Since the onset of the COVID crisis, one industry has remained resilient as people are spending more time than ever inside their own homes: the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. FMCG businesses which are highly reliant on packaging still face the same dilemma – how can they choose a packaging solution with the highest sustainability performance without having to compromise on the practical business needs?
To help businesses choose the best packaging solution that performs exceptionally on both criteria, PakTech has prepared a series of GIFs that illustrate what makes our smart, sustainable and simple packaging the preferred solution when compared to others available in market – cardboard, plastic film and shrink wrap, plastic rings and natural/bio-fibre packaging.
PakTech vs. Cardboard
Made from 100% recycled HDPE, PakTech handles are strong, water-resistant and perfectly flexible, making them the ideal packaging solution for both warehouse and consumer use. Yes, cardboard is flexible, but this is compromised by its weak structural integrity that is susceptible to tears. Furthermore, as cardboard is not water resistant, it becomes damaged and unusable when wet – a highly probable incident in warehouses and supermarkets full of consumer goods that contain liquid.
Cardboard is also only recyclable up to seven times, if at all, whereas the recycled HDPE that PakTech handles are made from means they are infinitely recyclable! Plus, our study has shown that in all life-cycle metrics analysed, PakTech handles outperform cardboard.
PakTech vs. Plastic Film/Shrink-Wrap
The smart design of PakTech handles also minimize inventory loss - a priority for all retailers. Firstly, as the handles are designed to fit the products they are applied to, PakTech handles prevent slippage by keeping the units secure. Secondly, as PakTech handles are applied to each unit as opposed to externally wrapping an entire pack like plastic film and shrink-wrap, a unit that goes missing is easily replaceable (just pop it right back in!) and it’s retail ready. It goes to say that an entire pack wrapped in plastic film or shrink-wrap is compromised when a product is lost: the packaging is irreparably damaged and the pack of goods can no longer be sold in the same bulk format it was packaged in. In addition, PakTech handles let the brand speak for itself as opposed to covering the product artwork with an unnecessary layer of packaging.
Moreover, plastic film and shrink-wrap are not only single use packaging but are among the least collected and most difficult materials to recycle in the UK. PakTech handles on the other hand are reusable many times over (up to 40 times) before they are recycled.
PakTech vs. Plastic Rings
Applied on top of cans, PakTech handles are hygienic by keeping can tops not only clean and dry but also protecting exposed surfaces from contamination. During a time when we must maintain the utmost hygiene standards, consumers will be reassured by PakTech handles. Plastic rings on the other hand, leave can tops exposed, specifically those areas with which we come into physical contact.
And like plastic film and shrink-wrap, plastic rings are also made for single-use and not widely recycled in the UK but instead must be dropped off in specific locations or sent via post to be recycled.
PakTech vs. Bio-Fibre Rings
Bio-fibre packaging is viewed positively by consumers as it is perceived to come from natural origins, meaning it must be environmentally friendly. However, as explored in Debunking Myths in UK on Plastic, Packaging and Sustainability, every material has their own environmental consequences. Bio-fibre packaging production is a resource intensive process and may divert land away from food production when used to grow material to produce goods like packaging and cutlery. Rather than depleting natural resources, PakTech handles give second and third lives to plastic waste, diverting it away from our lands and oceans and back into production and productive use.
Furthermore, bio-fibre packaging rings do not perform as well in terms of practicality as they are neither durable nor water-resistant and are made for single-use. Not to mention, packaging is more disposable when it is weaker and more permeable, exacerbating the issue of waste accumulation. Both businesses and consumers must come together reverse our throw-away culture.
PakTech: Sustainable Packaging that Stands Out from the Crowd
Environmental protection remains a high priority for UK consumers. This is a clear indication that the need to integrate sustainability principles into business practices is not a passing trend but here to stay. With PakTech’s holistic approach to environmental stewardship that embodies resource conservation and the circular economy, brands can feel confident they can meet the practical needs of business and meet consumers’ sustainability expectations.
Comments