Inside Innovation: My Week In Packaging 43/2024

Welcome to my latest LinkedIn newsletter, in which I take a look at my week in packaging. 😊

It’s been another busy week of packaging innovations, and we continue to track some exciting examples in ThePackHub's Innovation Zone platform. The following are five that caught my eye this week.

This week's Innovation Zone uploaded 30 new packaging initiatives. We saw Packaging Startup Awards sponsors Ocado Retail expand its reuse range with 2.7L refillable detergent and fabric conditioner bottles, aiming to reduce single-use plastic by capitalising on high consumer support for refillable solutions.

Mushtic , a French startup, has developed a mycelium-based alternative to polystyrene, leveraging mushroom roots to create biodegradable, compostable packaging that aims to replace Styrofoam in various industries.

Wonderfil and Dr. Bronner's have introduced refill stations in select Whole Foods Market locations in California, allowing customers to refill their own containers with organic soap, promoting both cost savings and a reduction in single-use plastics.

Nexdot has launched Lumi Coat, an invisible UV-blocking varnish for fragrance bottles, preserving fragrance quality while aligning with the clean beauty movement by reducing the need for chemical stabilisers.

Aldi UK has been on the innovation trail once again and are committed to reducing plastic use by removing plastic windows and trays from several savoury product lines, switching to recyclable cardboard packaging that will cut 127 tonnes of plastic annually.

These innovations highlight the continuous drive for packaging solutions that not only enhance functionality but also contribute to sustainability. ThePackHub uploads 30 new innovations every week in our Innovation Zone platform and now have over 9,200 entries.

Tuesday: REMA 1000 store visit, Denmark

During my trip this week to Denmark for Emballagedagen 2024 I visited a REMA 1000 Danmark store to observe Danish packaging trends. Key takeaways include a dominant use of plastic packaging for fruit and veg produce, an observation on the prevalence of milk cartons over HDPE bottles, and a notable focus on bag-in-box wine options. Unique practices, such as Denmark's mandatory refrigerated egg storage and a well-placed Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), reflect the country’s commitment to sustainability. However, areas for improvement remain, including reducing plastic for multipacks and introducing refill options. A noticeable lack of front of pack sustainability claims. You can read the full article here.

Wednesday: Networking with and presenting to the Danish packaging community

I had a fantastic time attending Emballagedagen 2024 Middelfart, Denmark, where I had the opportunity to present the latest packaging trends to the Dansih packaging audience spanning brands, retailers and packaging suppliers.

It was great to finally meet Torben Noer of Arla Foods after many years communicating via email and Zoom!

It was great to experience the strong sense of community within the Danish packaging industry. A big thank you to Michael Brochmann and the Grakom team for their warm hospitality and for the opportunity to attend.

Thursday: Brand Owner & Retailer Summit Preview webinar

We ran a preview webinar for our Brand Owner & Retailer Summit on Thursday with a quick chat with four of our speakers.

We are really looking forward to the event on Wednesday 20th November, at the Kia Oval in London. More information about the event here.

Friday: Planning Startup Content for Packaging Innovations, Birmingham

And finally, it was a pleasure to meet up with Chris Newhouse , Jaime Montero-MacColl and Casey McHugh at Easyfairs UK HQ in Twickenham to discuss some exciting plans for Packaging Innovations & Empack Birmingham in February. ThePackHub will be announcing the winners of teh PAckaging Startup Awards at the event and we are planning some other stsraup related content. It will be awesome! Rugby fans might recognise our meeting venue.

You can register for Packaging Innovations here.

That's it for this week. I hope you found it interesting!