Coca-Cola strips back packaging sustainability goals - EU plastic recycling industry in trouble - Belgian retailers back reuse scheme
Packaging Europe
Leading the global conversation on packaging strategy and innovation.
Welcome to this week's edition of the Packaging Europe LinkedIn newsletter! Like we do every week, we're bringing you a rundown of the most important packaging stories from the past seven days.
Let's get into the stories.
The Coca-Cola Company has lowered the ambition of its voluntary environmental goals. Having extended its timeframe to 2035, it now aspires to achieve 40% recyclate in its primary packaging and collect 75% of the bottles and cans it markets, among other targets.
According to new data from Plastics Recyclers Europe, the continent’s recycling capacity has stagnated with a year-on-year increase of only 6% in 2023; this is reported to mark its lowest growth since 2017.
Albert Heijn, Aldi, Carrefour, Colruyt, Delhaize, and Lidl are working with the Reusable Packaging Coalition to pilot reusable packaging for mushrooms in Mechelen, aligning with Europe’s upcoming ban on single-use plastic for lightweight fruit and vegetables.
Chaos packaging is the art of putting everyday, familiar products in surprise formats. For example, gin packaged in an engine oil bottle, or water in a beer can. What’s behind this growing trend? Tey Bannerman of McKinsey Design and Lisa Cain of Smurfit Westrock take a closer look.
After a week of negotiations, INC-5 has come to a close with no agreement reached over a Global Plastics Treaty, and another session is now expected to take place in 2025 – an outcome many blame on ‘low-ambition countries’ stalling progress for their own ends.
Andrew Stack, Designer & Strategic Consultant at Pacproject, a Hamburg-based design agency, emphasises balancing between sustainability and aesthetics in packaging design. In collaboration with ACTEGA, a company committed to driving sustainability and a leading manufacturer in print and packaging, Pacproject explored ECOLEAF – a mindful metallization technology for label embellishment, making this balance possible.
1. How does ECOLEAF help brands balance sustainability, creativity and eye-catching packaging designs?
ECOLEAF reinvents the metallization process with “on-demand” metallization, minimizing waste and optimizes resources while delivering a highly reflective and impactful metallic effect. By precisely placing metal flakes only where needed, it eliminates the need for PET carrier films and foil reels, significantly reducing plastic usage and the environmental impact.
ECOLEAF allows brands to set their sustainability concerns aside and focus on limitless creative opportunities. It delivers the same high-shine, relief metallic embellishment, and diverse colour range as traditional metallization – only in an environmentally friendly way. With incredible flexibility to create both flat metallic layers and tactile relief designs, it’s ideal for premium finishes. The ability to overprint in any colour further extends creative possibilities, allowing designers to align metallic effects with brand-specific tones.
2. What excites you the most about the potential of ECOLEAF technology in shaping sustainable packaging solutions?
Our discovery of ECOLEAF was definitely a "wow" moment. ECOLEAF technology exemplifies how luxury and environmental stewardship can coexist, providing a competitive advantage by meeting consumer demand for eco-friendly options while maintaining visual appeal.
This innovation helps brands achieve a powerful first impression and align with their sustainable goals, demonstrating that ecological preservation and economic benefits can go hand in hand.
Explore ECOLEAF today!
This content was sponsored by ACTEGA
As a value chain channel captain we should expect leadership and progress from TCCC rather than walking back on prior sustainability commitments! Solutions exist…..
Manjushree techno pack ltd, Bangalore
2wVery helpful