Page 47 - Packaging News Mar-Apr 2020

March-April 2020 | www.packagingnews.com.au | BEVERAGE PACKAGING
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priority in consumer sentiment research recently, and beverage com- panies have responded with ambi- tious ways to address concerns and to turn sustainability – which includes greater use of recycled material – into not just a unique selling point, but part of a company’s DNA.
“Today, much of the industry is manufacturing containers from recy- cled material, some of which is being supplied through container deposit schemes. In many instances, the recy- cled content of the average plastic bot- tle is edging above 50 per cent which is great news and a step in the right direction to support governments in their respective broader waste man- agement policies,” Parker says.
“While these initiatives demon- strate positive progress, clearly, there is more work to be done to increase the recycled content of all containers across the industry. The industry must continue to support this recy- cled content agenda and aim for 100 per cent in the years ahead, helped largely by a better functioning recy- clable waste framework which is cur- rently being developed.”
AWAY FROM PLASTIC
While plastic recycling is a front-of- mind issue for many consumers and businesses, beverage packaging is also moving in other directions, away from plastic.
Parker says, “It’s likely we’ll see some niche, and not so niche, pack- aging made from bio-degradable materials. As manufacturers get to grips with the challenge of creating a more sustainable future, a portfolio packaging mix that involves many material types will almost certainly be part of the solution.”
There has also been an uptick in aluminium can production. Orora Packaging, in its most recent half- year results, reported growth in can volumes, which contributed to an EBIT growth of 1.8 per cent in Australasia, despite what the com- pany calls “cost headwinds”.
Brian Lowe, Orora’s CEO, says, “From a growth perspective, we’re seeing that some products transition from other packed formats into cans – whether that be from plastic or even glass. We’re also seeing growth
[in demand for cans] within seg- ments, such as craft beer.”
Lowe also notes that there has been growth in different sizes of cans, such as slimline cans. “We’re also seeing a lot of variety in the products, such as sparkling water in cans,” he says. “The growth in the small format cans has continued.”
Lowe says, in the Australasian operations, glass volumes were flat over the first half of the past finan- cial year. “Glass volumes were in line with the first half of last finan- cial year, mainly we saw some impact from wine exports. These impacts were partially offset by gains in beer and increases in other beverages such as kombucha,” he says. “Over the coming period, I expect our current glass volume to be pretty steady.”
In a statement to PKN, Orora says glass and cans both offer an infi- nitely recyclable option to produc- ers, customers and consumers.
“Increasingly, cans are also viewed as a package that offers purity of flavour, quality of product, and are environmentally sustain- able. They also provide new and innovative ways to differentiate products on the shelf, with brand and marketing teams able to maxi- mise advertising space across the surface of the can.”
It is not just in traditional bever- age markets the market is moving towards cans, for Orora, at least.
“In addition to the growth of car- bonated soft drink and water in cans, our global customers are also exploring options for canned wine, caffeinated, and functional health drinks,” Orora says.
The importance of sustainability is a rising tide everywhere, not the least in the beverage packaging industry. Many manufactures and bottlers have made commitments and substantial moves towards more sustainable operations. There are more sustainable materials, and there is a growing emphasis on recy- cling and reusability. These moves have been generally in response to rising consumer concern, and the result will be a better, cleaner envi- ronment for everyone. ■
“Now if someone buys a bottle, they want to know that it becomes a bottle again, and they want to see solutions.”
— Peter West, CCA