direction for when the retail trade is ready.”
• “Anything that is fully recyclable, all Australian certified compostable. All produce packaging will slowly fall in line with 2025 Australian targets. Next year will be the biggest year of change in packaging we’ve ever seen.”
• “Low carbon footprint.”
• “This one is difficult. You have to account for all the packers who already have automation and fit into that model first. It doesn’t help to find a packaging style that needs new cap-ex equipment. If the new packaging requires new equipment, that only increases the cost to the retailer/consumer. We can’t keep forcing the grower/packers to absorb the increases. On the other hand, “hand packed” products like small cardboard packages only increase the labor factor, again putting pressure on the packer to increase pricing, because they need to hire more people (hourly rates are going up). The number one trend will be to utilize existing equipment and educate the masses on what’s best for a circular economy and Mother Earth.”