the role of packaging in society
DESCRIPTION
The Role of Packaging in Society. Dick Searle Chief Executive The Packaging Federation. Packaging under the m icroscope. Very v isible but little understood Much un-informed comment Significant ‘ environmental ’ pressure Reactions from consumers and “Government” - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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The Role of Packaging in Society
Dick SearleChief Executive
The Packaging Federation
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Packaging under the microscope
Very visible but little understood
Much un-informed comment
Significant ‘environmental’ pressure
Reactions from consumers and “Government”
The ‘waste problem’
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‘Don’t confuse me with the facts’
Examine the evolution of society And the way that shopping has developed See how packaging has changed Where are we now? What is ‘excessive packaging’? Where do we go from here?
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The way things were…
What did most households not have in the 50’s:
Car Phone Bath Central heating TV Washing machine
Fridge Freezer Computers Internet AND…!!!!!!
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The way things were…
What did most households not have in the 50’s:
MICROWAVE OVENS !!!!
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The way things were (2)…
And society was different too:
Mostly two parent households Divorce was rare Few ‘working mothers’ Pace of life was much slower Meal times (eating together) was the norm Disposable income was low
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And now…
For most all the noes have become yeses Pace of life dramatically higher and still
accelerating Working households are the norm Eating ‘on the run’ Divorce is high Internet shopping 29% single person households
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So what about shopping habits…
In the 50’s… Shopping was a daily exercise Grocers shops (Liptons, Maypole, H&C) No supermarkets Most products sold loose – queues/hygiene Home deliveries of milk, bread…even ‘pop’ Range was limited and fresh food seasonal Convenience foods almost unheard of
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Then…
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Then…
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…and now
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So what about shopping habits (2)…
And now… Consumption has increased dramatically Supermarkets are everywhere Shopping is a weekly excursion Range and choice are huge Products available all year round Convenience is ‘everything’
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So what about packaging’s role in this?
Packaging is the ‘enabler’ for shopping as we know it today – supermarkets could not exist without it
Product wastage in the supply chain is now minimal
Product presentation and information are key Brands are defined by their Packaging Many markets owe their existence to
developments in packaging
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So let’s look at some of the ‘new boys’
Lightweight one-trip glass bottles Easy-open beverage cans Plastic bottles and tubes PET bottles Flexible packaging sachets and pouches Plastic films Child resistant packaging Liquid packaging cartons Aseptic packaging
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And there’s more!...
Ovenable packaging Modified atmosphere packaging Frozen food packaging Microwaveable packaging Chilled food packaging Multiple packaging – board and plastics Shelf ready packaging And so on…
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So what has the Packaging Industry done? Developed a fantastic range of new products Enabled a huge change in the way we shop Facilitated the reduction in food waste in the
supply chain to ca. 3% Lightweighted packaging across the board Achieved the decoupling of GDP growth from
the increase in packaging used Given consumers product protection, hygiene,
convenience and pack information Provided the platform for product
branding and identification
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So where are we now?
PRODUCT
Primary packaging
Secondary packaging
Demands of the product
Demands of legislation and ‘environment’
Demands of:
Consumer
Retailer
Marketer
Demands of:
Production
Distribution
Storage
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Some of the issues that we face
Allegations of ‘excess packaging’ Ambivalent consumer attitudes Lack of ‘recognition’ from retailers The Courtauld Commitment The packaging waste ‘problem’ The carbon footprint debate
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Let’s look at ‘excess’ packaging
Some of the more commonly quoted examples: Easter eggs Cosmetics and perfumery packaging Point of sale packaging, e.g. pens Software Memory chips Fruit and vegetables in plastic
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Easter eggs… who needs them?
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Cosmetics and perfumery
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Point of sale packaging
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Software and memory chips
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Fruit and vegetables in plastic
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Excess packaging… in summary
Like beauty… is in the eye of the beholder And of course there are examples But often part of the product offering/image Or part of the retail methodology Comes down to consumer choice But remember the Essential Requirement
Regulations – only enforced (currently) in three EU countries… including the UK!
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Ambivalent consumer attitudes
Packaging responds to the needs of modern lifestyles
Consumer concern about the environment is real but is it well informed? e.g. biodegradables
Do they really want a return to the shopping regimes of yesteryear
How much of consumer preference is theirs and how much is ‘assumed’ by retailers
The next couple of years will be very enlightening
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The retailers position
So often fail to acknowledge/defend the importance of packaging to their activities
The Courtauld Commitment How will they fulfil it? And how will it be measured? And what will be the consequences to them…
and to their customers?
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Packaging waste in perspective
3% of landfill and 18% of household waste But very visible Huge progress in last few years – ca.60%
now recycled Good recycling needs a better waste stream Further progress requires ‘joined-up thinking’ The waste hierarchy must use ‘real science’ Energy from waste must be taken seriously We can do more… but not alone!
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And so… in summary
Packaging has made a huge contribution to life as we know it and we should be proud of that
We have proved our innovation abilities time after time
We are first and last a service industry and we are ready and able to respond to changes in society’s needs
BUT…is society prepared to make the changes and pay the price – in all senses of the word?
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And finally…..some context
Packaging is 3% of landfill Global carbon footprint of packaging
including disposal is ca. 0.2% There’s ten times more energy & materials in
products than in the packaging around them The energy content of one day’s packaging
is equal to ONE MILE driven in the car !! AVOIDABLE food waste in the bin has some
EIGHT times the impact of packaging waste
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And finally…..some context
SO - ISN’T IT ABOUT TIME THAT THESE MUCH BIGGER ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES RECEIVED A LOT MORE ATTENTION THAN PACKAGING DOES ??